Confederate Indians

[MedicineMan]

Being of native blood, I present the following to those who share this distinction....
The "Indian Territory" (Oklahoma), as well as the Southeast, had many men from the tribes that served with honor during the war of northern aggression.
The writeup is from www.wbtsinindianterritory.com

Hope you guys enjoy......
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Native American Confederate Warrior
In July the Confederates massed a force of almost five thousand Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole, and Cherokee troops, together with some Texas cavalry, near Honey Springs, Creek Nation, in preparation for an attack on Fort Gibson. On July 17, they were attacked and defeated by an army of almost three thousand federal troops. In August, a force of forty-five hundred Union soldiers crossed the Canadian River and destroyed the important Confederate munitions depot at Perryville, Choctaw Nation, before re-crossing the river. On September 1, Union troops captured Fort Smith, Arkansas, cutting off supplies flowing into the territory from the east. In February 1864, fifteen hundred troops made a quick strike down the Texas Road—the main trail to Texas from Missouri—through the Choctaw Nation almost to the Red River. Colonel Phillips had his men systematically destroy everything in their path, telling them, "I do not ask you to take prisoners."

The war now entered its final and most destructive phase. Union forces settled in north of the Arkansas and Canadian Rivers, in the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole Nations. Sixteen thousand pro-Union Indian refugees moved south from Kansas to new camps near Fort Gibson, where they lived off rations issued by federal troops. At the same time, the Confederate forces were reorganized. The Creek, Seminole, and Cherokee units became the First Indian Cavalry Brigade, commanded by Stand Watie, now a brigadier general. The Chickasaw and Choctaw units became the Second Indian Cavalry Brigade.

In the region controlled by the Union, pro-Union Indians, supported by federal troops, began wreaking vengeance on Southern sympathizers. They burned homes, stole livestock, and murdered many who opposed them. Thousands of Creek, Cherokee, and Seminole families fled south. By the fall of 1864 almost eleven thousand pro-Confederate Indians were living in disease-ridden camps along or near the Red River, while thousands more had fled farther south into East Texas.

Poorly armed and short of supplies, Watie and his Confederate allies responded with highly effective guerrilla raids into Northern-held areas. General Watie's main target was the long federal supply line from Kansas, which was critical not only for providing troops, but also for provisioning the large camps of Union refugees. Small cavalry units carried out most of these raids, but Watie would attack federal forces whenever he found a good opportunity. In June 1864 he captured the supply steamboat J. R. Williams on the Arkansas River. In September, he struck just south of the Kansas line, capturing a supply train of 240 wagons and 740 mules at Cabin Creek Crossing. Watie also ordered the burning of Tahlequah as well as the plantation home of John Ross at Park Hill. Many of his men took vengeance on pro-Union families whenever they encountered them.

As the war approached its end, anarchy prevailed throughout most of Indian Territory. Union and Confederate "deserters," Indians and non-Indians alike, formed outlaw gangs and roamed the countryside, indiscriminately killing, burning, and looting. In the last months of the war, some of the high-ranking Union officers joined in the lawlessness, stealing over three hundred thousand head of Indian-owned cattle and driving them to Kansas.

The Civil War in Indian Territory ended on July 14, 1865, when the Chickasaws and the Caddos surrendered.  This was after the surrender of the last Army under the command of Cherokee Brigadier General Stand Watie. General Watie surrendered at Doaksville (located in present day Choctaw County Oklahoma), in the Choctaw Nation, on June 23, 1865. This was nearly four months after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee. The Indian people and the Confederates in Indian Territory was out of supplies and cut off they had no choice but to surrender.

The war had been fought at an incredible cost. Estimates of those who were killed or died of war-related causes range as high as 25 percent for the Creeks, Seminoles, and Cherokees. Other estimates show that out of a total population in excess of sixty thousand for the Five Civilized Tribes, over six thousand and possibly as many as ten thousand died. The economy of Indian Territory was totally destroyed; almost every house, barn, store, and public building had been burned. The vast majority of Indian families had been reduced to impoverished, homeless refugees. Nevertheless, there was one more blow yet to fall. Even though almost as many members of the Five Civilized Tribes had served in the Union Army as had served in the Confederate Army, the federal government declared its treaties with the tribes to be void and forced the tribes to negotiate new treaties that ceded the western part of Indian Territory to the United States. The Indian people lost their freedom, their land, society, their dignity, their livelihoods, and the right to govern themselves as a people because they believed in and fought for the Southern Cause.

[MedicineMan]

Another photo of a Cherokee CSA horseman.....

[MedicineMan]

Stand Watie (12 December 1806 – 9 September 1871) (also known as Degataga "stand firm" and Isaac S. Watie) was a leader of the Cherokee Nation and a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He commanded the American Indian cavalry made up mostly of Cherokee, Creek and Seminole.
Watie was born near Rome, Georgia,on December 12, 1806, the son of Oo-watie (David Uwatie) and Susanna Reese, who was of Cherokee and white heritage. He was the brother of Gallegina "Buck" Watie (Elias Boudinot). The brothers were nephews of Major Ridge, and cousins to John Ridge.

The Watie brothers stood in favor of the Removal of the Cherokee to Oklahoma and were members of the Ridge Party that signed the Treaty of New Echota. The anti-Removal Ross Party (elected democratically by the majority) refused to ratify it. Watie, his family, and many other Cherokees emigrated to the West. Those Cherokees (and their slaves) who remained on tribal lands in the East were forcibly removed by the U.S. government in 1838 in a journey known as the "Trail of Tears," during which thousands died. The Ross Party targeted Stand and Buck Watie and the Ridge family for assassination and, of the four men mentioned above, only Stand Watie managed to escape with his life.

Watie was the only Native American on either side of the Civil War to rise to a brigadier general's rank.

Watie surrendered on June 23, 1865, (two months after Robert E. Lee Surrendered) at Fort Towson in the Choctaw Nations' area of Oklahoma Territory the last Confederate General to lay down his arms. Watie was given the mission of preventing Federal forces from crossing the Red River into Texas. Watie succeeded in his mission and in doing so also became the only Confederate General to successfully carry out his given mission to the end of the war. When Watie signed the cease-fire agreement with Union representatives he was the last Confederate general in the field to still command a Confederate Army.

Surrender of Stand Watie Artist: Dennis Parker

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[St. George]

Info on Cherokee Indians that fought during the Civil War
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2006, 12:21:12 pm »

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By the spring of 1861, Stand Watie (1806-1871), the leader of the southern faction of the Cherokee Nation, was a prosperous attorney and speaker of the nation’s National Council (the lower house of the Cherokee legislature).
He owned a plantation and mill at Honey Creek in the Illinois District of the Cherokee Nation.

1st (Watie’s) Cherokee Mounted Volunteers

(2nd Cherokee Mounted Volunteers[designation changed to 1st Regiment about Dec 62, after Drew’s regiment had disbanded],

Watie’s Regiment Cherokee Mounted Rifles)

COLONELS.
Stand Watie, promoted Brig Gen 6 May 64
James Madison Bell, promoted and transferred from Lt Col of the 2nd Regt. after Watie became general

LIEUTENANT COLONELS. Thomas Fox Taylor, KIA 27 Jul 62, Bayou Menard (n. Fort Gibson)
Robert Calvin Parks, replaced Taylor ( from Capt, 1st Co B) killed by a fellow officer in a personal difficulty at Fort Washita in April 1864
Clement Neeley Vann, succeeded Parks (prev pvt Co K, Drew’s Regt.?)

MAJORS.
Elias Cornelius Boudinot, after reorganization elected Cherokee delegate to Congress, Col and Vol ADC on Maj Gen T C Hindman’s staff in Dec 62
Joseph Franklin Thompson, (from Capt, 1st Co I)
Erasmus J Howland, succeeded Thompson in 1864 (from Capt, 2nd Co D).

REGIMENTAL STAFF

Adjutant:
1st Lt Charles E Watie, to 1st Lt, 2nd Co B after reorganization
1st Lt Thomas F Anderson (from pvt, 1st Co H) to Brigade AAG 1864

Assistant Quarter Master: 1st Lt George W Adair, died April 62
1st Lt William Penn Adair, to Col of 2nd Regt. 3 Feb 63
1st Lt Johnson Thompson

Asst. Commissary of Subsistence:
1st Lt Joseph M Starr, Sr, until 62
1st Lts Oliver W Lipe (from pvt, 2nd Co G) resigned 3 Jun 63
Peter G Lynch (from pvt, 2nd Co B)
Samuel M Ware (from pvt, 2nd Co A)

Surgeon:
Maj Walter Thompson Adair, to Brigade Surgeon 1864

Assistant Surgeon:
Capt William D Polson, resigned 1 Jul 62
Capt Francis H Fisk (from drill instr, 1st Co I)

Surgeon’s Interpreter:
Capt Richard Fields (prev Capt, Co F, Drew’s Regt)

Chaplain: Rev J N Slover

Sergeant Major:
George W West, KIA 20 May 63
R M Morgan (from sgt, 1st Co C)
H Lincoln Foreman (from pvt, 2nd Co D)
Patrick Patton (from 1st Sgt, 2nd Co A)

Quartermaster Sergeant:
Benjamin W Carter (from pvt, 2nd Co G)
John G Schrimsher (from pvt, 2nd Co G)

Ordnance Sergeant: George W Harlin

Hospital Steward: Jasper Polson, Ben Trott


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Companies and their Commanders: First Organization


Company A. Buzzard, KIA 20 May 63 n. Fort Gibson.
Company B. Robert Calvin Parks, to Lt Col after reorganization.
Company C. Daniel H Coody
Company D. James Madison Bell, to Lt Col of the 2nd Regiment 3 Feb 63.
Company E. Joseph Franklin Thompson (prev in the Arkansas State service) to Major after reorganization.
Company F. Joseph F Smallwood
Company G. George H Starr
Company H. John Thompson Mayes
Company I. George W Johnson
Company K. James H Thompson. This company became Co H, Clarkson’s Battalion, Independent Rangers 14 July 62. This Bn was broken up in Nov 62, 5 cos merged into Clark’s Missouri Infantry Regiment.
Company L (aka J). Bluford West Alberty.
In addition, Thomas J Parks was designated to lead Company M, but this does not appear to have materialized.

ORGANIZATION.
On July 12, 1861, Stand Watie received a commission from Brig Gen Benjamin McCulloch to raise a regiment.
At a mass meeting of the southern sympathizers among the Five Civilized tribes held at Old Fort Wayne, Delaware District, in the Cherokee Nation, on July 27, 1861, organization of the First Cherokee Regiment began.
After the twelve-month enlistment time expired, the regiment was reorganized around 12 July 1862 at Spavinaw Creek, Tahlequah District, for 2 years, with mostly new officers and many new men. Note that the companies were not reorganized separately, rather a set of new companies were formed and new officers elected, although the majority of the men continued in service from the first organization.



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Companies and their Commanders: SECOND Organization


Company A. Hugh Tinnin
Company B. Benjamin B Wisner (prev sgt, 1st Co D)
Company C. Charles Lowery (prev sgt, 1st Co E)
Company D. Erasmus J Howland (prev pvt, 1st Co G), to Major 1864; J S Knight (from 1st Lt)
Company E. Alexander Foreman (prev pvt, 1st Co C ), removed 25 June 63; John W Brown (from 1st Lt)
Company F. Dumplin O Fields (prev pvt, 1st Co D)
Company G. James L Butler
Company H. John Spears, to Frye’s - Scales’ Battalion, John Foster ? (from 1st Lt)
Company I. Moses C Frye (prev Sgt, 1st Co I) to Major of Frye’s Bn about June 63; William W Alexander (from 1st Lt)
Company K. James Stuart (prev 1st Sgt, 1st Co H)
Acridge’s Company. William H Acridge Became Co G, 2nd Regt on 3 Feb 63.
Alberty’s Company. Bluford West Alberty. Became Co B, 2nd Regt on 3 Feb 63.
Brewer’s Company. O H Perry Brewer (prev 1st Lt, 1st Co C) Became Co F, 2nd Regt on 3 Feb 63.
Patton’s Company. D C Patton Became Co E, 2nd Regt on 3 Feb 63
Vann’s Company. John Vann (prev pvt, 1st Co C) Became Co I, 2nd Regt on 3 Feb 63.

ORGANIZATION.
Company A was mustered in 12 May 62 in Maysville, Ark.
Companies B to K, plus Acridge’s, Alberty’s, Brewer’s, and Patton’s are all on record as having enlisted 12 July 1862 at Spavinaw Creek, Tahlequah District, Cherokee Nation.
On September 1, 1862, another company - John Vann’s - was added, made up mostly of loyal men from Drew’s late regiment.
The five unnumbered companies were on February 3, 1863, merged with Bryan’s 1st Battalion, Cherokee Partisan Rangers to form the 2nd (Adair’s) Cherokee Mounted Volunteers.



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Drew’s Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Rifles
(1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles)

COLONEL.
John Drew.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
William Potter Ross, later sutler for 3rd Indian Home Guards.

MAJOR. Thomas Pegg, later Capt, Co A, 2d Indian Home Guards.

REGIMENTAL STAFF

Adjutant:
1st Lt James S Vann, resigned 12 Dec 61

Assistant Quarter Master:
Capt Israel G Vore, later AQM on Brig Gen D H Cooper’s staff

Assistant Commissary of Subsistence:
1st Lt Frederick Augustus Kerr, dropped 2 Aug 62

Surgeon: Maj James P Evans, POW 7 Mar 62, Pea Ridge

Assistant Surgeon:
Capt Joseph V Carden, resigned 7 Apr 62

Chaplain:
Rev Lewis Downing, later Lt Col, 3rd Indian Home Guards

Companies and their Commanders

Company A. (Saline District) Jefferson D Hicks, KIA 27 Jul 62, Bayou Menard, n. Fort Gibson ?
Company B. (Tahlequah District) Nicholas B Sanders
Company C. (Canadian District) John Porum Davis, to 2nd Lt, Vann’s Co, 1st Regt 1 Sep 62 (became Co I, 2nd Regt)
Company D. (Delaware District) Isaac N Hildebrand
Company E. (Flint District) James Vann, later Capt, Co A, 3rd Indian Home Guards.
Company F. (Illinois District) Richard Fields, POW 7 Mar 62, later served on the staff of the 1st Regt.
Company G. (Going-Snake District) George W Scraper, later Capt, Co H, 2d Indian Home Guards.
Company H. (Tahlequah District) Edward R Hicks
Company I. ( (Tahlequah District) Albert Pike
Company K. ( (Sequoyah District) Pickens M Benge, MW 24 Aug 62.
Reserve Company. (Cooweescoowee District) James McDaniel, later Capt, Co A, 2d Indian Home Guards.
ORGANIZATION. At a mass meeting at Tahlequah 21 August 1861, the Cherokees decided to seek alliance with the Confederate States, and also to raise a mounted regiment. Each of the nine districts of the Cherokee Nation raised one company, except Tahlequah, which furnished three. By October 7, the day the treaty between the Cherokee Nation and the Confederacy was signed, the regiment was almost completed. At Fort Gibson, on November 5, 1861 the regiment was officially mustered in for a period of twelve months, with 1214 men on the rolls.

Drew’s regiment, composed mostly of full-blood Cherokees («Pins») hostile to Stand Watie and his followers, never identified with the Southern cause.
During the pursuit of the Creek dissident Opothleyahola in December 1861, officers and men refused to fight, deserted in large numbers, and many even joined the enemy.
A reorganization of the regiment was attempted, and about 500 of its men fought at Pea Ridge the first day (March 7, 1862), where they scalped some Federal soldiers.
A Union invasion of the Cherokee Nation in July 1862 resulted in the mass surrender of most of Drew’s men, and their subsequent enlistment in the Federal 2nd and 3rd Indian Home Guard Regiments.
A few officers and men (notably Colonel Drew, Captains John Porum Davis, Pickens M Benge, Richard Fields, and Lieutenant Charles Drew) remained loyal to the Confederacy and later served under Stand Watie.
Captain John Vann’s company of Watie’s 1st Regiment, later Co I of the 2nd Regiment (formed 1 Sep 62), was composed mostly of loyal Confederates from the ranks of Drew’s late regiment.



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1st (Bryan’s) Battalion,
Cherokee Partisan Rangers
(Bryan’s Battalion, Cherokee Mounted Rifles)

MAJOR.
Joel M Bryan, to commander of Cherokee Bn Special Service 1865.

BATTALION STAFF

Adjutant:
Lt. Joel B Mayes, to AQM of 2nd Regt

Assistant Surgeon:
Capt Harrison J Payden, to Ass Surg of 2nd Regt

Companies and their Commanders


Company A. Joel M Bryan , to Major 13 Sep 62, William H Shannon (from 1st Lt) Became Co H, 2nd Regt on 3 Feb 63.
Company B. Joseph L Martin Became Co D, 2nd Regt on 3 Feb 63.
Company C. John R Harden Became Co C, 2nd Regt on 3 Feb 63.
Company D. Alexander Wofford (prev 2nd Lt, 1st Co G, 1st Regt), resigned 16 Oct 62); E M Adair (from 1st Lt) Became Co K, 2nd Regt on 3 Feb 63.
Company E. John Miller Became Co A, 2nd Regt on 3 Feb 63.
 
ORGANIZATION.
Joel M Bryan was authorized by Brig Gen Albert Pike to raise 100 men or more as partisan rangers during the summer of 1862.
The company (A) was mustered in at Fort Davis, Canadian District, Cherokee Nation, July 20, 1862. Bryan proceeded to recruit another four companies, and was ordered by Maj Gen Thomas C Hindman to organize the force into a battalion, which was done September 13, 1862.
By order of Brig Gen Douglas H Cooper, the battalion was on February 3, 1863, consolidated with 5 companies attached to Watie’s 1st Cherokee Mounted Volunteers to form the 2nd (Adair’s) Cherokee Mounted Volunteers



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1st (Holt’s) Squadron, Cherokee Mounted Volunteers

CAPTAIN.
Charles H Holt, to Captain of Co L, 2nd Regt after 30 Jun 63 ?.

STAFF.

Adjutant
Charles C Reed.

ORGANIZATION.
This company was mustered in at Webber’s Falls, Canadian District, Cherokee Nation, 12 December 62, for two years.
The last record of the company is dated June 30, 1863, it may have been assigned to the 2nd Regiment as Company L after that date.

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2nd (Adair’s) Cherokee Mounted Volunteers (Adair’s Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Rifles)

COLONEL.
William Penn Adair (prev AQM, 1st Regt).

LIEUTENANT COLONELS.
James Madison Bell (from Capt, 1st Co D, 1st Regt) promoted and transferred to the 1st Regt in June 1864
O H Perry Bewer, succeeded Bell (from Capt, Co F).

MAJORS.
T Porter Hammock, appointed 26 Apr 63 ( from 2d Lt, Co A)
John R Harden, by May 64 ( from Capt, Co C )
John F Vann, by Sept 64 ( from Capt, Co I).

REGIMENTAL STAFF

Adjutant:
1st Lts Joseph A Scales (from 1st Sgt, 2nd Co F, 1st Regt) to Capt, Co A, Frye’s Bn June 63; Andrew J Greenway (from 2nd Lt, Co B)
S T Fair (from pvt, Co C)
 
Assistant Quarter Master:
Capt Joel B Mayes (from Adjt, 1st P R Bn) to Brigade AQM 1864)
J W Phagan, to Capt, Co G, 12 Jul 64

Asst Commissary of Subsistence:
1st Lt Richard F Martin

Surgeon: Maj Thomas M Colley, resigned 16 Apr 63; William J Dupree appointed 24 Jul 63.

Assistant Surgeon:
Capts Robert White, resigned 16 Apr 63; Harrison J Payden (prev Ass Surg of 1st P R Bn)
W C Dunn

Chaplain:
Rev Elder L Compere

Drill Master:
2nd Lt Michael L Coudon (from pvt, Co G) to 2nd Lt, Co E, June 63.

Sergeant Major:
J W Burk (from pvt, Co D)
Riley Walter Lindsay (from Co H)

Quartermaster Sergeant:
A W Timberlake

Ordnance Sergeant:
J Foster Bell

Hospital Steward:
J Frank Marrs (from pvt, Co H)

Companies and their Commanders

Company A. John Miller, to Cherokee Battalion, Special Service 1865; T D Flinn ? (from 1st Lt)
Company B. Bluford West Alberty
Company C. John R Harden, to Major by May 64; W H Hendren (from 1st Lt)
Company D. Joseph L Martin
Company E. D C Patton
Company F. O H Perry Brewer, to Lt Col July 64; Thomas F Brewer ? (from 1st Lt)
Company G. William H Acridge, J W Phagan (12 Jul 64, from AQM)
Company H. William H Shannon
Company I. John F Vann, to Major by Sept 64; Cary Walker ? (from 1st Lt)
Company K. E M Adair
Company L (?). Charles H Holt
 
ORGANIZATION.
Formed 3 February 1863 at Prairie Springs, Creek Nation (winter camp of Indian Cavalry Brigade, 15 miles southeast of Fort Gibson), by the consolidation of Bryan’s 1st Battalion, Cherokee Partisan Rangers, and five companies attached to Watie’s 1st Cherokee Mounted Volunteers.

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Frye’s - Scales’ Battalion, Cherokee Mounted Volunteers (1st Battalion, Cherokee Mounted Rifles)

MAJORS.
Moses C Frye (prev Capt, 1st Co I, 1st Regiment)
Joseph Absalom Scales, promoted Major 23 Apr 64 (from Capt, Co A), to Brigade AIG after Bn was disbanded.

Companies and their Commanders

Company A. Joseph Absalom Scales (prev Adjt, 2nd Regt), to Major 23 Apr 64.
Company ?. Morgan (prev 1st Lt, Holt’s Squadron ?), MW 18 Dec 63, Barren Fork, I. T.
Company ?. John Spears (prev Capt, 2nd Co H, 1st Regt)

ORGANIZATION.
On April 1, 1863, Col Watie was authorized to raise a Cherokee brigade.
After the 2nd Regiment had been formed, steps were taken to enlist another unit.
The first company (A) was probably organized on 3 June 63, but details about the other companies are missing.
Consisted of 4 companies by December 1863.
The battalion was apparently broken up and consolidated with the 1st and 2nd Regiments about 12 July 64.

A general reorganization of the Cherokee forces took place on Limestone Prairie, Choctaw Nation, after Watie had been promoted Brigadier General and the Cherokees on June 27, 1864, had declared their unanimous reenlistment for the war.
On July 11, the Cherokee National Council passed a conscription act, which required that all able bodied free citizens between 17-45 report for duty before August 1.

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Cherokee Battalion (or Regiment),
Special Service (Bryan’s Battalion)

LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
Joel M Bryan (prev Major, 1st Partisan Ranger Bn)

Companies and their Commanders

Company ?. John Miller (prev Capt, Co A, 2nd Regt)
Company ?. Owens.
 
ORGANIZATION.
Not much is known about this organization, which is mentioned in Brig Gen Douglas H Cooper’s correspondence in March and May of 1865 and in a Federal report dated 23 Apr 65, then supposed to be at Fort Towson (in the southern Choctaw Nation), 300 strong.
Joel M Bryan, who previously led the 1st Partisan Ranger Bn, was the commander. Captain John Miller led a company, and a Captain Owens another.

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NOTES:
1st (Meyer’s) Battalion, Cherokee Cavalry is a "paper" organization that never existed.
Major Benjamin W Meyer may have received authorization to raise a battalion early in the war, but he never did.

Brigade Staff Upon Watie’s promotion to Brigadier General in the summer of 1864, he was entitled to appoint staff officers to the following positions:

Aides-de-Camp: Capt Lucien B Bell, 1st Lt Saladin Ridge Watie (from pvt, 2nd Co G, 1st Regt)
Assistant Quartermaster: Major Joel B Mayes (from AQM, 2nd Regt)
Assistant Adjutant General: Capt Thomas F Anderson (from Adjt, 1st Regt)
Assistant Inspector General: Major Joseph A Scales (from cdr of Frye’s-Scales’ Bn)
Surgeon: Major Walter Thompson Adair (from Surg, 1st Regt)
Assistant Surgeon: ?
Ass Commissary of Subsistence:?
Ordnance Officer: ?


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Cherokee Battalion, Thomas’ North Carolina Legion (2nd Battalion, Thomas’ Legion; Indian Battalion)

COLONEL.
William Holland Thomas, Col of Thomas’ NC Infantry Regt 27 Sep 1862, which was a month later increased to a Legion.
Relinquished field command of the Legion about 1 Sep 63 (officially in command until March 1865), except the Cherokee Battalion, which he personally commanded until war’s end.

Companies and their Commanders

Company A. William Holland Thomas, 9 April 62, to Major of Thomas’ Inf Bn Jul 62
James W Terrell, 19 Jul 62 (from 1st Lt), to AQM of Thomas’ Inf Regt (later Legion) 27 Sep 62; Matthew H Love, 27 Sep 62 (from the 16th NC Inf Regt).
Company B. Gideon M Hanks, 18 May 62, KIA late 1863; James Taylor (from 1st Lt)
Company C. Campbell H Taylor (from 2nd Lt, Co B), resigned 4 Jun 64; James Welch
Company D. Black Fox

ORGANIZATION.
The nucleus of the battalion was the «Junaluska Zuaves», a North Carolina militia company of Cherokees organized in Quallatown in May 1861 by William H Thomas.
Company A was mustered into CS service April 9, 1862, at Quallatown.
Company B was organized in Knoxville, Tn, on May 18, 1862, by a division of the over strength Co A. In July 1862, these two companies formed part of Thomas’ Infantry Battalion.
The battalion was increased and reorganized as Thomas’ NC Infantry Regiment on September 27, 1862, in Knoxville.
The Cherokee companies then became Cos C and D, respectively.
In October, another battalion (Walker’s) was added to Thomas’ command, which thereafter became known as Thomas’ Legion of Indians and Highlanders.
In January 1863, the two Cherokee companies reverted back to their previous designations as Co A and B of the Infantry Regiment (Love’s), Thomas’ Legion.
The Cherokee companies were detached from the regiment in September 1863, and from then on served as a separate battalion under Thomas’ direct command (who at that point relinquished field command of the Legion).
Company C was added in Quallatown in December 1863, and Company D organized in the summer of 1864.
Not until April 9, 1865, however, was the Cherokee Battalion officially mustered as a separate unit of Thomas’ Legion. At that time the battalion reportedly totalled about 300 men.

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Incidentally  - Isaac Proctor served in the War - and was from Cherokee County, Oklahoma - the county seat's Talequah.

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Try reading these - or portions thereof.

Wilfred Knight, Jr Red Fox: Stand Watie’s Civil War Years in Indian Territory
Annie H Abel The American Indian as Slave holder and Secessionist
Annie H Abel The American Indian in the Civil War 1862-1865
Annie H Abel The American Indian and the End of the Confederacy 1863-1866
Larry C Rampp & Donald L Rampp The Civil War in Indian Territory
Carolyn M Bartels Stand Watie and the First Cherokee Regiment 1861-1865
Edward E Dale & Gaston Litton (eds) Cherokee Cavaliers: Forty Years of Cherokee History as Told in the Correspondence of the Ridge-Watie-Boudinot Family
Mabel W Anderson Life of General Stand Watie
W. Craig Gaines The Confederate Cherokees: John Drew’s Regiment of Mounted Rifles
Stewart Sifakis Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, the Confederate Units, and the Indian Units
National Archives Microfilm M861 Compiled Records Showing Service of Military Units in Confederate Organizations Roll 74 - Organizations raised directly by the Confederate Government (regular infantry, Indian units, engineer troops, etc)
Marybelle W Chase Index to Civil War Service Records: Watie’s Cherokee Regiments
Vernon H Crow Storm in the Mountains: Thomas’ Confederate Legion of Cherokee Indians and Mountaineers
Official Records of the War of the Rebellion
Confederate Veteran

Vaya,

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[MedicineMan]

Thanks for additional info.

This stuff has always just mezmerized me and drawn me like a moth to light.

The "costume" and regalia possibilities that are opened up by considering all the people who lived in the 1800's lends endless opportunities to SASS, CAS, and even NCOWS

[Tsalagidave]

Medicine Man, I think it is great that you'd like to represent the Native American aspect of the American Civil War. However, as a caveat, I would urge you to NOT go over the top with things like warpaint, feather-hats, breastplates and other cliche Native American apparel.  Careful about citing those illustrations of native american confederates; to my knowledge, they were made with lavish artistic license long after the war. They are also based on an illustration in Harpers that actually depicted Deleware tribal soldiers. As a fellow mixed-blood and card-carrying citizen of the Cherokee nation, I extensively researched an impression for the Trans-Mississippi theater of operations. So, seeing a brother interested in doing this impression also, I'm happy to share the information if you'd like.

What I found out is that although there remained subtle cultural nuances, the five civilized tribes essentially wore the same garb as their white comrades did. Keep in mind that about 300 years had already elapsed since first contact between their ancestors and the Europeans. Also keep in mind that as a mixed-breed, even though there is strong representation of your tribe in your family culture, the same can be said about your European/white American  background the other half of your family brings to the table. There are some trademark things that I did like to carry like a correct pair of moccasins in my kit. However, it is well documented that making moccasins was a rural American craft well practiced by White and "Indian" alike.  There is also a lot of historical documentation of various "camp shoes" that were either moccasins or even light duty recreational shoes as being commonplace in a CW camp. I also wore a dark red turban around camp. One telltale trait of Native Americanism would be perhaps wearing a bracelet or maybe a ring or two of some sentimental importance.

Here are a couple of shots of what the uniform would look like in the Trans Mississippi. I have a Houston Depot Jacket in addition to civilian pants (these are actually a new pair I just got), period shirt of domet flannel or some other civilian type as well as a British import slouch hat. I have some illustrations around here somewhere but for now, here are some shots of my uniform.

-Dave

[GunClick Rick]

You guys might like this website,i found this hat there,although not quite on the topic just thought ya might like it.I'm gonna do a replica of this hat.

http://frontierplunder.com/uploads/2/8/2/0/2820337/4006701_orig.jpg?245

http://frontierplunder.com

[RRio]

Stand Watie (12 December 1806 – 9 September 1871) (also known as Degataga "stand firm" and Isaac S. Watie) was a leader of the Cherokee Nation and a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He commanded the American Indian cavalry made up mostly of Cherokee, Creek and Seminole.
Watie was born near Rome, Georgia,on December 12, 1806, the son of Oo-watie (David Uwatie) and Susanna Reese, who was of Cherokee and white heritage. He was the brother of Gallegina "Buck" Watie (Elias Boudinot). The brothers were nephews of Major Ridge, and cousins to John Ridge.

Is this the person that Lone Watie's character (played by Chief Dan George), in the Outlaw Josie Wales was based on?

[Mogorilla]

RRio,
Yes I believe it is.  I also think in the book it is mentioned that Lone is related to STand, not sure the familial connection though.