Absolutely! Here’s a rewritten version of the article, aimed for a more casual and engaging tone, while keeping the key information and spirit of the original.
Native Americans in the Civil War: A Story More Complex Than You Think
So, the Civil War, right? You probably think of it as a North vs. South thing, blue uniforms versus gray, and all that. But here’s a twist: Native Americans were right in the thick of it too. Yep, thousands of them. And their reasons for joining in were as varied and complex as the tribes themselves.
More Than Just Sides: A Web of Allegiances
We’re talking about an estimated 20,000 Native Americans who took up arms during the Civil War. Some fought for the Union, some for the Confederacy, and many more played vital supporting roles – think supply lines, scouting, and even espionage. They were at major battles like Pea Ridge, Antietam, and Petersburg.
Why did they choose sides? Well, it wasn’t always about slavery or states’ rights. For many, it was about survival. They wanted to protect their tribal lands and their way of life.
- Union Allies: About 3,500 Native Americans joined the Union Army. They hoped that by supporting the federal government, they could ensure that treaties recognizing their land rights would be honored.
- Confederate Connections: Many more sided with the Confederacy. This was partly to protect slavery in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) and also because the Confederacy promised to recognize an independent Native American country after the war.
The Five Civilized Tribes: Caught in the Crossfire
The Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Choctaw, and Seminole Nations – often called the "Five Civilized Tribes" – had already been through hell with the Trail of Tears. They were forced to move from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to lands west of the Mississippi River in the 1830s and 1840s. To protect those new territories, they signed treaties with the Confederacy. Plus, some of the elite tribal members owned enslaved African Americans, which further motivated their Southern allegiance.
Cherokee Internal Conflict: A War Within a War
The Cherokee Nation was dealing with its own internal conflict. On one side was Principal Chief John Ross, who initially wanted to stay neutral. On the other was Stand Watie, a bit of a renegade. After Confederate victories early in the war and the Federal government abandoning Indian territory, Ross reluctantly signed a treaty with the Confederacy in October 1861.
In exchange for protection, food, and representation in the Confederate Congress, the Cherokee agreed to provide soldiers and allow the construction of military posts within their territory. As a result, the 2nd Cherokee Mounted Rifles, led by Colonel John Drew, was formed.
Union Recruitment Efforts: A Call to Arms
In early 1862, the U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, William Dole, put out a call to Native American agents to recruit "vigorous and able-bodied Indians." This led to the creation of the 1st and 2nd Indian Home Guard in Kansas, which included members of various tribes like Delaware, Creek, Seminole, Kickapoo, Seneca, Osage, Shawnee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw.
Changing Sides and Divided Loyalties
After the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas, Colonel John Drew’s Mounted Rifles defected to the Union forces in Kansas and joined the Indian Home Guard. Later in 1862, Chief John Ross was captured by Federal troops and spent the rest of the war in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, proclaiming Cherokee loyalty to the Union.
With Ross out of the picture, Colonel Stand Watie became the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation and drafted all Cherokee males aged 18-50 into Confederate military service. Watie was a skilled cavalry officer known for his guerilla warfare tactics.
The Tonkawa Massacre: A Brutal Episode
In October 1862, Delaware, Shawnee, Osage, and other Native American warriors attacked the Wichita Agency in Oklahoma. During the Tonkawa Massacre, they killed Confederate agents, seized supplies, and burned buildings.
Stand Watie’s Successes and Last Stand
In May 1864, Stand Watie was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the Indian Cavalry Brigade, which consisted of Cherokee, Creek, Osage, and Seminole soldiers. He achieved significant victories, such as capturing the Union steamboat J.R. Williams loaded with supplies and capturing supply wagons and prisoners at the Second Battle of Cabin Creek.
Interestingly, General Stand Watie was the last Confederate general to surrender, laying down arms two months after General Robert E. Lee.
Devastation and Disloyalty
The Cherokee Nation suffered the most during the Civil War, with its population declining significantly. Despite promises of pardon, the entire Nation was considered disloyal by the Federal government, and their rights were revoked.
Eastern Tribes: Taking Sides Closer to Home
Even tribes that hadn’t been relocated westward got involved. The Thomas Legion, a Confederate Cherokee group led by Colonel William Holland Thomas, fought in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Other Cherokee formed the Junaluska Zouaves. Catawba men served the South in the Army of Northern Virginia, distinguishing themselves in various campaigns.
The Pamunkey and Lumbee tribes chose to support the Union in Virginia and North Carolina. The Pamunkey worked as civilian and naval pilots for Union ships, while the Lumbee engaged in guerilla warfare. Members of the Iroquois Nation joined the 5th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and the Powhatan served as guides and spies for the Army of the Potomac.
Company K: A Symbol of Native American Valor
The most famous Native American unit in the Union Army in the east was Company K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. Made up mostly of Ottawa, Delaware, Huron, Oneida, Potawatomi, and Ojibwa men, they fought bravely in battles like the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and the Battle of the Crater. During the Battle of the Crater, the Sharpshooters found themselves surrounded with little ammunition. A lieutenant of the 13th U.S. Colored Troops described their actions as "splendid work. Some of them were mortally wounded, and drawing their blouses over their faces, they chanted a death song and died – four of them in a group."
Hopes and Disappointments
The soldiers of Company K, like many Native Americans who chose to serve, hoped that their loyalty on the battlefield would be rewarded. They also saw military service as a way to end discrimination and prevent further relocation from their ancestral lands.
Unfortunately, the U.S. government continued its policies of removing American Indians from their ancestral homes. The American Indian Wars continued during the Civil War, as the westward expansion persisted.
A Seneca’s Pen: Ending the Conflict
At the end of the war, Ely S. Parker, a member of the Seneca tribe and General Ulysses S. Grant’s military secretary, drafted the articles of surrender that General Robert E. Lee signed at Appomattox Court House. Parker, a trained lawyer who had been rejected for army service because of his race, was the highest-ranking American Indian in the Union army.
The Takeaway
The story of Native Americans in the Civil War isn’t just a footnote. It’s a powerful reminder that history is messy, and allegiances are often driven by complex motivations. It’s a story of survival, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for recognition and respect.