ated ▁African ▁American ▁reg iments . ▁The ▁regiment ▁saw ▁combat ▁during ▁the ▁Indian ▁and ▁Spanish – American ▁Wars . ▁During ▁West ward ▁Exp ansion , ▁the ▁regiment ▁provided ▁security ▁for ▁the ▁early ▁western ▁sett lers ▁and ▁def ended ▁the ▁American ▁borders ▁against ▁Indian ▁bands , ▁Mexican ▁enc ro achment , ▁and ▁criminal ▁elements . ▁ ▁, ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Battalion ▁and ▁ 4 th ▁Squadron ▁serve ▁with ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Brigade ▁Com bat ▁Team , ▁ 1 st ▁Caval ry ▁Division ▁as ▁a ▁combined ▁arms ▁batt alion ▁and ▁an ▁arm ored ▁reconna issance ▁squad ron , ▁respectively , ▁while ▁the ▁ 6 th ▁Squadron ▁is ▁the ▁arm ored ▁reconna issance ▁squad ron ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 rd ▁Brigade ▁Com bat ▁Team ▁of ▁the ▁division . ▁All ▁three ▁units ▁are ▁station ed ▁at ▁Fort ▁H ood . ▁ ▁Form ation ▁▁ ▁The ▁regiment ▁was ▁author ized ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁July ▁ 1 8 6 6 ▁to ▁become ▁the ▁ 9 th ▁United ▁States ▁Caval ry ▁Regiment . ▁On ▁ 3 ▁August ▁ 1 8 6 6 , ▁Major ▁General ▁Philip ▁H . ▁Sher idan , ▁command ing ▁the ▁Military ▁Division ▁of ▁the ▁G ulf , ▁was ▁" author ized ▁to ▁raise , ▁among ▁others , ▁one ▁regiment ▁of ▁colored ▁( A fr ican - American ) ▁caval ry ▁to ▁be ▁designated ▁the ▁ 9 th ▁Regiment ▁of ▁U . S . ▁Caval ry ". ▁ ▁The ▁regiment ▁was ▁formally ▁organized ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁September ▁ 1 8 6 6 ▁in