8th Cavalry Regiment
Historical Missions
"Honor and Courage"
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The 8th Cavalry Regiment, constituted 28 July 1866 and organized on 21
September 1866 at Camp Reynolds, Angel Island, California, was one of four
cavalry regiments by which the military peace establishment was increased by
an Act of Congress dated July 28th of that year. By General Order No. 92, A.
and General Order, 1866, the first field officer who accepted an appointment
was Colonel John I. Gregg, who joined the unit for duty at Camp Whipple,
Arizona, in December, 1866, assuming command of the regiment and the District
of Prescott, Arizona. The other field officers were Lieutenant Colonel Devin
and Major Price, who joined the unit in January 1867.
The enlisted personnel were composed chiefly of men enlisted on the Pacific
Coast, and included many of the class styled "Forty-niners"; men who had
worked months or years in the mines and were typical specimens of the roving
order of citizens. Many of them were wild characters who enlisted in the same
spirit of adventure which led them to the frontier, and typically had
difficulty in adapting themselves to the conformity of a military life. Many
desertions occurred; the percentage rose to 41 by the end of 1867.
The officers assigned to the regiment were all veterans of the Civil War, and
came to duty with the experience which that involved.
The early part of the year 1867, the Companies relocated to more permanent
stations which they were to occupy for some time:
During the year 1867, "B", "I", "K" and "L" Companies had been sent to posts
in Arizona, and the Companies of the regiment remained separated at posts in
Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, California, and Arizona, until 1870, when ordered to
New Mexico. In the subsequent early years, the regiment performed escort
missions for the western bound immigration of wagon trains and the
frontiersmen who had ventured into the hidden rough country to search for gold.
In carrying out its mission, the 8th Regiment established guard details at
strategic locations throughout the Pacific Northwest, in areas beyond railroad
communications.
During December 1867, and January 1868, the headquarters was en route from
Camp Whipple, AZ, to Churchill Barracks, NV, which became the headquarters of
the District of Nevada. In May, headquarters was moved to Camp Halleck, NV,
where it remained till 05 May 1870, when it was moved to Ft. Union, NM, by
rail, via Cheyenne and St. Louis, MO. In the Southwest, in the early 1870's
the Comanches and Kiowas longed for the old life and began to roam from their
reservations. The inevitable clashes, killings, and raiding on travelers and
settlers began to occur, and the army was directed to solve the problem.
The several troops took stations at Ft. Union, Ft. Craig, Ft. Selden, Ft.
Wingate, Ft. Bascom, Ft. Stanton, in New Mexico, and Ft. Garland, in the
Colorado Territory. The duties during this period were of almost continuous
field service by troops or detachments, scouting after Indian depredators,
furnishing guards and escorts.
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From October 1870 to July 1874, "C", "G", "I" and "K" Companies of the 8th
Cavalry were stationed at Ft. Selden, New Mexico, a territorial fort
established on the Rio Grande at the present site of Radium Springs, New
Mexico. Their primary mission was to protect the settlers and travelers of the
Mesilla Valley and San Augustine Pass from the marauding Gila and Mescalero
Apaches. The location of the fort was an ancient Indian campground and a
crossing point for Spanish caravans headed across the Jornada del Muerto
("Journey of Death"). The commander of the post established several remote
picket posts in order to extend the range and areas of surveillance. Covering
the Northern Sector, one picket post was located at Aleman Station, a halfway
point on the Jornada del Muerto, which served as a stage station, post office,
and later a telegraph office. In the South-East Sector, another picket post
was located at San Augustine Pass, a gap in the San Andres Mountains which
linked Las Cruces and White Sands. The nearest town was a rough place called
Leasburg (still existing) which had saloons, nice friendly ladies, and a bad
reputation for violence. It was soon placed off limits to the soldiers.
In parallel to the encampment at Ft. Selden, Regimental Headquarters and
three companies of the 8th Cavalry were assigned to Ft. Union, New Mexico,
under the command of Major William R. Price. A campaign was organized to enter
the Llano Estacado, the Staked Plains area of the Texas Panhandle, a favorite
haunt of the warring bands of Comanches and Kiowas. Departing into the field
in August 1874, the 8th Cavalry campaigned into the early months of 1875
before the troops finally returned to garrison. The Southern Plains were
finally considered free of Indian threat and Ft. Union, settling into a
period of reservation watching, held its troops in readiness for future
troubles. The regiment remained in New Mexico, then far beyond railroad
communications, performing the same duties till July, 1875, when it marched to
Texas.
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On 08 January 1876 headquarters took station at Ft. Clark, TX, During the
period between 1875 and 1888, the regiment remained in Texas, with troops at
different times being stationed at posts and camps from Ft. Brown, TX, near
the mouth of the Rio Grande, to Ft. Hancock, near El Paso, TX. Border
patrolling was the main duty for the years that followed.
One of the permanent stations for the 8th Cavalry was at Ft. Concho, Texas
which was established in 1867. Ft. Concho was located on 40 acres just across
the Concho River from San Angelo, TX. Their mission was to protect
stagecoaches and wagon trains, escort mail deliveries, and map the new
territories between the United States and Mexican border towns of the New
Mexico-Texas Territory. Ft. Concho is now a national historic landmark
recognized as the largest and best-preserved US Army fort of the 19th
century.
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In May 1888, the regiment prepared for the longest march ever taken by a
cavalry regiment. With the increased number of settlers moving to the
Northwest United States, the regiment was ordered to march more than 2,600
miles to its new regimental headquarters located at Ft. Meade, South Dakota
and station at Ft. Keogh, Montana. Some of its march was along the famous
Santa Fe Trail in New Mexico, near which carvings on large boulders and trees
still gives mute testimony of the troops on the longest of all trails.
Units of the regiment soon saw action again, in Arizona as well in Oregon. In
December of 1890, the 8th Cavalry Regiment joined key regiments in the history and development of the 1st Cavalry
Division, the 7th and 9th Cavalry Regiments, and the 6th Cavalry Regiment at
Wounded Knee, South Dakota. On 29 December 1890, the last major campaign to
put down the last great Indian uprising; The Ghost Dance War. was
initiated. As the Indian campaigns concluded, the 8th Cavalry turned their
attention to patrol the far southwestern frontiers.
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in 1898, the 8th Regimental
Headquarters and six troops went by rail to Camp A. G. Forse, Alabama and
sailed from Savannah, Georgia for the Island of Cuba for a four year tour of
duty to secure the peace. Their duties were varied and included protection of
American citizens and their property.
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Returning to the States in 1902, the Regiment was transferred to Jefferson
Barracks, Missouri and subsequently to Ft. Riley, Kansas, where it remained on
duty for three years. Ft. Riley had been established in the fall of 1852 when
a surveying party under the command of Captain Robert Chilton, First Regiment
of Dragoons (the original cavalry unit to become the roots of the 1st Cavalry
Division), who selected its location.
In 1905, the Regiment was ordered to the Philippines with the assignment of
defending the islands from Philippines guerrillas terrorist activities. In
addition, they patrolled supply and communications lines and sources of water
on the islands of Luzon and Jolo.
In 1907, with the completion of the assignment to the Philippine Islands, the
Regiment was ordered back to the United States. Headquarters, 1st and 3rd
Squadrons took station at Ft. Robinson, Nebraska, Troops "E" and "H" were
stationed at D. A. Russel, Wyoming and "F" and "G" Troops were stationed at
Ft. Yellowstone, Wyoming. During 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1910 the regiment was
spread all over Arizona, Nebraska and Wyoming.
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In 1910, the 8th Regiment returned to the Philippines for their second tour of
Pacific duty. This time the troopers fought the rebellious tribesmen on the
island of Mindanao and in the Sulu Archipelago. In the battle of Bansak
Mountain in June 1913, a total of 51 members of the 8th Cavalry's "H" Troop
joined other soldiers in a violent battle with hundreds of Moro warriors on
Jolo. The American force, lead by John J. Pershing, killed an estimated 300
Moro while suffering only light losses. Oddly this lopsided victory assisted
Pershing in his job as Governor of Moro Province. This helped lead to more
peaceful times in that region of the Philippines.
In September 1914, the regiment returned to Camp Stotsenberg, Philippine
Islands and performed the usual garrison duties. On 21 September it joined
with the 7th Cavalry Regiment to form a Provisional Cavalry Brigade.
On 12 September 1915, the regiment returned to the States and was stationed at
Ft. Bliss, Texas. Troops were dispatched along the border town for the purpose
of subduing the activity of Mexican bandits who were giving the ranchers a
great deal of trouble. Responding to a border raid at Columbus, New Mexico by
Poncho Villa, an expedition lead by Pershing was launched into Mexico on 15
March 1916. Destiny rode with the punitive expedition in yet another way. One
young cavalry officer at Pershing's side was a man especially fond of pistols.
First Lieutenant George Smith Patton, Jr. an officer of the 8th Cavalry
Regiment, and a brash believer of action, had become one of Pershing's
aids-de-camp. Impatient with the slow progress of the expedition, Patton
personally rode out in search of Villa. He did not find the elusive Mexican
raider. However, he did track down Villa's body guard, Julio Cardenas, in the
town of Miguel and killed him in a shootout.
In mid 1917, troopers of the 8th Cavalry Regiment were transferred to Camp
Marfa in the big bend country of Texas. The mission sector encompassed four
hundred and twenty miles of river line, divided into patrol assignments from
forty five to sixty miles for each troop. It covered fourteen thousand square
miles, an area greater than the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut
together, with terrain features varying from rugged mountain peaks, of which
one hundred ninety six ranged from 4,000 feet to 7,000 feet in elevation, to
rolling grassy plains and scorching deserts. It was a routine mission to clash
with bands of Mexicans that crossed the Rio Grande to steal cattle or create
other problems. The 8th regiment, lead by Colonel George T. Langhorne, also
skirmished with members of various Mexican Revolutionary groups that conducted
raids across the border.
In one unusual occurrence that may have foretold the future of the 1st Cavalry
Division, the troopers of the 8th were called upon to quickly reinforce the
garrison at Presidio, 68 miles away, after a large Mexican force had crossed
the border. The cavalrymen climbed into automobiles driven by citizens of
Marfa and covered the distance in a speedy three and a half hours. They came
in sight of the fleeing raiders, followed them to Rim Rock in the automobiles
and made them drop the larger part of their plunder.
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On 13 September 1921, with the initiation of the National Defense Act, the 1st
Cavalry Division was formally activated at Ft. Bliss, Texas. The first unit of
the 1st Cavalry Division, the famous 1st Cavalry Regiment, had been
preassigned to the 1st Division on 20 August 1921, nearly a month before the
formal divisional activation date. Upon formal activation, the 7th, 8th and
10th Cavalry Regiments were assigned to the new division. Other units
initially assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division in 1921, included 82nd Field
Artillery Battalion (Horse), the 13th Signal Troop, the 27th Ordnance Company,
Division Headquarters and the 1st Cavalry Quartermaster train which later
became the 15th Replacement Company. Major Robert L. Howze was assigned as the
first division commander. The 5th Cavalry Regiment was assigned on 18 December
1922, relieving the 10th Cavalry Regiment. In subsequent years, the 12th
Cavalry Regiment would be assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division on 03 January
1933, relieving the 1st Cavalry Regiment.
In 1923, the 1st Cavalry Division assembled for its first divisional maneuvers
since WWI at Camp Marfa, Texas. The 8th Cavalry participated and the line of
march was Fabens, Ft. Hancock, Finley Sierra Blanca, Hot Wells, Lobo Flats
and Valentine. The wagon trains, all drawn by four mules (no motorized
vehicles yet), were endless. Over the next four years, elements of the
division were stationed at Camp Marfa, Ft. Bliss and Ft. Clark, which were
all in Texas. The early missions of the division were largely a saga of rough
riding, patrolling the Mexican border and constant training. Operating from
horseback, the cavalry was the only force capable of piercing the harsh
terrain of the desert to halt the band of smugglers that operated along the
desolate Mexican border.
The depression of the 1930's forced thousands of unemployed workers into the
streets. From 1933 to 1936, the 3,300 troopers of the 1st Cavalry Division
provided training and leadership for 62,500 people of the Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) in Arizona-New Mexico District. One of these workers
significant accomplishments was the construction of barracks for 20,000
anti-aircraft troops at Ft. Bliss, Texas. When World War II broke out, many
of those who had been in the CCC were well prepared for the rigors of
military training.
The entire Army was expanding and acquiring new equipment. Faster and lighter
medium tanks were assigned to both, cavalry and infantry units. The mobile
105mm howitzer became the chief artillery piece of the Army Divisions. There
was also a new urgency being expressed by Washington. Japan, which had invaded
Manchuria in 1931, continued to expand conquests into China and Nazi Germany
had annexed Austria and was threatening to seize Czechoslovakia. In 1938,
against the background of international tensions, the 8th Cavalry Regiment
joined in with the 1st Cavalry Division at its second divisional maneuvers in
the mountains near Balmorhea, Texas. New units, including the 1st Signal
Corps, the 27th Ordnance Company and the 1st Medical Squadron joined the 1st
Cavalry Division.
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The staging of the third divisional maneuvers near Balmorhea, Texas was made
even more memorable and intense by their timing. The starting of the
maneuvers, 01 September 1939, coincided with the invasion of Poland by
Germany, who used the most modern and deadly military force of its time.
Failing to influence Hitler of the grave consequences of his actions, both
Great Britain and France initiated a declaration of war on 03 September
1939.
Having returned to Ft. Bliss from the 3rd Army Louisiana readiness maneuvers
in October 1941, the 8th Cavalry Regiment was trained and ready for action.
Isolationist politics was still strong in Congress. Major priorities were
placed on building up the industrial capacity to supply equipment to the
Allies in Europe. Many officers and men took leave or returned to civilian
life. Other, more dedicated, members of the 1st Cavalry Division began to
prepare for battle. They had no way of knowing that their first combat
engagement would not be for more than two and a half years.
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