Lindsey Graham

When the Civil War began, he left his job as a small-town music teacher in Illinois and sought a commission as an infantry officer. Instead, he was appointed as a major in the cavalry. Despite his initial disappointment, though, Grierson threw himself into the challenge.

He poured over books on battle tactics to make up for his lack of military education, and he soon turned his recruits into first-rate cavalrymen. In the spring of 1863, he led a daring 600-mile raid through the heart of Mississippi to divert Confederate attention from Grant's attack on Vicksburg. General William Tecumseh Sherman praised the raid as the most brilliant expedition of the war.

He poured over books on battle tactics to make up for his lack of military education, and he soon turned his recruits into first-rate cavalrymen. In the spring of 1863, he led a daring 600-mile raid through the heart of Mississippi to divert Confederate attention from Grant's attack on Vicksburg. General William Tecumseh Sherman praised the raid as the most brilliant expedition of the war.

He poured over books on battle tactics to make up for his lack of military education, and he soon turned his recruits into first-rate cavalrymen. In the spring of 1863, he led a daring 600-mile raid through the heart of Mississippi to divert Confederate attention from Grant's attack on Vicksburg. General William Tecumseh Sherman praised the raid as the most brilliant expedition of the war.

Afterwards, Grierson was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and his portrait was published on the cover of Harper's Weekly. During the war, he also developed a respect for the combat capabilities of black men.

Afterwards, Grierson was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and his portrait was published on the cover of Harper's Weekly. During the war, he also developed a respect for the combat capabilities of black men.

Afterwards, Grierson was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and his portrait was published on the cover of Harper's Weekly. During the war, he also developed a respect for the combat capabilities of black men.

Following the siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana, in the summer of 1863, Grierson wrote to his wife Alice, declaring that the good fighting qualities of Negroes had been settled beyond a doubt. His high regard for black soldiers made him the ideal man to lead the 10th Cavalry.

Following the siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana, in the summer of 1863, Grierson wrote to his wife Alice, declaring that the good fighting qualities of Negroes had been settled beyond a doubt. His high regard for black soldiers made him the ideal man to lead the 10th Cavalry.

Following the siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana, in the summer of 1863, Grierson wrote to his wife Alice, declaring that the good fighting qualities of Negroes had been settled beyond a doubt. His high regard for black soldiers made him the ideal man to lead the 10th Cavalry.

After accepting his appointment, Grierson established headquarters at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, while Hatch went to work in Greenville, Louisiana. Next, both men turned their attention to the problem of filling the officer ranks of their regiments. but they soon discovered that there were few experienced officers who were willing to command black troops.

After accepting his appointment, Grierson established headquarters at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, while Hatch went to work in Greenville, Louisiana. Next, both men turned their attention to the problem of filling the officer ranks of their regiments. but they soon discovered that there were few experienced officers who were willing to command black troops.

After accepting his appointment, Grierson established headquarters at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, while Hatch went to work in Greenville, Louisiana. Next, both men turned their attention to the problem of filling the officer ranks of their regiments. but they soon discovered that there were few experienced officers who were willing to command black troops.

Brevet Major General Eugene Carr declined a commission, insisting that black men could not make good soldiers, and accepted a lower rank so he could serve with a white regiment. And the young rising star George Custer, who went on to lead troops against Native Americans in the controversial Battle of Little Bighorn, refused Hatch's offer to serve as a second-in-command.

Brevet Major General Eugene Carr declined a commission, insisting that black men could not make good soldiers, and accepted a lower rank so he could serve with a white regiment. And the young rising star George Custer, who went on to lead troops against Native Americans in the controversial Battle of Little Bighorn, refused Hatch's offer to serve as a second-in-command.

Brevet Major General Eugene Carr declined a commission, insisting that black men could not make good soldiers, and accepted a lower rank so he could serve with a white regiment. And the young rising star George Custer, who went on to lead troops against Native Americans in the controversial Battle of Little Bighorn, refused Hatch's offer to serve as a second-in-command.

Instead, he took the same position with the all-white 7th Cavalry. And recruitment was not just difficult for officers. Even in New Orleans, Louisiana, where large numbers of Black Civil War veterans lived, recruiters for the 9th Cavalry faced an uphill battle in the fall of 1866. The previous summer, a white mob attacked dozens of Black protesters peacefully marching for voting rights.

Instead, he took the same position with the all-white 7th Cavalry. And recruitment was not just difficult for officers. Even in New Orleans, Louisiana, where large numbers of Black Civil War veterans lived, recruiters for the 9th Cavalry faced an uphill battle in the fall of 1866. The previous summer, a white mob attacked dozens of Black protesters peacefully marching for voting rights.

Instead, he took the same position with the all-white 7th Cavalry. And recruitment was not just difficult for officers. Even in New Orleans, Louisiana, where large numbers of Black Civil War veterans lived, recruiters for the 9th Cavalry faced an uphill battle in the fall of 1866. The previous summer, a white mob attacked dozens of Black protesters peacefully marching for voting rights.

At least 50 Black residents were killed, many of them war veterans. Only months later, the city was still reeling from the violence, and white hostility to Black men in uniform persisted. But despite white resistance, recruiters managed to enlist roughly 800 men into the 9th Cavalry. One of those men was 19-year-old Emanuel Stantz, who became one of the first to enroll in October 1866.