Over 180,000 African-Americans served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Of these, more than 33,000 died. After the war, the future of the African-Americans in the U.S. Army was in doubt. At the end of the American Civil War in July of 1866, Congress passed and authorized the expansion of the United States Army. There were a total of six regular horse regiments on active duty. The expansion authorized by congress allowed the forming of four additional horse regiments. I will address in this paper the mounted horse cavalry of the Civil War 1866. The primary emphasis will be on the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiments. I also will discuss the role of the Noncommissioned Officers, weapons and training.

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