Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. 48 items (one folder)

Summary

1. Military records documenting Melvin McCaw's career as a non-commissioned officer in the 9th Regiment of the U.S. Cavalry from 1896 to 1917, and the activities of this segregated African American regiment at West Point after 1907.

Donor/Sponsor

1. Schomburg NEH Automated Access to Special Collections Project.

Subject

1. United States > Army > African American troops
2. McCaw, Melvin, 1867-
3. United States Military Academy
4. Spanish-American War, 1898
5. United States > Army > Cavalry, 10th
6. United States > Army > Cavalry, 9th
7. African American soldiers
8. Lincoln League of Colored Citizens

Call number

1. Sc MG 270

Note

1. Three photographs of Melvin McCaw and black troops at West Point have been transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division.

Source (note)

1. Mrs. E. Lucille Gatewood

Biography (note)

1. Born in Columbia, Tennessee, in 1867, Melvin McCaw was a veteran of the Spanish-American wars in Cuba and the Philippines, and a non-commissioned officer in the 9th Regiment of U.S. Cavalry, the first detachment of African American troops assigned to West Point in 1907.

Processing action (note)

1. Processed

Author

1. McCaw, Melvin, 1867-

Title

1. Melvin McCaw military records 1889-1917.

Biography

1. Born in Columbia, Tennessee, in 1867, Melvin McCaw was a veteran of the Spanish-American wars in Cuba and the Philippines, and a non-commissioned officer in the 9th Regiment of U.S. Cavalry, the first detachment of African American troops assigned to West Point in 1907.
2. McCaw participated in the battle of San Juan Hill and the siege of Santiago de Cuba, as well as the U.S. occupation of the Philippines in 1900. African American troops were introduced into West Point because of the high level of desertion among their white counterparts. A 1907 military report found that they "performed few duties of the soldier, but are required to perform much work of every other character and received no extra pay." The segregated 9th and 10th Regiments of U.S. Cavalry were called "Buffalo Soldiers" because of their earlier participation in the Indian wars of 1867-1891, and their patrolling of the "Wild West" at the end of the 19th century. McCaw was a qualified marksman and a sharpshooter. He was invariably listed as an intelligent and loyal soldier of good character. A married man with two children, he retired from the army after 30 years of uninterrupted service.

Connect to:

1. Finding Aid

Research call number

1. Sc MG 270