From Slave to Hero

Remembering Medal of Honor Recipient Augustus Walley

Augustus Walley Manekin at the Maryland Museum of Military History

Walley was assigned to the 9^th US Cavalry commanded by Colonel Edward Hatch, a veteran of the Civil War and an outstanding cavalry officer. Colonel Benjamin Grierson led the other Buffalo Soldier regiment, the 10^th US Cavalry. During the war he led a daring raid deep into the South that was the basis for the movie The Horse Soldiers starring John Wayne as Grierson. U.S. Grant handpicked Hatch and Grierson to assure the best possible leadership for these soldiers.

From the beginning, the treatment of the two regiments by the War Department, and by society in general, would at times leave both Hatch and Grierson utterly exasperated.  Both officers complained bitterly about the inferior horses provided to 9th and 10th Cavalry, a situation that never really improved over their years of service, so their Soldiers, almost to a man, had to become equestrian experts of the highest degree.  The Army assigned officers to white units, however, any officer who didn’t volunteer to serve in the 9th or 10th Cavalry didn’t have to do so, which made it difficult to find good ones – although over time both Hatch and Grierson found some superb officers.  And that group eventually included the first three African-Americans to graduate from West Point. 

The 9th and 10th Cavalry received substandard medical care, post sanitation everywhere they were stationed was a challenge and the quality of supplies they received was so poor, particularly the food, it caused several 9th Cavalry chaplains to lodge a fierce protest with the War Department.  They were also assigned to some of the most unforgiving desolate posts on the frontier, which also meant having to accept some of the Army’s most dangerous missions.  While they were fighting aggressive bands of Apache and Comanche Indians they also had to battle injustice from settlers in the frontier towns they protected who didn’t always appreciate their efforts.”  

Augustus Walley was a remarkable soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 16, 1881 in the Cuchiullo Mountains of New Mexico while he was serving with the 9^th Cavalry, Troop I, famously known as the Buffalo Soldiers. On this eventful day Walley was fighting with the rear guard during his unit’s retreat and mounting a horse galloped, into enemy fire to assist a fallen comrade too injured to make it back to his unit without assistance. For this action Walley’s Medal of Honor citation states “bravery in action with Indians.”

This career soldier would continue serving in the Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection and World War I. He would eventually be promoted to First Sergeant and was nominated for a second Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Las Guasimas in Cuba on June 24, 1898 while serving with the 10^th Cavalry, Troop E. This would have been a tremendous achievement as currently there are only nineteen service members who received this honor twice.

On that day Captain Charles Ayres was attempting to carry Major Bells to safety, causing a great deal of pain as Bells’ bone had pierced through his flesh by an enemy bullet. Ayres’ account of this rescue mentions the tremendous risk to life and limb Walley faced in assisting Bells. After the battle there were sixteen men killed and wounded within fifty square feet. Ultimately Walley would not receive this second Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Las Guasimas, but was awarded the Certificate of Merit for distinguished service, soon to be the Silver Star.

Walley finally retired for the last time after his service during WWI in 1919 and returned to Maryland where he lived in Baltimore on Etting Street, a short distance from the Fifth Regiment Armory. He died on April 9, 1938 at the age of 82 and was interred in the cemetery at St. Luke’s A.M.E. Church in Reisterstown very close to his birthplace.

He was a man who served his country with distinction despite serious disadvantages, multiple barriers and extremely dangerous conditions. We will never forget First Sergeant Augustus Walley.