Despite the popular belief that the American Civil War was fought only by whites on the side of the South, there is great evidence that they joined the Native Americans in the struggle for Southern Freedom. One of the most famous of these Native Americans even reached the rank of Brigadier General in the Confederate Army and was one of the last Confederate leaders to surrender. Besides these Native Americans could be found ranks of the Confederate Army from the plains of Oklahoma; New Mexico and Texas to the great battles of Virginia and the swamps of Florida.
Some of the best-known standards of Indians who fought for the Confederate Army were found in Texas and Oklahoma. The two most famous were the Cherokee Braves and the Chickasaw and Seminole Rifles under the command of Brigadier General Stand Wattie of the Cherokee Nation. There were other well-known brands that are not so well-known today. The next most famous unit was Thomas’ Legion which was raised among the Cherokee North Carolina. It was led under the strong command of Colonel William Thomas, who was adopted by the Cherokee, who became the chieftainship of North Carolina. Cherokee Nation They fought primarily in the mountains from West Virginia through Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
In addition to General Watie’s and Colonel Thomas’s company, there were other Indian units which history has almost neglected, but nevertheless they played a part in the battle for the Confederate cause. In Florida, McBride’s Company of Independent Cavalry Scouts under Captain A. McBride assisted Confederate Colonel Munnerlyn and Captain Dickinson in keeping Union forces from the interior of Florida until the end of the Civil War. In Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and West Tennessee, the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Natchez, and Bogue Chitto governments provided scouts in the The army of the Union since the beginning of the struggle. There were also Indian spies to attack Vicksburg, who were among the few soldiers who would not surrender there and sneak away from the Union Army. -s-grat”>Ulysses Donate
History has often sadly overlooked these men and their contributions to the Confederate service. Often when we study history we hear about units like the Texas Hood Brigade, The Kentucky Orphan Brigade, Nathan Forrest’s Mississippi Cavalry, and Stonewall’s Foot Cavalry. We often hear of more famous generals like General Lee, General Bragg, and General Jackson, but few ever heard of General McBride and his Indian troops fighting in the Florida swamps. Few heard of him outside of Quitman, MS in 1863 Choctaw and Chickasaw scouts helped save over 400 people from dying in a river flood when a train bridge was washed away by a storm. It is hoped that this article will help shed some light on the efforts of these people, so that you may further study and research the American Civil War heritage. .
In this our 150th anniversary of the late conflict between the states, it is also possible to feel the effects of this conflict in many ways in our society today. It is the author’s sincere hope that all who read this will remember the people on both sides of the conflict and the ethnic heritage of all who gave their time and sometimes their lives to make our nation what it is today.
Sources
South America: Confederation of Braves
Lars Gjertveit, “A Guide to Cherokee Confederate Military Units”, Yvwiiusdinvnohii.net
Florida Sons of Confederate Veterans: Minorities in the Confederate Army
Thomas Legion Cherokee: Thomas Legion
Mississippi hands Choctaw Indians Choctaw Indians Confederate soldiers
Search Online: Florida Civil War Soldiers Index
