Indigenous Peoples in the American Civil War

United States   U.S Military    U.S. Civil War    Native Americans in the Civil War

Introduction
During the Civil War, Indians served in many regiments, both in Oklahoma and in various state regiments. The following is not a complete list.

Cherokee

 * 1st Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Volunteers, CSA (Confederate) Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit.


 * 1st Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Rifles, CSA (Confederate) 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles was organized at Old Fort Wayne, Delaware District, Cherokee Nation, in July, 1861. For a time it served in the Department of the Indian Territory, then was assigned to D.H. Cooper's and Watie's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit was active in the engagements at Elkhorn Tavern, Old Fort Wayne, Prairie Grove, Elk Creek, and Mazzard Prairie. About 200 officers and men saw action at Cabin Creek in September, 1864, then surrendered on June 23, 1865. Its commanders were Colonels James M. Bell and Stand Watie; Lieutenant Colonels Robert C. Parks, Thomas F. Taylor, Joseph F. Thompson, and Clem N. Vann; and Majors E.C. Bondinot and E.J. Howland.


 * 1st Squadron, Cherokee Mounted Volunteers (Confederate) Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit.


 * 2nd Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Volunteers, CSA (Confederate) 2nd Cherokee Mounted Rifles was organized near Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, in September, 1861. It served in the Department of the Indian Territory, then was assigned to D.H. Cooper's and Watie's Brigade in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit skirmished and raided the Federals in the Indian Territory and in September, 1864, fought at Cabin Creek with 150 officers and men. Later it surrendered at Doaksville with the other Indian forces. The field officers were Colonel William P. Adair; Lieutenant Colonel O.H.P. Brewer; and Majors Porter Hammock, J.R. Harden, and John Vann.

Chickasaw

 * 1st Battalion, Chickasaw Cavalry, CSA (Confederate) 1st Chickasaw Cavalry Battalion was organized in the fall of 1862 with five companies. It served in T. Walker's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department, and skirmished in the Indian Territory and along the border. The unit was included in the surrender on June 23, 1865, with about 75 officers and men. Lieutenant Colonel J.D. Harris and Major L.M. Reynolds were in command.


 * 1st Regiment, Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, CSA (Confederate) 1st Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, formed at Scullyville, Choctaw Nation, in July, 1861, contained 1,085 men. During May, 1862, it had 27 officers and 707 men present for duty. This unit contained six companies of Choctaws, three of Chickasaw, and one of half-breeds. It reported 12 casualties at Newtonia, then was assigned to D.H. Cooper's and T. Walker's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department. The regiment skirmished and raided the Federals in the Indian Territory and in April, 1863, had 3 men disabled in the fight at Poison Spring. It was included in the surrender on June 23, 1865. The field officers were Colonel Douglas H. Cooper; Lieutenant Colonels James Riley and Tandy Walker; and Majors Willis J. Jones, Mitchell LeFlore, and Stephen Loering.


 * 1st Regiment, Chickasaw Infantry, CSA (Hunter's Indian Volunteers) (Confederate) 1st Chickasaw Cavalry Regiment was formed during the spring of 1863, but was always undermanned. It was attached to General D.H. Cooper's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department, and participated in various conflicts in the Indian Territory. The unit disbanded late in 1864. Lieutenant Colonel S.H. Martin and Major Abram B. Hays were its commanders.

Choktaw

 * 1st Battalion, Choctaw Cavalry, CSA (McCurtain's) (Confederate) Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit.


 * 1st Regiment, Choctaw Mounted Rifles, CSA (Confederate) 1st Choctaw Cavalry Regiment completed its organization during the early spring of 1862 where Atoka now stands in the Choctaw Nationa. In May there were 31 officers and 686 men present for duty. It sustained 9 casualties in the fight at Newtonia, then saw action at Old Fort Wayne. Later the unit was assigned to T. Walker's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department, and skirmished in the Indian Territory and along the border. In June, 1865, it was included in the surrender at Doaksville. The field officers were Colonel Sampson Folsom, Lieutenant Colonel David F. Harkins, and Major Sylvester Durant.


 * 1st Regiment, Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, CSA (Confederate) 1st Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, formed at Scullyville, Choctaw Nation, in July, 1861, contained 1,085 men. During May, 1862, it had 27 officers and 707 men present for duty. This unit contained six companies of Choctaws, three of Chickasaw, and one of half-breeds. It reported 12 casualties at Newtonia, then was assigned to D.H. Cooper's and T. Walker's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department. The regiment skirmished and raided the Federals in the Indian Territory and in April, 1863, had 3 men disabled in the fight at Poison Spring. It was included in the surrender on June 23, 1865. The field officers were Colonel Douglas H. Cooper; Lieutenant Colonels James Riley and Tandy Walker; and Majors Willis J. Jones, Mitchell LeFlore, and Stephen Loering.


 * 2nd Regiment, Choctaw Cavalry, CSA (Confederate) 1st Choctaw Cavalry War [also called 2nd Choctaw Regiment] was organized during the summer of 1862. Formerly Battice's 1st Choctaw Cavalry Battalion which in May contained 216 effectives. Assigned to the Department of the Indian Territory, the unit skirmished and raided the Federals. Later it lost 4 killed and 4 wounded at Poison Spring and surrendered in June, 1865. Colonel Simpson N. Folsom was in command.


 * 3rd Regiment, Choctaw Cavalry, CSA (Confederate) 3rd Choctaw Cavalry Regiment was organized during the fall of 1863 using McCurtain's 1st Choctaw Cavalry Battalion as its nucleus. It was assigned to T. Walker's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department, and skirmished in the Indian Territory. The regiment surrendered at Doaksville on June 23, 1865. Its commanders were Colonel Jackson McCurtain, Lieutenant Colonel (acting) Tom Lewis, and Major John Page.

Creek

 * 1st Regiment Creek Mounted Volunteers, CSA(Confederate) 1st Creek Infantry Regiment was organized near Eufaula, Creek Nation, in August, 1861, and served as mounted infantry. During May, 1862, about 900 officers and men were present, and for a time the unit was assigned to the Department of Indian Territory. It then was attached to D.H. Cooper's, and Watie's Brigade in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The regiment saw action at Elkhorn Tavern and Old Fort Wayne, and later raided the Federals in the Indian Territory. In September, 1864, about 125 men fought at Cabin Creek and on June 23, 1865, surrendered with the other Indian troops. Its commanders were Colonel D.N. McIntosh, Lieutenant Colonels Samuel Chekote and W.R. McIntosh, and Majors J. Derrysaw and James McHenry.


 * 2nd Regiment, Creek Mounted Volunteers, CSA (Confederate) 2nd Creek Infantry Regiment completed its organization in September, 1861, near Eufaula, Creek Nation, and served as mounted infantry. It was formed as the 1st Creek Battalion and in May, 1862, totalled about 400 officers and men. New companies were added and within a year it was brought up to regimental strength. The unit was assigned to duty in the Department of the Indian Territory, then was placed in General D.H. Cooper's and Watie's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department. It raided and skirmished in the Indian Territory and surrendered in June, 1865. The field officers were Colonels Timothy Barnett and Chilly McIntosh, and Lieutenant Colonel Pink Hawkins.

Osage

 * 1st Osage Battalion, CSA (Confederate) Osage Battalion was organized during the spring of 1863 with four companies. It was assigned to General D.H. Cooper's and Watie's Brigade in the Trans-Mississippi Department. This unit participated in various conflicts in the Indian Territory and surrendered in June, 1865. Major Broke Arm was in command.

Seminole

 * 1st Regiment, Seminole Mounted Volunteers, CSA (Confederate) 1st Seminole Cavalry Battalion completed its organization in September, 1861, and for a time served in the Department of the Indian Territory. During May, 1862, it had 380 men present for duty. Later the unit was assigned to D.H. Cooper's and Watie's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department. It served as scouts and raided the Federals in the Indian Territory and along the border. In September, 1864, the battalion took 130 officers and men into the fight at Cabin Creek, but few surrendered in June, 1865. Lieutenant Colonel John Jumper and Major George Cloud were in command.

Other Sources

 * Abel, Annie Heloise, The American Indian as Participant in the Civil War, (Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark, 1919). Gutenberg Online Reader.
 * Abel, Annie Heloise, The American Indian as Slaveholder and Secessionist, Reprint. Originally published: Cleveland : Arthur H. Clarke Co., 1915. (Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, c1992). Internet Archive.