Gallery: Native Americans in the War
Stand Watie
Stand Watie was born on December 12, 1806, in Oothcloga (near present day Rome, Georgia). Degadoga, or “He Stands,” was given the name Isaac S. Watie by his parents; he later dropped his Christian first name and became known as Stand Watie. At age twenty-two acquired a license to practice law and procured a job as clerk of the Cherokee Supreme Court.
During the secession crisis, Watie organized a secret organization of supporters of Southern rights known as the Knights of the Golden Circle in Indian Territory. At the start of the Civil War, his followers actively worked to bring the Cherokee tribe into the Confederate camp. On July 12, 1861, he received a colonel’s commission, raised a regiment of 300 mixed bloods, and proceeded toward the northeastern border to guard against a possible Federal invasion. On October 7, 1861, Watie’s regiment was mustered into Confederate service as the Cherokee Mounted Rifles.
On March 7-8, 1862, at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Watie’s regiment preformed relatively well. After the battle, Watie and his regiment participated in numerous conventional battles and skirmishes with Federal troops. On May 6, 1864, he was promoted to brigadier general, the only Native American to achieve that rank in the Confederate army.
Perhaps Watie’s greatest military accomplishments occurred in the summer and fall of 1864. On June 15, 1864, he captured the Federal steamboat J. R. Williams on the Arkansas River with $100,000 worth of supplies; on September 19, 1864, in what was called “the biggest Confederate victory in Indian Territory” at the second Battle of Cabin Creek, Watie and his men captured a 300 wagon Federal supply train with its $1.5 million dollar worth of supplies.
General Stand Watie finally surrendered his command on June 23, 1865, becoming the last Confederate general to capitulate.
Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31445
