Ranald Slidell Mackenzie Black troops CLASS OF 1862 Mackenzie went directly from classroom to battlefield. By the end of the Civil War, he had been wounded six times, cited for gallantry seven times, and risen to major general of volunteers. Grant thought him the army’s “most promising young officer.” After the war Mackenzie became colonel of the newly formed 41st (later the 24th) Infantry, one of the regular army’s first black units. Judged by many a dubious experiment, the regiment under Mackenzie’s discipline and training proved itself along the Mexican border. In 1871 Mackenzie assumed command of the 4th Cavalry, his main task forcing Indians back to their reservations. Operating in Texas, Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, his highly successful strategy focused less on shedding blood than on destroying horses and other property. Mental illness forced Mackenzie into retirement in 1884. NEXT Henry Ossian Flipper George Armstrong Custer 1839–1876 Class of 1861 Fayette Washington Roe 1850–1916 Class of 1871 Ranald Slidell Mackenzie 1840–1889 Class of 1862 Henry Ossian Flipper 1856–1940 Class of 1877 George Crook 1829–1890 Class of 1852
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