The City of Eagle Pass and the Consulate of Mexico at Eagle Pass honored the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts at a ceremony on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the International Center for Trade. The event, titled "The Pillars of Our Legacy," recognized the scouts' contributions to the early development of Maverick County, the Texas-Mexico border region and U.S. military history.
On August 16, 1870, a group of Black Seminole men enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Duncan in Eagle Pass. The Black Seminoles were descendants of Africans who escaped slavery and lived in communities with the Seminole people. Many later moved to Mexico before returning to Texas to serve in the Army. The county was established in 1856 but was not formally organized until September 4, 1871.
According to the story, the scouts were recruited for their knowledge of the region, their ability to track people across difficult terrain and their experience surviving on the frontier. Their assignments included guiding military patrols, locating raiding parties, conducting reconnaissance and assisting Army operations in South Texas and other parts of the frontier. Their service helped protect settlements, ranches and transportation routes.