<P> During the Civil War , the U.S. government formed regiments known as the United States Colored Troops , composed of black soldiers and Native Americans . After the war , Congress reorganized the Army and authorized the formation of two regiments of black cavalry with the designations 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry , and four regiments of black infantry , designated the 38th , 39th , 40th , and 41st Infantry Regiments ( Colored ) . The 38th and 41st were reorganized as the 25th Infantry Regiment , with headquarters in Jackson Barracks in New Orleans , Louisiana , in November 1869 . The 39th and 40th were reorganized as the 24th Infantry Regiment , with headquarters at Fort Clark , Texas , in April 1869 . All of these units were composed of black enlisted men commanded by both white and black officers . These included the first commander of the 10th Cavalry Benjamin Grierson , the first commander of the 9th Cavalry Edward Hatch , Medal of Honor recipient Louis H. Carpenter , Nicholas M. Nolan , and the first black graduate of West Point , Henry O. Flipper . </P>
who led an all black american cavalry unit
Benjamin Grierson Edward Hatch Louis H. Carpenter Nicholas M. Nolan Henry O. Flipper