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Indian TroopsValliani In BattleFor ConfederacyWhen North America was discovered, most of that portion now known as the Southern States, with the exception of Texas, was in possession of the five powerful Indian nations: Cherokee,Choctaw. Seminole. Chickasaw and Creek. England. France, and Spain surrounded this Indian country with forts and settlements in an effort to conquer them.A proud, progressive and warlike people, the Indians rsented | ah interierenee in their national affairs and compelled these alien races to remain outside their i boundaries.1 By wars, purchases and treaties with these European nations, the United States eventually became owner of the forts and settlements; but not the country nor the people of the Five Indian Nations of the South.Before lonrt. however, the government pushed further and further into the Indian country. A most unsatisfactory situation existed on the frontier between the powerful Indian peoples and the whites who were pushing to settle in the region. Andrew Jackson was aware of this situation He was also aware of the rnihtary skill of the Indian warriors.In the War of 1812 between the United States and England, official records show that Andrew Jackson called on the Indian nations for assistance and that the t success of his southern campaign j was due largely to the valuable aid rendered by their warriors. General Jackson was no sooner victorious than, as early as 1817, he demanded the removal of all Indians from the East to the West beyond the Mississippi This purpose was attained between the; i years 1830 and 1842.The uprooting and forcible ex-I ulsion of the Five Indian Nations ! without pararrei in the historyof this country-This tragic saga of Indian removal known as the Trail of Tears” was truly a trail of des-lOlation by the Five Nations and their descendants. They loved their ancient southern homes, its hills and vales; the wide rivers and deep forests; the ashes of their ceremonial fires and the sacred graves of their ancestors They carried this love for the South and its people to their new home in the West.The country purchased by the Five Indian Nations was knowr. as the Indian Territory, and com prised the land now occupied b\ the State of Oklahoma. On arriving in their new lands in Indian Territory, each nation proceded to establish its government and eventually each was reorganized under a constitution with legislative, judicial and executive departments modeled after the governments of the Southerr States from which they came.In time, capitols were established by each nut,on; the one holding the greatest interest to u. being the Choctaw Capitol in Tuskahoma. CJfurches, schools and towns were founded; land placed m cultivation and cattle roamed the hills, valleys and mountains.One of the provisions madethe Indian treaties was that fortshould be established by the' Un ited States in the Indian Territory Many of these* forts were established and the* base fort war Fort Smith, just over the bordei in Arkansas.When the* southern states seced ed and the war drums were beat ing in 1861. the U. S. War Dc. partment ordered that all forts in the Indian Territory be abandoned. This was the absolution of solemn pledges and left the Indian Nations at the mercy of enemies of War.The great majority of the members of the Five Civilized Tribes were southern in their sympathies. The ideals, principals, customs and institutions of the old South were brought with them on the trek west. The Five Nations eventually joined an alliance with the Confederate States.The Choctaw nation was one of the first to pledge their full support to the South, and wereimmediately ordered to raisetroops. In May. 1861. a military district of Indian Territory was created under General McCulloch of Texas. The command was 1er shifted to Colonel Douglas H. Cooper.In “The Chronicles of Oklahoma” we found a list of the organized Indian Choctaw military units:First Regiment Choctaws and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles.First Choctaw Mounted Rifles.Dcneale’s Regiment Choctaw Warriors.Captain Wilkins Company Choctaw Infantry.First Regiment Choctaw Infantry.Second Regiment Choctaw Cavalry.Third Regiment Choctaw Cavalry.A Confederate encampment at Muddy Boggv was occupied by Choctaw troops under the command of both Col. Sampson Folsom and Col. Simpson N. Folsom in 1861. Though there was not a unit organiezd in the Kiamichi Valley, many of the Choctaws of today can point with pride to their ancestors who joined units all over Indian Territory, and thumbing through historys of the Civil War, many heroic Indian names ring strongly familiar to the inhabitants of Kiamichi Valley.I1In June, 1862, the Federals invaded the Indian Territory but were repulsed and forced to withdraw by Colonel Stand Watie and his troops. Six battles and heavy engagements besides many hot skirmishes were fought in the Indian Territory from May to October 1862. After the second Federal invasion. Fort Gibson was captured and remained the Federal base throughout the War In the battles and many skirmishes the Indians fought desperately but unsuccessfully to regain the territory lost in the second Federal invasion of 1862 They were hungry, ragged and without sufficient arms and ammunition. What powder they had was rotten, yet through all thi dark days, the military activities of the peerless Indian leader. Stand Watie, runs like a golden thread as he eanstantly harrassed the Federals with his Indian troops. Tandy Walker of lhlt;Choctaws is mentioned in many•0records by the commanding officers for courageous leadership in the midst of major battles in Indian Territory and beyond it.-borders.When General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to theYOU CAN’T BEATnHEATl'fith the oil newFUEL 5A VING,i _l•.«. #. *lt; /■at-The ONLY Heater inAmerica built toRcRrRF
Newspaper Details
Eufaula Indian Journal
Eufaula, Oklahoma, US
Thu, Jan 26, 1961
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Mid-Continent L.
MO, USA 18 Jun 2018
Other Publications Near Eufaula, Oklahoma
Eufaula Republican
Eufaula Indian Journal
Eufaula Democrat
Creek Freedman Roll
