Menard County Texas

First Sergeant Emanuel Stance

"The first black American to receive the Medal of Honor during the Indian Campaigns was Sergeant Emanual Stance, Company F, 9th Cavalry. Stationed at Fort McKavett, Texas in 1870, Sergeant Stance and nine troopers commanded by Captain Henry Carroll left the fort on routine patrol. They were searching for Indians who had stolen two children during a raid. Approximately 14 miles from the fort, they observed a party of Indians escorting nine horses. They attacked and engaged in a running fight for eight miles when the Indians broke contact, abandoning the animals. Camping overnight, the soldiers headed back for the fort the next morning with the captured horses when they encountered about twenty Indians who were stalking a herd of government horses and a small detachment of guards. Again Stance and the men attacked. The Indians retreated, regrouped and counterattacked. Stance and several men constituted the left flank of the Army column. They outflanked the attacking Indians, who fled. Captain Carroll was full of praise for Sergeant Stance and recommended him for a medal which was awarded in June.

Sixteen years later, Stance, now a First Sergeant, was still in the Army. His unit, F Troop, had been reassigned to Fort Robinson, Nebraska, and found little to do other than chase an occasional outlaw. Garrison duty bore heavily upon the soldiers. Tempers flared and brawls became a frequent occurrence. The non-commissioned officers began to lose control of their men and the guard house filled with bored, harassed soldiers who had responded to pettiness with violence. Stance was one of the more strict disciplinarians in the unit and a center of the conflict.

In December 1887, the body of First Sergeant Stance was found on the road to Crawford, Nebraska with four bullet wounds; the probable victim of his own men." (Excerpt from Black Americans in Defense of our Nation- Department of Defense)

Texas Legislature

EXCERPT from Bill: HCR 65 - Legislative Session: 79(R)

Council Document: 79R 05798
02/21/2005 H Adopted
Designating February 2005 as Black History Month in Texas. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in February 2005 provides an opportunity to recognize the rich cultural heritage and significant contributions of African-Americans in the State of Texas; and
(CUT)
WHEREAS, African-American infantry and cavalry garrisoned forts in West Texas during the Indian Wars; known as "Buffalo Soldiers," they patrolled the frontier with the assistance of Seminole-Negro Indian scouts, built roads, and escorted mail carriers; Sergeant Emmanuel Stance, stationed at Fort McKavett, was the first African-American who fought in the Indian Wars to be awarded the Medal of Honor;
(CUT)

If you would like to know more about Sgt Emmanuel Stance, you might want to look at the article "Buffalo Soldier Emanuel Stance Received The Medal Of Honor And Became A Legend" from the February 1997 Wild West Magazine by By Patrick A. BowMaster. There is a link here, but I don't know how long it will be online.

NOTE: While I strive for accuracy in all transcriptions, please be advised that typing errors may be present. I would suggest you always verify my online information with a copy of the actual record.

All contents of this web site are the property of Alicia Brown unless otherwise noted. You are free to copy or print out pieces of information for your personal genealogical research, but nothing on this site may be used in other ways without my permission.

Have a Question or Comment About My Web Site?

Due to the increasing amount of "spam" I'm receiving from email "harvesters", I only publish my email link in jpg form. I am sorry for any inconvenience this might cause you...but I'm really tired of the "advertising trash" that is filling up my email box..

This Page Was Last Updated On:

Saturday, March 22, 2008 11:00 AM