However, because most of the Seminole scouts were of African descent, they were often attached to the Buffalo Soldier regiments,[1] to guide the troops through hostile territory.

The Black Seminoles, about 200 people, accepted the agreement, believing that they would be granted land in the United States, food and provisions, as well as reimbursement for traveling costs.

[4] They crossed the international border on July 4 and were officially mustered into service on August 16 at Fort Duncan, near Eagle Pass, Texas.

[citation needed] Having been a commander of black soldiers during the Civil War, Bullis was trusted by his men and even asked to perform marriages for the tribe.

Between May 1872 and 1881, the Seminole scouts fought in several engagements with Comanches, Kiowas, Apaches and Kickapoos, sometimes traveling into Mexico, the Indian Territory and Kansas.

Fort Clark was also the headquarters of Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie, the leader of multiple expeditions into Mexico to punish hostile natives that crossed the border to raid in the United States.

In 1873, the Secretary of War William W. Belknap and General Philip Sheridan went to Fort Clark for "secret talks" with Mackenzie.

They fought a successful skirmish against Kickapoo raiders at El Remolino, forced the Mexican Army to keep from intervening and then hastily returned to the fort.

Details of the engagement are unclear but the scout Adam Payne was awarded the Medal of Honor for risking his life to save the others.

In May 1876 Chief John Horse was badly wounded and the scout Titus Payne was killed after a shooting incident in Eagle Pass.

The two evaded arrest and fled to Nacimiento, Mexico, but they made the mistake of returning to Brackettville in December to celebrate the coming of the new year.

Bobby Kibbett was later tried and acquitted for attempting to murder Deputy Sheriff Windus and the charges against Isaac Payne and Dallas Griner were dropped.

However, on February 23, 1893, the scouts fought in one final skirmish against Mexican bandits at Las Muias Ranch, thirty miles north of Fort Ringgold in Starr County.

[14] The Black Seminole Scouts were disbanded twenty-one years later in 1914 and most were forced to leave the Fort Clark reservation with their families.

The following named members of the Scout Camp will be permitted to remain and live on the Fort Clark Military Reservation until the older people pass away in the course of nature, or until such time as the War Department may see fit to order their removal.

Of the 152 scouts that served between 1870 and 1914, there were seventeen "Wilson"s, eleven "Payne"s, eight "July"s, seven "Factor"s, seven "Bowleg"s, six "Washington"s, six "Daniels"s, and six "Bruner"s. Many of these families were also intermarried.