USA > Louisiana > The province and the states, a history of the province of Louisiana under France and Spain, and of the territories and states of the United States formed therefrom, Vol. III > Part 50
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Stand Watie, leader of the old Ridge party, organized a secret society called the Knights of the Golden Circle, the membership of which was composed of men with pro-slavery views. The full- bloods also organized a society, which took the name of Kee-too- wha, and is supposed to have been started by Rev. Evan Jones to offset the influence of the half-breeds. The members of this society became known as "Pin" Indians on account of the copper pin which each wore in a certain position on the hunting shirt. The "Pin" Indians frustrated an attempt made by Stand Watie's band to raise a Confederate flag at Tahlequah.
In May 1861, Gen. Albert Pike, was requested by the secretary of state of the Confederate States to act as a commissioner to visit the Indian territory and assure the Indians of the friendship of the Southern states. This officer and Gen. Benjamin McCul- loch were waited on at Fort Smith by a delegation of Indians linder Stand Watie and preliminary negotiations entered into for a future treaty between the Indian nations and the Confederate States of America.
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General Pike, was aware, however, that the cooperation of John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokees, was necessary before such a treaty could be made possible with his people. A confer- ence with Ross was held at Park Hill, but the old chief was firm in his determination to maintain a neutral attitude during the impending struggle. The following is a copy of a letter addressed to John Ross by General McCulloch on the question of enlisting Indians in the Confederate army ostensibly as home guards :
"Headquarters McCulloch's Brigade, "Fort Smith, Arkansas, June 12, 1861.
"Sir: Having been sent by my government ( the Confederate States of America) to take command of the district embracing the Indian Territory, and to guard it from invasion by the people of the north, I take the first opportunity of assuring you of the friendship of my government, and the desire that the Cherokees and other tribes in the Territory unite their fortunes with the Confederacy. I hope that you, as chief of the Cherokees, will meet me with the same feelings of friendship that guide me in coming among you, and that I may have your cooperation in our common cause against a people who are endeavoring to deprive us of our rights. It is not my desire to give offence or interfere with any of your rights or wishes, and shall not do so unless circumstances compel me. The neutral position you wish to maintain will not be violated without good cause. In the meantime those of your people who are in favor of joining the Confederacy must be allowed to organize into military companies as home guards for the purpose of defending themselves in case of invasion from the north. This, of course, will be in accordance with the views you expressed to me, that, in case of an invasion from the north, you would lead your men yourself to repel it.
"Should a body of men march into your territory from the north, or if I have an intimation that a body is in line of march for the territory from that quarter, I must assure you that I will at once advance into your country if I deem it advisable.
"I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, "BENJAMIN MCCULLOCH, "Brig .- General Commandng.
"His Excellency John Ross,
"Chief of the Cherokee Nation."
E
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To this communication John Ross replied in part as follows :
"Executive Department, "Park Hill, C. N., June 17, 1861.
"Sir: * * * In regard to the pending conflict between the United States and the Confederate States, I have already signified my purpose to take no part in it whatever, and have admonished the Cherokee people to pursue the same course. The determination to adopt that course was the result of considerations of law and policy, and seeing 10 reasons to doubt its propriety, I shall adhere to it in good faith, and hope that the Cherokee people will not fail to follow my example. I have not been able to see any reason why the Cherokee Nation should take any other course, for it seems to me to be dictated by their treaties and sanctioned by wisdom and humanity ; it ought not to give ground for com- plaint to either side, and should cause our rights to be respected by both. Our country and institutions are our own. However small the one or humble the other, they are sacred and as valuable to us as are those of your own populous and wealthy State to yourself and your people. We have done nothing to bring about the conflict in which you are engaged with your own people, and I am unwilling that my people shall become its victims. * *
"You demand that those people of the nation who are in favor of joining the Confederacy be allowed to organize into mili- tary companies as home guards for the purpose of defending themselves in case of invasion from the north, is most respectfully declined. I cannot give my consent to any such organization, for very obvious reasons: ist, it would be a palpable violation of my position as a neutral; 2d, it would place in our midst organ- ized companies not authorized by our laws, but in violation of treaty, and who would soon become efficient instruments in stir- ring up domestic strife, and create internal difficulties among the Cherokee people. *
"JOIIN ROSS, "Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. "Brig. General Ben. McCulloch,
"Commanding Confederate Forces in Arkansas."
The situation in the Indian territory became acute. Forts Gibson, Washita and Arbuckle had been abandoned by the gov- ernment, and the Indians felt that the protecting arm of the Great Father had been withdrawn. The natural consequence was a desire to make the best possible terms with the new Confederacy, the prestige of which was apparent in that section of the country.
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After the battle of Wilson's Creek or Oak Creek, Ark., August 10, 1861, in which the Federal forces were defeated, John Ross abandoned his position of neutrality. No doubt he con- cluded that the success of the new Confederacy was already an established fact and that it would be the wisest policy to make favorable terms with the new government. After the war this man was charged with disloyalty, which he denied, claiming that he and his people were coerced into an alliance with the Confeder- acy. At this day, the truth or falsity of the charge is not material. The fact remains that he had always the interests of his people at heart. With him it was not a question of loyalty or disloyalty -of union or secession, but one of preserving the identity of his little principality from the ravages of war. For forty years this man, of Scotch and Indian ancestry, dictated the policy of the Cherokee nation, swaying his people according to his will. He was a statesman, politician and scholar; his Indian blood made him crafty, his white blood ambitions.
Acting upon his new position of open sympathy for the South, John Ross organized a regiment of Home Guards. John Drew was made colonel; Win. P. Ross, nephew of Jolin Ross and sec- retary of the nation, was made lientenant-colonel, and Thomas Pegg, president of the national committee, was given the majority.
While John Ross was busy organizing his regiment of Pin Indians, Gen. Albert Pike, the new Indian commissioner for the Southern states, was in the Southwest seeking treaty alliances with the Indians of that section. In May 1861, General Pike held a council with the Creeks at Eufaula; the following chiefs of that nation being present : viz., Chillie McIntosh, Rolla McIntosh, Judge E. W. Stidham, Moty Kanaw, Itcho Harjo, Watt Grayson, Tuckabatchie Micco, Jacob Denisaw and D. N. McIntosh. On July 10, 1861 he concluded a treaty with the Southern sympathiz- ers of this nation.
Several thousand Creeks, however, under the leadership of O-poth-le-yo-ho-la refused to abide by the terms of this treaty, elected a new chief, and with a party of Seminoles, asserted their continued allegiance to the United States.
In August, 1861, at the call of Chief Ross, a convention of Cherokees was held at Tahlequah and was attended by over 2,000 citizens of the nation. After a "talk" by their chief, the Cherokees unanimously adopted a resolution favoring an alliance with the Confederacy.
Following this convention John Ross addressed letters to O-poth-le-yo-ho-la and chiefs of the various Indian tribes, recom-
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mending that a council be held at Antelope Hill to discuss the questions then agitating the Indian people. The report of this "talk" or council, between the representatives of the Indian tribes, does not appear of record, but General Pike asserts in a letter to the commissioner of Indian affairs, written after the war, that he understood the object of this council was to form plans for the launching forth of an independent Indian confederation. Such a plan, if it existed, must have originated in the fertile brain of John Ross. By taking advantage of the conflict between the North and the South, he saw, no doubt, possibilities for the establishment of such an Indian federation, the object of which would be the re-establishing of Indian supremacy on the American continent.
The council in question did pass resolutions of a conservative nature, favoring a neutral position, but its plans and dreams, if any such were indulged in, came to naught. Before the council- ors had reached home, General Pike had negotiated treaties with many of the tribes. The dates of these treaties are as follows :
Creek Nation, July 10, 1861 ; Choctaws and Chickasaws, July 12, 1861; Seminoles, August 1, 1861; Shawanese, Delawares, Wichitas and affiliated tribes, residing on leased territory, August 12, 1861 ; Comanches of the prairie, Angust 12, 1861 ; Great Osages, October 2, 1861 ; Senecas, Senecas and Shawa- nese ( Neosho Agency ), October 4, 1861 ; Quapaws, October 4, 1861; Cherokees, October 7, 1861.
The treaty with the Cherokees was consummated by General Pike at Park Ilill. This officer wrote the Cherokee declaration of independence and while at Park Hill presented the regiment of Home Guards with a flag. Another regiment was afterward recruited by General McCulloch and Stand Watie given the com- mand. This regiment saw much active service in the Confederate cause.
In the following December, O-poth-le-yo-ho-la, and his Creek and Seminole warriors, accompanied by their squaws and children, finding themselves harassed on all sides and in danger of annihi- lation, left their homes and country and started northward toward the Kansas border and the Federal lines.
Col. D. H. Cooper, C. S. IA., and a body of Texan and Indian troops started in pursuit of the fugitives. The Pin regiment under Colonel Drew accompanied Colonel Cooper on this raid, but in the battle that followed at Bird's creek, refused to fight their breth- ren, and the attacking force was repulsed. Later the refugees were again overtaken and scattered, suffering large losses from exposure and lack of supplies. It is told that their trail to Kan-
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sas, a trek of several hundred miles, could be traced by the blood on the snow. These fleeing Indians were finally rounded up in Kansas at a rendezvous on the Verdigris river and later at Leroy, having been scattered over a large tract. Rations and clothing were supplied these destitute Indians, but fifteen per cent of their number died after their arrival at Leroy. They numbered 864 men, 2,040 women and 2,583 children, being divided among the different tribes as follows : Creeks, 3,619, Seminoles, 919, Chick- asaws, 165, Cherokees, 223, Kickapoos, 400, Delawares, 89, Ionies, 19, Kecchies, 53, 5,487 in all.
The First regiment of Indian home guards was mustered in on May 22, 1862, at Leroy, Kan., and was formed from these Indian refugees. Col. Robert W. Furnas commanded at the organiza- tion of this regiment. He was reported missing in January, 1863, however, and Col. Stephen HI. Wattles assumed command, which he held until the regiment was mustered out of service at Fort Gibson on May 31, 1865. This regiment participated in over twenty battles in Arkansas and the Indian territory, among which may be mentioned : Old Fort Wayne, Camp Babcock, Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Bentonville, Fort Blunt, Fort Gibson, Greenleaf Prairie, Honey Springs, Cabin Creek, Creek Agency and Barren Fork.
In the meantime the battle of Pea Ridge was fought in Arkan- sas, extending over three days, March 6, 7 and 8, 1862. Both Stand Watie's regiment and Colonel Drew's Pin regiment of home guards shared in the defeat of the Confederate forces. After the battle correspondence ensued between the commanding Union officer and the Confederate commander relative to alleged scalping of wounded Union soldiers by the Indians.
Three important events took place after the battle of Pea Ridge ; first, the Confederates were compelled to evacuate western Arkan- sas ; second, the Union army invaded the Cherokee nation, estab- lishing headquarters at Fort Gibson ; third, the Confederate war department found itself unable to pay its troops in anything but Confederate money-nearly worthless. The Indian troops appear to have been paid twenty-five dollars each in Confederate scrip, and a supply of clothing was issued to them, which was promptly confiscated by two regiments of their white allies.
Brigadier General Pike, in command of a mixed force of Texans and Indians, retreated to the Choctaw country, and about twenty- five miles from the Red river and the southern border of the Indian territory, established his headquarters behind intrenchments on the
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open prairie, calling the fortification, Fort McCulloch, in honor of his brother officer who was killed at Pea Ridge.
General Pike reported that he had enrolled under his command 10,000 Indian troops, of which number 3,453 were on duty at Fort McCulloch. This force was made up of the following commands :
Choctaw nation : Col. D. II. Cooper's First Choctaw regiment, Colonel Fulsom's Second Choctaw regiment, Major Fulsom's First Choctaw battalion.
Creek nation : Col. D. N. McIntosh's First Creek regiment, Lieut .- Col. Chilly McIntosh's Creek battalion, Captain McSmith's Independent company.
Chickasaw nation : Lieut .- Col. Harris's First Chickasaw bat- talion.
Seminole nation : Lieut .- Col. Jumper's First battalion.
Cherokee nation : Col. Stand Watie's First Cherokee regiment, Col. John Drew's Second Cherokee regiment.
Soon after the Union army entered the Cherokee country in July, 1862, the last named organization deserted from the Con- federate army in a body. "Unpaid, unclothed, uncared for, unthanked even, and their services unrecognized," it was natural that they should abandon the Confederate flag.
General Pike was ordered by his senior, Maj .- Gen. T. C. Hind- man, in command of the Confederate forces in Arkansas, to advance northward from Fort McCulloch via Fort Smith, and make an effort to drive the enemy frem the neighborhood of Fort Gibson. General Pike refused to obey the order, which was repeated. That officer contended that General Hindman had exceeded his authority in issuing the order, as the peculiar rela- tions between the Confederate government and their Indian allies did not contemplate their being brought within the jurisdiction of the Confederate commander in Arkansas, their treaties stipulating that they should not be ordered out of the territory without their consent. In addition General Pike considered that his force was inadequate to carry out the order, and forwarded his resignation as a brigadier general in the Confederate service, which was promptly accepted. Before leaving Fort McCulloch he issued an address to the Indians, with whom he was well acquainted, having acted as their attorney at Washington for a number of years. In this address General Pike states his grievances as follows:
General Van Dorn took from me, at Fort Smith and Little Rock, two regiments of my infantry, six of my cannon, all of my canon powder and many rifles, and let his soldiers take 11I-33
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nearly all of the coats, pantaloons, shirts, socks and shoes, I had procured for you. By other orders all the rest of my infantry and all the artillery, except one company with six guns have been taken away. * *
* The President and government are not to blame for this, nor am [; nor am I to blame because you troops have not been paid. Moneys have been sent to us long ago and stopped on the way, just as your clothing is and the arms and ammunition I provided for you. By and by these things will be remedied. To make certain that this shall be done, and that you shall have justice done you and your rights, I have resigned in order to go to Richmond to make known to the President the manner in which you have been treated. As far as it is in my power every dollar due your troops and the people shall be paid. Remain true, I earnestly advise you, to the Confederate States and yourselves. Do not listen to any men who tell you that the south- ern states will abandon you. They will not do it."
Col. Douglas II. Cooper succeeded Pike in command of the Indian troops. He had been an Indian agent and was very popu- lar with them. With the exception of the Cherokee Pin Indians, the Confederate Indians followed Pike's advice and remained true to the Confederacy to the last.
In June and July, 1862, a second regiment of Indian home guards was mustered into the Union army at Big creek and Five Mile creek, Kansas. Company E of this regiment was composed of Osage Indians, who deserted in September, 1862, and a new company of Cherokees organized in their place, November 11, 1862. Col. John Ritchie, afterward breveted brigadier general, commanded this regiment, which fought at Shirley's Ford, Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Fort Blunt, Honey Springs and Cabin Creek.
The Third regiment of Indian home guards, which with the other two Indian regiments formed the Indian Brigade, was mus- tered into service at Carthage, Mo., September 16, 1862, and was commanded by Co.l William A. Phillips. This officer was the senior officer in command of the Indian Brigade, which disbanded at Fort Gibson, May 31, 1865. The Third regiment participated in the battles of Spring River, Neosho, Newtonia, Fort Gibson, Old Fort Wayne, Rheas Mill, Cane Hill, Salina, Prairie Grove, Cow Creek, Cherokee Nation, Fort Smith, Fourteen Mile Creek, Barren Fork and Greenleaf Prairie.
A fourth regiment of Indians was started and partly organized but never mustered into service. One authority states that about 5,000 Indians served in the Union army and about three times that number were in the Confederate service. A partial census taken
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after the war places the number of Cherokees at 17,000, of whom 6,500 allied themselves with the Southern states. The Creeks numbered 15,000, of whom 6,500 took side's with the South. Of the 3,500 Osages, 1,000 joined the South. The Quapaws and allied tribes, some 670 in all, sought refuge during the war in the Ottawa reservation. The Seminoles, numbering a few thousand were about equally divided between the North and South. The Choctaws aggregated 12,500 and the Chickasaws 4,500, the total 17,000, including 5,000 slaves. With the exception of two or three hundred these Indians allied themselves with the South.
In 1864 Cooper's Indian cavalry division, as it was called, form- ing a part of the Second army corps of the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederate armies, was made up of the fol- lowing organizations :
First Indian cavalry brigade, Brig-Gen. Stand Watie, con- manding ( Watie was made brigadier general in May, 1864) ; First Cherokee regiment, Col. Robert C. Parks; Second Cherokee regi- ment, Col. Win. P. Adair; Cherokee battalion, Maj. Jos. A. Scales; First Creek regiment, Col. Daniel N. McIntosh; Second Creek regiment, Col. Chilly McIntosh; Creek squadron, Capt. R. Kenard; First Osage battalion, Maj. Broke Arm; First Seminole battalion, Lient .- Col. John Jumper.
Second Indian cavalry brigade, Col. Tandy Walker, command- ing; First Chickasaw regiment, Lieut .- Col. Lemuel M. Reynolds ; First Choctaw battalion, Lieut .- Col. Jackson MeCurtain; First Choctaw and Chickasaw battalion, Lieut .- Col. James Riley; Sec- ond Choctaw battalion, Col. Simpson N. Folsom; Reserve squad- ron. C'apt. George Washington.
The Confederate Indians fought with credit at Honcy Grove, Berryville, Grand River, Pea Ridge, Poison Spring, Monk's Mill, Tucker's Ferry and in many smaller skirmishes. At Poison Spring the Choctaws and Chickasaws are reported to have held the Eighteenth Iowa regiment at dead lock for some time.
In February, 1863, following the invasion of the territory by the Federal forces, a convention of the Cherokee chiefs was held at Cowskin Prairie, at which the treaty with the Confederate States was abrogated. and a convention of the people called to approve the act ; further, a delegation was appointed with suitable powers and instructions to represent the Cherokee nation before the United States government, consisting of Jolm Ross, principal chief, Lieut .- Col. Lewis Downing, Capt. James McDaniel and Rev. Evan Jones; a general Indian council was anthorized to be held at such time and place as the principal chief should designate ;
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the officers of the nation who were in arms against the United States were deposed; the purchase of supplies by the treasurer was approved and their distribution was ordered, and lastly slavery was abolished in the Cherokee nation.
The flames of the old feud between the Ridge and Ross parties in the Cherokee nation, sprang up anew when Stand Watie, leader of the Ridge party, retreated with his regiment and Southern sym- pathizers south of the Arkansas, after the arrival of Colonel Weir and the Northern troops. The desertion of the Ross party to the Union side and the continued alliance of Stand Watie and his fol- lowers with the Confederacy, caused a widening of the breach between the two factions of this tribe. The Ross party took advantage of the absence of their fellow citizens and in addition to deposing them from office, as set forth above, confiscated their property. The Ridge party retaliated by organizing raiding par- ties which dashed into the Cherokee country leaving a trail of smoke behind them.
The end of the war found the lands of the Indians bare and des- olate, with only chimney monuments to show that men had once lived there in domestic peace and happiness.
While the Indians were fighting the battles of the white men and sacrificing everything they held dear in a war not of their own making, unprincipled white men invaded their lands and stole their horses and cattle. The promoters of this nefarious practice reaped handsome profits therefrom, oue authority estimating that 350,000 head of cattle were stolen from the Indians during the war, the loss varying from two to three millions of dollars. The incthod employed by these thieves was simple. Two parties acted in concert ; the first party crossing into the Indian territory from Kansas and rounding up the herds, which would be driven to the Kansas border and sold to their accomplices, who styled them- selves cattle brokers, and to give the transaction a semblance of honesty, fictitious receipts were given for the animals. The latter were then driven to market.
In 1865 the president appointed a commission to proceed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and hold a conference with the representa- tives of the various tribes of the Indian territory, with a view to consummating new treaties. The commission was composed of D. N. Cooley, commissioner of Indian affairs ; Hon. Elijah Sells, superintendent of the Southern Indian superintendency ; Thomas Wistar, a leading member of the Society of Friends; Brig .- Gen. W. S. Harney, U. S. A., and Col. Ely S. Parker, U. S. A., a member of General Grant's staff.
These commissioners reported at Fort Smith on September 8,
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1865, and for two weeks held daily "talks" with the Indian dele- gation. It was not the policy of the government to take advantage of the fact that the Indians were practically at its mercy, having violated all treaties in force at the beginning of the war, by mak- ing treaties with the Southern states and taking up arms against the United States. It was remembered also that a large propor- tion of the Indians had fought and suffered for the North, and subsequent negotiations were made with this fact in mind.
The commission on behalf of the government submitted the following propositions :
Ist, That each tribe must enter into a treaty for permanent peace and amity among themselves, each other as tribes, and with the United States.
2d, The tribes to bind themselves, at the call of the United States' authorities to assist in compelling the wild tribes of the plains to keep the peace.
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