Buffalo Soldier, Private, David Ford

Little is known of David Ford’s life in the mid-nineteenth century. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining Company C, 38th Infantry, by February 1867. The 38th Infantry was a segregated unit for black soldiers established in 1866; organized at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, it was consolidated with the 41st Infantry in 1869. Together the regiments formed the 24th Infantry and the African Americans who served in them were known as Buffalo Soldiers. Between 1866 and 1869, the 38th Infantry was based in New Mexico. Private Ford served at Fort Craig, where he died of a spinal infection on June 18, 1868, and was buried in the post cemetery. After looters disturbed the graves there in 2007, authorities exhumed the remains for reburial in Santa Fe National Cemetery. In 2009, Ford was reinterred with full military honors in Section 15A, Site 27.

Notes:

Dabovich, Melanie. “Military welcomes home long-lost Buffalo Soldiers,” The Santa Fe New Mexican(Santa Fe, New Mexico 7/19/2009, p. A2.

Dabovich, Melanie. “Finally, full honors.” The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, New Mexico), Jul 29, 2009

Features Photo:

Dabovich, Melanie. “Finally, full honors.” The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, New Mexico), Jul 29, 2009