Cherokee Nation in the American Civil War
The American Civil War brought profound division and devastation to the Indian Territory (the region that would later become Oklahoma). For the Cherokee Nation, the conflict was not merely a distant political struggle but a visceral internal war that split families, leadership, and the tribal community between those supporting the Union and those aligned with the Confederate States.
Initially, the Cherokee Nation sought to maintain its semi-sovereign status through pragmatic diplomacy. In 1861, Principal Chief John Ross signed an alliance with the Confederacy to prevent disunity within the territory. However, this fragile peace quickly dissolved as the realities of the war set in, leading to a fractured government and open warfare between tribal factions.
Key Facts
- Stand Watie was the only Native American to achieve the rank of brigadier-general in the Confederate Army.
- The Cherokee National Council passed a resolution to emancipate all slaves within the Cherokee Nation on February 18, 1863.
- Stand Watie was the last Confederate general in the field to surrender, signing a cease-fire on June 23, 1865.
- The 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles fought in more battles west of the Mississippi River than any other unit.
- The conflict resulted in a split leadership between the pro-Union faction under Tom Pegg and the pro-Confederate faction under Stand Watie.
The Political Divide: Ross vs. Watie
The leadership of the Cherokee Nation underwent a volatile transition during the war. Principal Chief John Ross initially allied with the Confederacy, but by the summer of 1862, he concluded the agreement was disastrous. Ross fled to Union-held Kansas and later met with President Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C., taking tribal records with him.
In the wake of Ross's departure, the pro-Union Cherokee recognized Tom Pegg as their principal chief. Following the January 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, Pegg convened a special session of the Cherokee National Council, which officially emancipated all slaves within the nation's boundaries.
Simultaneously, pro-Confederate factions took advantage of the instability to elect Stand Watie as principal chief. This election was not recognized by Ross's supporters, leading to a period of internal warfare exacerbated by lawless brigands who held no allegiance to either side.
Stand Watie and the Confederate Military Effort
Stand Watie emerged as a pivotal military figure for the Confederacy. In October 1861, he was commissioned as a colonel of the 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles, a regiment of mounted infantry.
Watie's military career was marked by both strategic successes and brutal internal conflict. He led his troops against Federal forces, but also engaged in attacks against Cherokee civilians, farms, and other tribes in the Indian Territory—such as the Creek and Seminole—who supported the Union.
Major Engagements and Promotions
Watie played a significant role in the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas (March 6–8, 1862), where his troops captured Union artillery and protected the Confederate retreat. Despite these efforts, many Cherokee soldiers under Colonel John Drew defected to the Union, though Drew himself remained loyal to the Confederacy.
On May 10, 1864, Watie was promoted to Brigadier-General. He commanded the First Indian Brigade of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi, which consisted of two regiments of Mounted Rifles and three battalions of Cherokee, Seminole, and Osage infantry. This force operated across Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, and the Indian Territory.
The Second Battle of Cabin Creek
One of the most notable Confederate victories in the region was the Second Battle of Cabin Creek on September 19, 1864. Watie and General Richard Montgomery Gano captured a Federal wagon train, seizing approximately $1 million in supplies, mules, and wagons. This raid was also marked by violence, as Watie's forces massacred black haycutters at Wagoner, Oklahoma, killing wounded men and others they encountered.
The End of Hostilities and Aftermath
As Union support grew among the Cherokee, Watie and his family sought refuge in east Texas (Rusk and Smith counties). By February 1865, the Confederate Army placed Watie in command of the Indian Division of Indian Territory, though their ability to fight effectively had vanished.
The war finally concluded for Watie on June 23, 1865, when he signed a cease-fire agreement at Doaksville in the Choctaw Nation. This act made him the final Confederate general to surrender. Following his demobilization, Watie served on the Cherokee Delegation to the Southern Treaty Commission to renegotiate treaties with the United States.
| Figure | Primary Allegiance | Key Role/Rank | Notable Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Ross | Union (later) | Principal Chief | Moved tribal records to Kansas; met with Lincoln. |
| Stand Watie | Confederate | Brigadier-General / Principal Chief | Last Confederate general to surrender. |
| Tom Pegg | Union | Principal Chief (pro-Union) | Led the 1863 emancipation of Cherokee slaves. |
| John Drew | Confederate | Colonel | Maintained loyalty despite troop defections. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Cherokee Nation initially ally with the Confederacy?
A majority of the Cherokee Nation initially supported the Confederacy for pragmatic reasons, fearing the Federal Government's intentions and the potential creation of a state (Oklahoma) from the semi-sovereign Indian Territory.
Who was the last Confederate general to surrender?
Stand Watie was the last Confederate general in the field to surrender, signing his cease-fire agreement on June 23, 1865, at Doaksville.
When did the Cherokee Nation emancipate its slaves?
The Cherokee National Council passed a resolution to emancipate all slaves within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation on February 18, 1863, following the Emancipation Proclamation.
What was the significance of the Second Battle of Cabin Creek?
It is considered the greatest Confederate victory in the Indian Territory, resulting in the capture of a Federal wagon train valued at approximately $1 million, though it was also the site of a massacre of black haycutters.
What happened to the Cherokee leadership after the war?
The nation remained divided, with Stand Watie attempting to gain recognition for a separate "Southern Cherokee Nation," a goal he never achieved. Watie later participated in renegotiating treaties with the U.S. via the Southern Treaty Commission.