1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles
- American Civil War
- Col. John Drew (1861–62)
- Col. Stand Watie (1862–64)
- Col. Robert C. Parks (1864–65)
The 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles (also known as the 1st Arkansas Cherokee Mounted Rifles and the "Cherokee Braves") was a cavalry formation of the Confederate States Army in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War.
Formation
After Cherokee Principal Chief John Ross signed a treaty of alliance with the Confederate States in October 1861, he and the Cherokee Council authorized the formation of the 1st Cherokee Mounted Riflemen, to be commanded by Colonel John Drew.[1] Most of the riflemen of the newly formed regiment were ideologically uncommitted to the goals of the Confederacy, but were loyal to Ross.[a]
Drew's regiment became part of Colonel Cooper's command and was ordered to help stop the flight of Union-supporting Creeks, led by their principal chief Opothleyahola, who were attempting to flee to Kansas. Although the unit participated in the Battle of Round Mountain, the Battle of Chusto-Talasah, and the Battle of Chustenahlah, they made known their dislike for fighting the Creeks, who had done the Cherokees no harm. They had expected to be fighting the invading Yankees, instead.
Consolidation
A portion of Drew's regiment deserted in late 1861. Following the Battle of Old Fort Wayne in October 1862, most of the remainder of Drew's men, including Maj. Thomas Pegg, deserted to the Union army. What remained of his troops were consolidated with 2d Cherokee Mounted Rifles and reorganized as the 1st Regiment of Cherokee Mounted Rifles with Stand Watie in command.[2]
1862–1865
During the war, Watie's troops participated in twenty-seven major engagements and numerous smaller skirmishes. Although some of the engagements were set-piece battles, most of their activities utilized guerrilla tactics. Watie's men launched raids from south of the Canadian River throughout northern-held Indian Territory and into Kansas and Missouri, tying down thousands of Union troops. Poorly equipped and armed mostly with castoff rifles or captured weapons, the Cherokees were well suited to this type of warfare. Watie was promoted to brigadier general in May 1864.[3]
Watie's most spectacular victories included the Ambush of the steamboat J. R. Williams, in June 1864,[3] and the capture of a Union wagon train at the Second Battle of Cabin Creek in September 1864. His three most infamous actions were the burning of Rose Cottage, home of Chief John Ross, and the Cherokee Council House in October 1863, and the massacre of detachments of the First Kansas Colored Infantry and 2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry at the Hay Camp Action (a.k.a. the Battle of Flat Rock) in September 1864.[4]
In February 1865 Stand Watie was given command of the Indian Division of Indian Territory but was unable to launch any offensive operations. He released most of his troops following the collapse of Confederate resistance in the spring of 1865. After participating in the Camp Napoleon Council in May, Stand Watie officially surrendered on June 23, 1865, becoming the last Confederate general to lay down his arms. The regiment was disbanded.
Notes
- ^ Two of Drew's subordinate officers were Thomas Pegg and W.P. Ross, who subsequently switched to supporting the Union. Still later, both were elected to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Drew continued to support the Confederacy. He performed staff assignments after being relieved in favor of Watie, never again held a combat command.
References
- ^ "General Stand Watie's Regiment (First Regiment of Cherokee Mounted Volunteers)." Accessed August 7, 2016.
- ^ "Clash at Chusto-Talasah; Hundreds of Rebel Indians Defect." Civil War Daily Gazette". Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Accessed January 10, 2016.
- ^ a b Civil War in the Indian Territory. Cottrell, Steve. Pelican Books, pp. 94–95. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ^ "WAGONER COUNTY". Digital.library.okstate.edu. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
External links
- Media related to 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles at Wikimedia Commons
- 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles at CouchGenWeb
- 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles Papers at the University of Oklahoma
- v
- t
- e
- Society
- National holiday
- Calendar
- Clans
- Chiefs
- Gadugi
- Ghigau
- Green Corn Ceremony
- Language
- history
- syllabary
- Cherokee (Unicode block)
- Cherokee Supplement (Unicode block)
- Cherokee Immersion School
- New Kituwah Academy
- Marbles
- Spiritual beliefs
- Ethnobotany
- Stomp dance
- Booger dance
- Flag of the Cherokee Nation
- History
- Treaties
- Kituwa
- Ani-kutani
- skiagusta (rank)
- outacite (rank)
- Raven of Chota
- Wars
- Tribal Wars
- Anglo-Cherokee War
- Cherokee War of 1776
- Cherokee–American wars
- Nickajack Expedition
- American Civil War
- 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles
- Cherokee treaties
- Transylvania Purchase
- Chickamauga Cherokee
- Overhill Cherokee
- Cherokee Phoenix
- Cherokee Nation (1794–1907)
- Removal
- Jacob Brown Grant Deeds
- Texas Cherokees
- Heritage Center
- Cherokee Preservation Foundation
- Warriors Society
- Original Keetoowah Society
- Keetoowah Nighthawk Society
- Youth Choir
- Heritage groups
- Cherokee Southwest Township
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
- Education
- Female Seminary
- Male Seminary
- Cherokee Central Schools
- Cherokee High School
- Sequoyah Schools
- Sequoyah High School
villages
- Cherokee Towns (pre-Removal)
- Amoyeligunahita
- Brasstown
- Chatuga
- Chilhowee
- Chota
- Conasauga
- Cowee
- Coyotee
- Crowtown
- Dirt town
- Ducktown
- Etowah
- Frogtown
- Hiwassee
- Hiwassee Island
- Island town
- Isunigu
- Joara
- Keowee
- Kituwa
- Kulsetsiyi
- Long Swamp
- Mialoquo
- Nacoochee
- Nantahala
- NewEchota
- Nickajack
- Nikwasi
- Nununyi
- Ocoee
- Oconee
- Oostanaula
- Red Clay
- Settico
- Spike Bucktown
- Talisi
- Talulah
- Tanasi
- Tellico
- Tomassee
- Tomotley
- Toqua
- Toxoway
- Tsatanugi
- Tuckasegee
- Tugaloo
- Turkeytown
- Turtletown
- Tuskegee
- Running Water
- Titsohili
- Cherokee Nations
- Western Cherokee Nation
- Eastern Band
memorial sites
- Cherokee National Capitol
- Cherokee Removal Memorial Park
- Chieftains Museum
- First Cherokee Female Seminary Site
- Judaculla Rock
- Long Island
- John Ross House
- Ross's Landing
- Sequoyah's Cabin
- Tellico Blockhouse
- Trail of Tears State Park
- Brainerd Mission
- Rattlesnake Springs
- Fort Cass
- Red Clay State Historic Park
- Hair Conrad Cabin
- Nancy Ward Tomb
- Blythe Ferry
- Bussell Island
- Chief Vann House Historic Site
- Mantle Rock
- Museum of the Cherokee People
- Untokiasdiyi
- Standing Stone
- Stick Ball Grounds
- Cullasaja River
- Tuckasegee River
- Oconaluftee valley
- Oconaluftee River
- Abrams Creek
- Sycamore Shoals
- The Great Trading Path
- The Great War Path
- Hiwassee River Heritage Center
- Chatata
- Tuckaleechee
- Fort Smith Historic Site
- Port Royal State Park
- Five Civilized Tribes Museum
- Tlanusiyi
- Cherokee Path
- Early leaders
- Cherokee Nation East (1794-1839)
- Enola
- Pathkiller
- Big Tiger
- Charles R. Hicks
- William Hicks
- John Ross
- Cherokee Nation West (1810-1839)
- The Bowl
- Degadoga
- Tahlonteeskee
- John Jolly
- Sam Houston
- John Looney
- John Rogers
- Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (1824-present)
- Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory (1839–1907)
- Cherokee Nation (1975–present)
- J. B. Milam
- W. W. Keeler
- Ross Swimmer
- Wilma Mankiller
- Joe Byrd
- Chadwick "Corntassel" Smith
- Bill John Baker
- Chuck Hoskin, Jr.
- United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (1939–present)
- James L. Gordon
- John W. Hair
- Other notable Cherokee
- Nancy Ward
- Tsali
- Tahlonteeskee (warrior)
- Turtle-at-Home
- Junaluska
- Goingsnake
- Elias Boudinot
- Wauhatchie
- James Vann
- David Vann
- Joseph Vann
- Bob Benge
- Nunnahitsunega
- Ned Christie
- John Martin
- Markwayne Mullin
- Yvette Herrell
- Sequoya
- Major Ridge
- Jenny McIntosh
- Sam Sixkiller
- Clement V. Rogers
- Redbird Smith
- Durbin Feeling
- Hastings Shade
- Kimberly Teehee