Alfred Martin Ray: Buffalo Solder
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
This historic marker commemorates the remarkable life of Alfred Martin Ray. Born a slave in Jonesborough, TN, Ray enlisted in the army shortly after the Civil War. Ray served in the 10th Calvary Division, mounted troops known as "Buffalo Soldiers." Serving in the army for many years, Ray fought in the Spanish-American War and planted the U.S. flag on San Juan Hill.
Images
The marker dedicated to Ray is located next to his home. As of date, no known photo of Ray can be found.
Alfred Martin Ray home
10th Calvary before charge up San Juan Hill
Top of San Juan Hill, July 4, 1898, Soldiers pictured are Buffalo Soldiers
Famed photo of Col. Teddy Roosevelt with American flag atop San Juan Hill. This original photo has the Rough Riders (First Volunteer Calvary), the 10th Calvary and the 3rd US Calvary in the shot.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Believed to have been born around 1849, Alfred Martin Ray was born a slave in Jonesborough, TN. Like many other slaves, there is little information available about Ray's family and his life before 1865. In 1872, Ray enlisted in the army and joined the famed "Buffalo Soldiers" of the 10th Calvary Division--an all-Black military unit. From 1872 to 1898, he was stationed at a variety of frontier outposts and was part of numerous campaigns and engagements along the frontier.
When war with Spain came in 1898, Ray and the Buffalo Soldiers deployed to Cuba to fight Spanish forces. On July 1 of 1898, Ray charged up San Juan Hill while under fire from entrenched Spanish defenders. Upon reaching the crest of the hill, Ray planted the U.S. flag as American forces stormed behind him and drove off Spanish forces. Due to his heroic action on San Juan Hill, Ray received a battlefield commission. He later was sent to the Philippines, where he fought against Spanish troops and Filipino rebels who cared for neither Spanish or American presence on the islands. Ray retired from the military in 1903.
After retiring, Ray returned to Jonesborough and purchased land by Woodrow Ave. and Depot street and built a house in 1904. He lived there until his death in 1917. He is buried in the local College Hill Cemetery.