the 25th infantry bicycle corps

Formed in 1896, the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps was a unit of black soldiers commanded by Lt. James A. Moss. This specific regiment was developed to test the viability of bicycle-mounted troops in combat. Their maiden ride started at Fort Missoula, Montana to Yellowstone National Park and back. In 1897, they rode from the Fort through the Rocky Mountains, and then across the Great Plains to Saint Louis. 

Their bicycles were furnished with steel rims, tandem spokes, heavy side-forks and crowns, gear cases, luggage carriers, frames cases, and Christy saddles. They weighed roughly 32 pounds, but the average weight of a packed bicycle was around 59 pounds. They were supplied by the Spalding Bicycle Company in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

The men faced hardships almost immediately after crossing over the continental divide, muddy roads and fresh snow stalled their progress, heavily. After leaving the mountains, the riders’ followed the Missouri River into the Gallatin Valley.  They continued along the Yellowstone River to Montana, and then to the site of the Battle of Little Big Horn into Wyoming. The men traveled southeast to Nebraska where excessive HEAT and a water shortage caused more hardship. The only available water sources were contaminated with alkali which made many men sick. 

When crossing into Missouri, the conditions improved yet they were met with hostility from the locals. Many refused to allow the regiment to camp on their farms, arguing they served in the Union Army. When the Corps reached the Mississippi River, they were met by the Saint Louis Wheelmen, a local bicycle club, and escorted into the city on July 24. While local folks were excited to greet the men’s arrival, military interest had waned. Moss’s proposal that they ride to Saint Paul, Minnesota was denied.

The bicycles were returned to the Spalding Bicycle Company and the soldiers returned to Montana by train. Not long after, the 25th infantry was deployed to Cuba in the Spanish-American war.