Non-whites served in the Confederate Army from the beginning of the War Between the States. Integrated combat ranks of the Confederate Army included 13,000 Indians - one a brigadier general and several colonels; 6,500 Hispanics, nine of whom were colonels; Filipinos from Louisiana and an indeterminate number of black Confederate combat soldiers. Also serving the Confederacy were 5,500 Jews, one of whom, Judah P. Benjamin, an attorney from Louisiana, served as secretary of state and later as secretary of the treasury of the CSA.
As war fever was reaching a pitch, Confederate Secretary of War L.P. Walker sent a letter to Superintendent of Indian Affairs David Hubbard, with instructions to form alliances with the tribes of the Indian Territory and recruit their warriors into the Confederate Military:
"WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,
Montgomery, May 14, 1861
"Hon. DAVID HUBBARD, Superintendent of Indian Affairs:
"SIR: As superintendent of Indian affairs on behalf of this Government, originally appointed because of your well known sympathy for the Indian tribes the deep concern you have ever manifested in their welfare, you are now specially charged to proceed to the Creek Nation, and make known to them, as well as to the rest of the tribes west of Arkansas and south of Kansas, of all of whom you are constituted the superintendent, and whose interests and fallings you will respect as if they were your children, the earnest desire of the Confederate States to defend and protect them against the rapacious and avaricious designs of their and our enemies at the North yet holding the Government at Washington….
"You will be diligent to explain to them, under these circumstances, how their cause has become our cause, and themselves and ourselves stand inseparably associated in respect to national existence and property interests; and in view of this identification of cause and interests between them and ourselves, entailing a common destiny, give to them profound assurances that the Government of the Confederate States of America, now powerfully constituted through in immense league of sovereign political societies, great forces in the field, and abundant resources, will assume all the expense and responsibility of protecting them against all adversaries, if they will manifest a disposition to co-operate with us in the general struggle occupying the people at the North and those at the South. To do this effectively they must call out their warriors and form them into military organizations, to be received into the service of this Government in the same manner that our present volunteer troops are received, and to be armed and paid accordingly.
"Give them to understand, in this connection that a brigadier-general of character and experience has been assigned to the military district embracing the Indian Territories south of Kansas, with three regiments under his command, while in Texas another military district has been formed under another distinguished and able commander, with three other regiments subject to his orders….
"Let them know that our agents are now actively employed in procuring rifles and providing ammunition to be immediately forwarded to Fort Smith, for the purpose of supplying these three regiments as soon as they shall have been organized, one of which will be raised among the Choctaws and Chickasaws, another among the Cherokees, and the third from among the Creeks, Seminoles, and other friendly tribes entertaining the proposition….
"In addition to these things, regarded of primary importance, you will, without committing the Government to any especial conduct, express our serious anxiety to establish and enforce the debts and annuities due to them from the Government at Washington, which otherwise they will never obtain, as that Government would, undoubtedly, sooner rob them of their lands, emancipate their slaves, and utterly exterminate them, than render to them justice. Finally, communicate to them the abiding solicitude of the Confederate States of America to advance their condition in the direction of a proud political society, with a distinctive civilization, and holding lands in severalty under well-defined laws, by forming them into a Territory government…."
"All of which is confided to your wisdom, prudence, and judgment.
"Respectfully,
"L. P. WALKER,
"Secretary of War."
The Indians, as did the black soldiers on both sides, fought bravely and valiantly. The best-known Indian soldier and leader in the Confederate Army was Gen. Stan Watie from Cherokee, Ga., which is currently the site of Rome, Ga.
Watie became colonel of the 1st Cherokee Confederate infantry regiment in October 1861, and was promoted to brigadier general in the Confederate army on May 10, 1864. His brigade was composed of the 1st and 2d Cherokee regiments of infantry, a Cherokee battalion of infantry, and a battalion each of Seminole and Osage Indians.
The 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles whom Watie commanded, carried a battle flag with 11 white stars in a circle with 5 red stars inside. These represented the Indian tribes, Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole.
Gen. Watie was known as a daring cavalry leader who employed hit-and-run tactics against the Federals and pro-Union Indians in the territory. His lightening raids, brave assaults in the face of overwhelming odds and brilliant guerrilla successes became known to higher Confederate command. Watie holds the distinction of having been the last Confederate general to surrender his command in June 1865, one month after the War Between the States had ended.
Bill Ward lives in Salisbury and is a historian, writer, and member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Contact him at wardwriters@bellsouth.net
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