George W. Ford (Buffalo Soldier) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George W. Ford
Born	October 17, 1818 Alexandria, Virginia
Died	June 20, 1939 (aged 80)
Place of Burial	Camp Butler Cemetery
Allegiance	United States Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	American Civil War Spanish-American War

George W. Ford (November 23, 1847 – June 20, 1939) was a U.S. military officer. He was born in Alexandria, Virginia at George Washington's Mount Vernon Plantation. He was the son of William West and Henrietta Bruce Ford, who were both born free. George was the great grandson of West Ford, who in Ford oral history is the African American son of George Washington.

Early life at Mount Vernon

George's siblings were John, Daniel, Constance, and Hannah. All of the Ford offspring were educated along with the Washington children at the Mount Vernon Schoolhouse. The state of Virginia had laws in place that didn't allow the education of any blacks, enslaved or free, yet this law did not affect the Ford family. George and his brothers became guardians of the first president's tomb, a position that was also handed down to their male offspring. George and his brothers sold photos, flowers, fruit, milk, and hand-carved canes to the many tourists who flocked to the plantation. As a young boy, George enjoyed mingling with the sightseers and giving them information about the estate and the first president; things he had learned firsthand from his grandfather, West Ford.

Prior to the Civil War, William Ford moved his family to New York to stay with his wife's relatives. George's Aunt Mary and Uncle James Bell were a prominent family that owned a boarding house there in the 1860s. The Fords would be ensconced in the New York Draft Riots of 1863. U.S. Military guards were placed around the boarding house to protect the occupants. The riots lasted for days before it was finally quelled. Property valued at more than two million dollars was destroyed in the city.

At the end of the Civil War, George and his Family would move back to Virginia where they owned a farm next to Mount Vernon. The farm was once a part of Mount Vernon Plantation and was willed to West Ford in 1829. The U.S. Army of Transportation set up operations on George’s grandfather’s property called Gum Springs. The government was providing food, shelter, and healthcare to the thousands of formerly enslaved who had migrated to the area. Many of the now ex-slaves were trying to reassemble their families, desperately seeking sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers sold as slaves throughout the South. The land was eventually referred to as Gum Springs and West Ford would be known as the "father and founder" of Gum Springs.

Military career

George Ford was born to a soldier and at the age of 20, he enlisted with the legendary 10th Cavalry, Company L. He was stationed at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas for his basic training and his commanding officer was Colonel Benjamin Grierson, who was one of the foremost cavalry officers of the Civil War. Even though the 10th Cavalry were United States soldiers, they still endured unfair and cruel treatment because of their race. The black troops also experienced discrimination in the quality of supplies, equipment and including the horses they rode. The 10th Cavalry’s focus during George’s enlistment was to try and keep the peace between the settlers and the confederated tribes that consisted of the Southern Cheyenne, Kiowas, Comanches, Apache, and Arapahos.  He and his fellow troops protected railroad working crews, escorted stages, and supply trains.

George married Harriet Bythewood, in 1879, after his first stint with the 10th Cavalry while visiting his parents in Beaufort, South Carolina. The couple would go on to have eight children: George Jr., James Irwin, Noel Bertram, Elise, Vera, Harriet, Cecil Bruce and Donald. During his second tour of duty, George was now a Sergeant, and his company was sent to Texas under the command of Colonel Wood. His new orders were to help protect the townspeople and to keep the peace. The black soldiers were being referred to at that time as Buffalo Soldiers by the native Americans. George Ford would serve 10 years with his regiment and was honorable discharged with the rank of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. He was commended in General Orders No. 53, Fort Sill for acts of good judgment and gallantry in action. His commanding officer wrote on his discharge papers, "character excellent, good and faithful soldier."'

George Ford was 50 years old when would voluntarily enlist for the Spanish-American War with the rank of Major with the Second Battalion of 23rd Kansas Volunteers. Ford and the other black soldiers going to Cuba were called the “Immune Troops”. There had been a myth at the beginning of the war that black troops would be “immune” to the diseases of the tropics and capable of more activity in high, humid temperatures.

While in Cuba, Major George Ford met with Teddy Roosevelt. Colonel Roosevelt had been impressed with the fighting ability of the black troops who had fought next to him at San Juan Hill. When he learned that there was a major who was one of the original members of the 10th Cavalry, he asked George to meet with him. This initial meeting led to them becoming personal friends and Ford would correspond with Roosevelt via letters. When Roosevelt was running for vice president, Ford sat as a delegate from Kansas in the Philadelphia National Convention in June 1900 in support of his candidacy.  

Later life

On July 17, 1862, the establishment of national cemeteries was authorized by the Federal government. This sanction was part of a congressional act to fund the Union military forces during the Civil War. Initially, the goal was to protect the graves and cemeteries of Union soldiers who were buried in the South. After George Ford mustered out of the military he was appointed as superintendent at Chattanooga National Cemetery in Tennessee on Nov. 9, 1878. Superintendents were required to have been wounded in service and to have received an honorable discharge. George was the first African American to receive this honor. He would go on to manage five national cemeteries during his lifetime. He finally retired on October 20, 1930, after spending 52 years of service.

Continuing with his love of public service, he met W.E.B. Du Bois and accepted an advisory position as Secretary of the Army-Navy Committee in the Niagara Movement, a precursor to the NAACP. The two men would remain lifelong friends and regularly corresponded with one another. W.E.B. Du Bois Papers, Series 1A. General Correspondence, Letter from the Co-operative Educational Council Board for the Springfield District of the Loyal Legion Co-operative Educational System to George W. Ford, March 20, 1918</ref> Major Ford would also serve as the first African American president of the NAACP Branch in Springfield, Illinois where he fought for equal rights for all.

Major George W. Ford, from his humble beginnings on the Mount Vernon Estate, to an illustrious career in the military and public service, died in 1939 at the age of 91. He was honored with a full military funeral and buried at Camp Butler Cemetery, in Springfield, Illinois. He was also the last surviving member of the original 10th United States Cavalry.