15 June 1877: Henry Ossian Flipper became the first black to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Commissioned as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to Troop A, 10th Cavalry, and became the first nonwhite officer to lead "buffalo soldiers."

The first illustration shows 2d Lt. Flipper in the field with other 10th Cav. officers. The second shows him mounted.