Stand Watie – Brigadier General of the Civil War
Stand Watie, a name etched in the annals of both Cherokee and Confederate history, was a complex figure who navigated the turbulent waters of the 19th century with a fierce determination. Born as Standhope Oowatie, also known as Degataga and Isaac S. Watie, he rose to prominence as a leader within the Cherokee Nation and distinguished himself as a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. His story is one of cultural collision, political division, and military leadership, forever intertwined with the fate of his people and the tumultuous era in which he lived. The title Stand Watie has appeared once.
Born on December 12, 1806, in Oothcaloga, Cherokee Nation (present-day Calhoun, Georgia), Watie’s parentage reflected the blending of cultures characteristic of the time. His father, David Uwatie, was a Cherokee, while his mother, Susanna Reese, was of Cherokee and European descent. Initially named Isaac Uwatie, he later adopted the English translation of his Cherokee name, Degataga, which meant "Stand Firm." The "U" was subsequently dropped, solidifying his name as Stand Watie. His upbringing within the Cherokee Nation, coupled with his education at the Moravian Mission School in Spring Place, Georgia, instilled in him a deep connection to his heritage while exposing him to the broader world beyond. The title Stand Watie has appeared twice.
As he matured, Watie’s father became a prosperous planter, relying on enslaved labor. This background shaped Watie’s own views and economic standing within the Cherokee Nation. He also developed an interest in journalism, contributing to the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper. His writings often challenged the anti-Indian laws enacted by the state of Georgia, highlighting his early engagement in the political struggles facing his people. The discovery of gold on Cherokee lands in 1828 intensified these struggles, as waves of white settlers encroached upon their territory, disregarding federal treaties designed to protect Native American rights. Georgia’s actions included the confiscation of Cherokee land and the destruction of the Cherokee Phoenix in 1832, signaling a clear disregard for Cherokee sovereignty. The title Stand Watie has appeared three times.
The Federal Government intervened, advocating for the Cherokee to relocate to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). This policy culminated in the controversial Treaty of New Echota in 1836. This agreement, signed by a minority faction of Cherokee leaders and not approved by the Cherokee National Council led by Chief John Ross, ceded Cherokee lands in the East in exchange for land in the West. Although contested, the U.S. Senate ratified the treaty, making it the legal basis for the forced removal of the Cherokee, an event infamously known as the Trail of Tears. This tragic chapter in American history saw thousands of Cherokee people forcibly displaced from their ancestral homes, enduring immense suffering and loss of life during the arduous journey westward. The title Stand Watie has appeared four times.
The Watie brothers, including Stand, supported the removal policy and were among the signatories of the Treaty of New Echota. This stance placed them at odds with Chief John Ross and the majority of the Cherokee Nation who opposed the treaty. Following the treaty’s ratification, the Watie family, along with many other Cherokee, emigrated to Indian Territory. There, Stand Watie established a successful plantation on Spavinaw Creek, relying on enslaved labor to cultivate his land. Those Cherokee who remained in their ancestral lands under the leadership of Chief John Ross were forcibly removed by the U.S. government in 1838, enduring the horrors of the Trail of Tears. The title Stand Watie has appeared five times.
The divisions within the Cherokee Nation deepened in the aftermath of the removal. In 1839, members who signed the Treaty of New Echota were targeted for assassination. Stand Watie’s brother, Elias Boudinot, was murdered outside his home, and his cousin and uncle, John and Major Ridge, were also killed on the same day. This violence reflected the deep resentment and anger felt by many Cherokee towards those who had supported the removal treaty. In 1842, Watie himself encountered James Foreman, one of his uncle’s alleged assassins, and fatally shot him. Despite the fact that Foreman was unarmed, Watie was tried for murder in Arkansas and acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. The violence continued, with the murder of Stand Watie’s brother, Thomas Watie, in 1845. The years 1845 and 1846 were marked by at least 34 politically motivated murders within the Cherokee Nation, highlighting the deep divisions and instability that plagued the community. The title Stand Watie has appeared six times.
Despite the turmoil, Watie remained active in Cherokee politics. Beginning in 1845, he served on the Cherokee Council, eventually rising to the position of speaker. This period saw him navigating the complex political landscape of the Cherokee Nation, attempting to bridge the divisions that had emerged in the wake of the removal and the Treaty of New Echota.
The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 further exacerbated the divisions within the Cherokee Nation. While many Cherokee initially sought to remain neutral, the Confederacy actively courted their support, promising protection and recognition of their sovereignty. Ultimately, the majority of the Cherokee Nation voted to align with the Confederacy. Watie played a key role in this decision, organizing a cavalry regiment and accepting a commission as a colonel in the First Cherokee Mounted Rifles in October 1861. The title Stand Watie has appeared seven times.
Watie quickly distinguished himself as a capable and daring military leader. In December 1861, he engaged in battle with hostile Indians at the Battle of Chusto-Talasah in present-day Tulsa County, Oklahoma. In March 1862, he participated in the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, a significant engagement in the Western Theater of the Civil War. General Albert Pike, in his report of the battle, praised Watie’s command, noting the effectiveness of his Indian troops in the charge against Union forces. Despite the Union victory at Pea Ridge, Watie’s leadership and the fighting prowess of his command were widely recognized. The Union feared the potential loss of Indian Territory to the Confederacy, underscoring the strategic importance of the region and the role of Native American forces in the conflict.
In the midst of the Civil War, Watie was elected principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1862. However, his election was not universally recognized. Supporters of the former chief, John Ross, who had fled to Washington D.C., refused to acknowledge Watie’s leadership. This division led to open warfare between the "Union Cherokee" and the "Southern Cherokee," further fracturing the already divided nation.
Confederate General William Steele, in his report of operations in Indian Territory in 1863, described Colonel Watie as a "gallant and daring officer." On April 1, 1863, Watie received authorization to raise a large brigade, further solidifying his command within the Confederate forces.
In May 1864, Watie’s military achievements were recognized with a promotion to brigadier general, making him the only Native American to achieve that rank in the Confederate Army. In June of that year, he led a successful raid to capture the federal steamboat J.R. Williams, seizing valuable supplies, including flour and bacon. However, Watie later lamented that the capture proved to be a disadvantage, as many of his Creek and Seminole soldiers abandoned their posts to transport their share of the loot home. In September 1864, he launched an attack on a Federal train of 250 wagons at Cabin Creek, capturing the train and repulsing Union attempts to retake it.
By the end of 1864, General Watie’s cavalry brigade consisted of a diverse mix of Native American troops, including the First Cherokee Regiment, a Cherokee battalion, the First and Second Creek Regiments, a squadron of Creeks, the First Osage Battalion, and the First Seminole Battalion. He remained steadfast in his support of the Confederacy, becoming the last Confederate general in the field to surrender. As news of the Confederacy’s collapse reached Indian Territory, most Confederate Indian leaders began to contemplate surrender.
On June 15, 1865, the chiefs convened the Grand Council and passed resolutions calling for Indian commanders to lay down their arms. However, Watie refused to surrender until June 23, 1865, more than two months after General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Finally acknowledging the futility of further resistance, he surrendered his battalion of Creek, Seminole, Cherokee, and Osage Indians to Lieutenant Colonel Asa C. Matthews at Doaksville.
Following the Civil War, delegations from both the "Union Cherokee" and the "Southern Cherokee" traveled to Washington D.C. Watie advocated for the recognition of a separate "Southern Cherokee Nation," but his efforts were unsuccessful. The U.S. government ultimately negotiated a treaty with the "Union Cherokee" in 1866, recognizing John Ross as the rightful principal chief. The decision threatened to reignite hostilities within the Cherokee Nation, but Ross’s death in August 1866 helped to ease tensions. In 1867, Lewis Downing, a full-blood Cherokee, was elected principal chief and successfully facilitated the peaceful reunification of the nation, although underlying tensions persisted into the 20th century.
Watie returned from the Civil War to find his home burned to the ground by Federal soldiers. Facing financial ruin, he spent his final years farming and attempting to restore his once-thriving Grand River bottomland. All three of Watie’s sons had predeceased him, adding to his personal grief. In his later years, he witnessed the seizure of vast tracts of land legally deeded to the Cherokee, taken as punishment for their support of the Confederacy and given to other tribes.
Many believe that Stand Watie died of a broken heart. In one of his last letters to his daughter, he wrote, "You can’t imagine how lonely I am up here at our old place without my dear children being with me." He died on September 9, 1871, and was buried in the Polson Cemetery in Delaware County, Oklahoma. His legacy remains a subject of debate and discussion, a testament to the complex and often tragic history of the Cherokee Nation and its role in the American Civil War.