The 24th Infantry Speaks

We of the 24th Regiment of Infantry, now forgotten, were the only Infantry regiment to ever serve in Yosemite or Sequoia National Park. You will barely find a mention of us in any history written about Yosemite or Sequoia. Twenty-five of us ventured into Yosemite, as well as Sequoia, in May of 1899 and were gone by June. The 24th Infantry Speaks We of the 24th Regiment of Infantry, now forgotten, were the only Infantry regiment to ever serve in Yosemite or Sequoia National Park. You will barely find a mention of us in any history written about Yosemite or Sequoia. Twenty-five of us ventured into Yosemite, as well as Sequoia, in May of 1899 and were gone by June.

Because of the Spanish-American War, the usual placement of cavalry in the park was slow in coming. We came first in May of 1899, followed by the Third Artillery, and lastly, the Sixth Cavalry.

By the time the Sixth Cavalry arrived in Yosemite we were engaged in guerilla warfare in the jungles of the Philippines. The fighting there was hot. Oh, the 24th was a Colored regiment formed after the War Between the States. We fought in the Indian Wars where we became known as Buffalo Solders.

Most people, nowadays, don't recall those days and nights we spent in Yosemite and Sequoia Parks. It's like the regiment was never there, but we were present. Just because we've been forgotten doesn't mean we didn't live in those mountains, breathe that air, walk that earth.

100 years is just a big hole. It's so deep you can't pull yourself out of it without a little help. We're down here in this darkness, waiting for you up there to call our names, maybe lend a hand. If you reach out for us we'll be there, but if you forget that we ever lived, then those years will swallow us, silence our voices, and this story will grow cold as any grave. - Shelton Johnson .......