Indian Home Guard in Kansas – Legends of America
Okay, picture this: it’s the Civil War era, things are already crazy, and right in the middle of it, you’ve got these Native American Home Guard units popping up in Kansas. Pretty cool, right? Let’s dive into the story of these often-overlooked heroes.
So, back in May 1862, the First Indian Home Guard Regiment was officially formed in Kansas. Now, this wasn’t your typical army unit. It was a mix of Creek and Seminole Indians, plus African Americans who were part of those tribes, all led by white officers. Talk about a diverse team!
Why Kansas? What’s the Backstory?
To understand why these units formed in Kansas, we need to rewind a bit. At the start of the Civil War, the Union Army decided to pull out of their forts in what was then called Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma). They needed those soldiers for battles further east. But that left a big hole, and the Confederate Army was quick to fill it.
Now, the Native American tribes in that area, especially the "Five Civilized Tribes" (Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole), suddenly found themselves in a tough spot. Because these tribes had ties to the South (some even owned slaves), the Confederacy saw them as potential allies.
While some tribes, like the Chickasaw and Choctaw, were all-in with the Confederacy, others, like the Creek and Seminole, were split. Many of their members wanted to stay loyal to the Union.
Trouble’s Brewing
As you can imagine, this led to some serious tension. Confederate-aligned Native Americans, backed by Texas regiments, started fighting against the Union loyalists. One key figure here was a Creek Chief named Opothle Yahola, who led the Union supporters.
In late 1861, things came to a head. The Confederate forces won out, and the Union loyalists were forced to flee the territory. This was a massive turning point, and it basically turned Indian Territory into a war zone where Native Americans were fighting each other. The African Creek and African Seminole were the first black men in America to raise arms against the Confederacy.
The "Trail of Blood on Ice"
The journey to Kansas was brutal. These refugees left behind almost everything – food, clothing, medicine – and had to face the harsh winter conditions. The suffering was so intense that the journey became known as the "Trail of Blood on Ice."
People were freezing to death left and right. They ended up in temporary camps along the Fall and Verdigris Rivers, but there was barely any shelter. Relief efforts were slow and inadequate, and many more people died. It was a truly awful situation.
One surgeon who visited the camps described it as "impossible to depict the wretchedness of their condition." People were lying on the snow with only prairie grass for protection. Many had lost toes to frostbite, and they were suffering from all sorts of illnesses. It was a public health crisis waiting to happen.
Enter the Union Army
When these refugees finally crossed into Kansas, they got the attention of the Kansas government and the Union Army. The Union Army, always on the lookout for more manpower, saw an opportunity. They decided to recruit and train Native American soldiers from these displaced tribes.
That’s how the Indian Home Guards came to be. The idea was that these soldiers would help defend Kansas and eventually reclaim their homes in Indian Territory. The Union commanders were convinced the Indians could provide the manpower needed for the expedition, so they began recruiting Indian soldiers and forming regiments.
Not Everyone Was Thrilled
Of course, not everyone was on board with this plan. Some Kansans were worried that Native American soldiers would be ineffective or even dangerous.
One newspaper, the Fort Scott Bulletin, snarkily commented that their "principal use is to devour Uncle Sam’s hard bread and beef and spend his money." They thought the Indian soldiers would be "as valuable as a flock of sheep in time of action" and should be disbanded immediately. Ouch!
Others were afraid that armed Native Americans would turn against the white population of Kansas. They pointed to rumors about Confederate Cherokee scalping Union soldiers at the Battle of Pea Ridge.
Forming the Home Guards
Despite the prejudice and doubts, the recruitment went ahead, but with one big condition: the Native American soldiers would only fight in Indian Territory (Oklahoma). The Union Army ended up forming three regiments: the First, Second, and Third Indian Home Guards.
The First and Second Regiments were put together by Brigadier General James Henry Lane in the winter of 1861 and 1862. He promised them that if they joined the Union Army, they’d be part of a campaign to take back their homes.
The First Regiment was officially organized in LeRoy, Kansas, in May 1862. It had a mix of Creek Indians, Seminoles, and African Americans. It’s worth noting that the African Creek and African Seminole were the first black men to be officially enlisted in the Union Army.
The Second Regiment was formed in southern Kansas and the Cherokee Nation around June and July 1862.
The Third Regiment was formed in July 1862. Its ranks were filled with Cherokee Pins and some former Confederate soldiers.
Into the Fight
The Native American soldiers got their first taste of war in the summer of 1862. The First and Second Indian Regiments joined other Union units in an expedition to bring the refugees back home and reestablish a Union presence in Indian Territory.
During this expedition, some of the soldiers became the first black men to participate in combat. At the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, in December 1862, they were the first black soldiers to fight in a major battle. Even though they were few in number, the black soldiers played a crucial role because they spoke both English and Native American languages, serving as interpreters and cultural bridges between the white officers and the Native American soldiers.
Initially, the regiments were led by white officers, but the leadership of individual companies was given to Native Americans. However, the Native American regiments struggled with army discipline and tactics at first. The Osage Indians in the Second Regiment never really got used to the rules, and many of them deserted.
Despite some setbacks, the expedition had a significant impact. Many Cherokee who were captured from the Confederate side decided to join the Union Army. This led to the formation of the Third Regiment of Indian Home Guards in late August and early September 1862.
Getting Disciplined
By the fall of 1862, the Army started replacing Native American officers with experienced white noncommissioned officers to improve discipline. All three regiments were combined to form the Indian Brigade. With more training, their performance improved, and by the spring of 1863, the brigade commander was happy with their progress.
Fully trained, the Union Army and the Indian regiments went back to Indian Territory in a big way. They fought in several important battles that showed how tough the Home Guards were.
Key Battles
- Old Fort Wayne (October 1862): The Third Indian Home Guard helped stop a Confederate flanking maneuver, pushing them back and capturing their flag and artillery.
- Fort Davis (December 1862): The Home Guards drove off the Confederate forces and destroyed the fort.
- Fort Gibson (April 1863): The Second Indian Home Guard helped push the Confederate defenders into the Grand River.
- Cabin Creek (July 1863): The Home Guards helped save a Union supply train from being captured by Confederate forces.
- Honey Springs (July 1863): In this crucial battle, the Home Guards, along with white and African-American troops, drove the Confederates out of the area and secured a foothold for the Union Army in Indian Territory.
The Aftermath
The actions of the Union Home Guards allowed their families to start returning home as early as the spring of 1863. But the war wasn’t over yet, and they had to keep fighting for another two years.
So, that’s the story of the Indian Home Guards in Kansas. It’s a tale of resilience, diversity, and the often-overlooked contributions of Native Americans and African Americans to the Union cause during the Civil War. Pretty awesome, right?