Indigenous Peoples in the American Civil War

United States American Indian Research  American Indian Military  U.S. Civil War  American Indians



Introduction
During the Civil War, 28,693 American Indians served in the Union and Confederate armies. They served in various regiments in Oklahoma as well as in military units of other states. "Many Native American tribes fought in the war including: the Delaware, Creek, Cherokee, Seminole, Kickapoo, Seneca, Osage, Shawnee, Choctaw, Lumbee, Chickasaw, Iroquois, Powhatan, Pequot, Ojibwa, Huron, Odawa, Potawatomi, Catawba, and Pamunkey. The Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Catawba, and Creek tribes were the only tribes to fight on the Confederate side."

Union General Ely S. Parker, of the Seneca tribe, was the military secretary for Ulysses S. Grant and a lawyer. He wrote the articles of surrender signed by Robert E. Lee.

To determine where a tribe is/was, see the map showing locations of tribes in the early 1800s

For help with American Indian genealogical research, see the Wiki article, American Indian Genealogy.

The following is not a complete list.

Confederate Regular Troops

 * Washington's Squadron of Indians, CSA (Reserve Squadron Cavalry)(Confederate) Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit

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) Organized at Old Fort Wayne, Delaware District, Cherokee Nation, in July, 1861. Surrendered on June 23, 1865. Commanders: 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) Organized near Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, in September, 1861. Surrendered at Doaksville. Field officers: Colonel William P. Adair; Lieutenant Colonel O.H.P. Brewer; and Majors Porter Hammock, J.R. Harden, and John Vann.


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


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

Chickasaw

 * 1st Battalion, Chickasaw Cavalry, CSA (Confederate) Organized in the fall of 1862 with five companies. Surrendered June 23, 1865. Commanders: Lieutenant Colonel J.D. Harris and Major L.M. Reynolds.


 * 1st Regiment, Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, CSA (Confederate) Formed at Scullyville, Choctaw Nation, in July, 1861. Surrendered on June 23, 1865. Field officers: 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) Formed during the spring of 1863. Disbanded late in 1864. Commanders: Lieutenant Colonel S.H. Martin and Major Abram B. Hays.


 * Shecoe's Chickasaw Battalion, Mounted Volunteers, CSA(Confederate) "Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit

Choctaw

 * 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) Completed organization during the early spring of 1862 where Atoka now stands in the Choctaw Nationa. Surrendered in June, 1865 at Doaksville. Field officers: Colonel Sampson Folsom, Lieutenant Colonel David F. Harkins, and Major Sylvester Durant.


 * 1st Regiment, Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, CSA (Confederate) Formed at Scullyville, Choctaw Nation, in July, 1861. Surrendered June 23, 1865. Field officers: 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) [also called 1st Choctaw Cavalry War] Organized during the summer of 1862. Formerly Battice's 1st Choctaw Cavalry Battalion. Surrendered in June, 1865. Commander: Colonel Simpson N. Folsom.


 * 3rd Regiment, Choctaw Cavalry, CSA (Confederate) Organized during the fall of 1863 using McCurtain's 1st Choctaw Cavalry Battalion as its nucleus. Surrendered at Doaksville on June 23, 1865. Commanders were Colonel Jackson McCurtain, Lieutenant Colonel (acting) Tom Lewis, and Major John Page.


 * Choctaw Infantry, CSA (Confederate) "Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit.


 * Wilkins' Company, Choctaw Infantry, CSA(Confederate) "Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit.

Creek

 * 1st Regiment Creek Mounted Volunteers, CSA(Confederate) Organized near Eufaula, Creek Nation, in August, 1861. Surrendered on June 23, 1865 with other Indian troops. Commanders: 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) Completed its organization in September, 1861, near Eufaula, Creek Nation. Surrendered in June, 1865. Field officers: Colonels Timothy Barnett and Chilly McIntosh, and Lieutenant Colonel Pink Hawkins.

Osage

 * 1st Osage Battalion, CSA (Confederate) Organized during the spring of 1863. Surrendered in June, 1865 Commander: Major Broke Arm.

Seminole

 * 1st Regiment, Seminole Mounted Volunteers, CSA (Confederate) Completed its organization in September, 1861. Few surrendered in June, 1865. Commanders: Lieutenant Colonel John Jumper and Major George Cloud.

Florida

 * McBride's Company, Florida (Indians) (Confederate) "Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit.

Mississippi

 * 1st Choctaw Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry Organized at Jackson, Mississippi, during the summer of 1862. Disbanded on June 9, 1863.

Missouri

 * 1st Battalion, Missouri Cavalry (1st Indian Brigade) - Confederate Mustered in: organized during the spring of 1864. Mustered out: The unit was at Fort Washita, Indian Territory, in May, 1865 and soon disbanded.

Nebraska

 * Omaha Scouts, Nebraska Cavalry Organized at Omaha May 3, 1865. Mustered out July 16, 1866


 * Pawnee Scouts, Nebraska Cavalry Organized at Columbus, Nebraska., January 13, 1865. Mustered out April 1, 1866.

Confederate - First Indian Cavalry Brigade
Created early 1864 when Major General Samuel B. Maxey reorganized Confederate troops in Indian Territory. Colonel Stand Watie was its commander.


 * First Cherokee Regiment (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early1864. Colonel Robert C. Parks, commanding.


 * Second Cherokee Regiment (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Colonel William P. Adair, commanding.


 * Cherokee Battalion (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Major Joseph A. Scales, commanding.


 * First Osage Battalion (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Major Broke Arm, commanding.


 * First Creek Regiment (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Colonel Daniel N. McIntosh, commanding.


 * Second Creek Regiment (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Colonel Chilly McIntosh, commanding.


 * Creek Squadron (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Captain R. Kenard, commanding.


 * First Seminole Battalion (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Lieutenant Colonel John Jumper, commanding.

Confederate - Second Indian Cavalry Brigade
Created early 1864 when Major General Samuel B. Maxey reorganized Confederate troops in Indian Territory. Colonel Tandy Walker was its commander. It was mostly composed of veteran soldiers from various Choctaw and Chickasaw units.


 * First Chickasaw Battalion (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Lieutenant Colonel Lemuel N. Reynolds, commanding.


 * First Choctaw and Chickasaw Battalion (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Lieutenant Colonel James Riley, commanding.


 * First Choctaw Battalion (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Lieutenant Colonel Jackson McCurtain, commanding.


 * Second Choctaw Regiment (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Colonel Simpson N. Folsom, commanding.


 * George Washington's Reserve Squadron (Oklahoma) (Confederate) Created probably in early 1864. Captain George Washington, commanding.

Union - Indian Home Guard

 * 1st Regiment, Indian Home Guard (Oklahoma) (Union) Organized at Le Roy, Kansas, May 22, 1862.


 * 2nd Regiment, Indian Home Guard (Oklahoma) (Union) Organized on Big Creek and at Five-Mile Creek, Kansas, June 22 to July 18, 1862. Commanded by Colonel John Ritchie Consisted of one company each of Delaware, Kickapoo, Quapaw, Seneca, and Shawnee, two companies of Osage, and two of Cherokee.


 * 3rd Regiment, Indian Home Guard (Oklahoma) (Union) Organized at Tahlequah and Park Hill in July 1862 with Colonel William A. Phillips as commander.


 * 4th Regiment, Indian Home Guard (Oklahoma) (Union) Organization commenced but not completed. Men transferred to other organizations.

Service Records
Compiled Service Records Online

The Compiled Service Records ($) (Fold3.com) of Confederate Soldiers who Served in Organizations Raised Directly by the Confederate Government are available online. In the future, these records will be made available at no charge through the National Archives web site. The service records are also available at no charge at National Archives research rooms.

For more information see Confederate Service Records.

Compiled Service Records on Microfilm


 * Index to Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers who Served in Organizations Raised Directly by the Confederate Government...and Nonregimental Enlisted Men,


 * Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers who Served in Organizations Raised Directly by the Confederate Government (1861-1865),


 * - First Cherokee Mounted Rifles (1st Arkansas Cherokee Mounted Rifles) A-L FHL Film 880283
 * - First Cherokee Mounted Rifles (1st Arkansas Cherokee Mounted Rifles) M-Y FHL Film 880284
 * - First Cherokee Mounted Volunteers (Watie's Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Volunteers; 2d Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Rifles, Arkansas; 1st Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Rifles or Riflemen) A-K FHL Film 880285
 * - (Watie's Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Volunteers; 2d Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Rifles, Arkansas; 1st Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Rifles or Riflemen), L-Y First Squadron, Cherokee Mounted Volunteers (Holt's Squadron, Cherokee Mounted Volunteers.) FHL Film 880286
 * - First Chickasaw Infantry (Hunter's Regiment, Indian Volunteers) FHL US/CAN Film 880287
 * - First Choctaw Mounted Rifles FHL Film 880288
 * - First Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, A-G FHL Film 880289
 * - First Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, H-N FHL Film 880290
 * - First Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles, O-Y FHL Film 880291
 * - First Creek Mounted Volunteers (1st Regiment, Creek Mounted Rifles or Riflemen; Creek Regiment, Mounted Indian Volunteers; 2d Regiment, Arkansas Creeks) A-H FHL Film 880292
 * - (1st Regiment, Creek Mounted Rifles or Riflemen; Creek Regiment, Mounted Indian Volunteers; 2d Regiment, Arkansas Creeks), I-S FHL Film 880293
 * - (1st Regiment, Creek Mounted Rifles or Riflemen; Creek Regiment, Mounted Indian Volunteers; 2d Regiment, Arkansas Creeks), T-Z First Osage Battalion, C.S.A. First Seminole Mounted Volunteers, A-C FHL Film 880294
 * - First Seminole Mounted Volunteers, D-Y FHL Film 880295
 * - Second Cherokee Mounted Volunteers (2d Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Rifles or Riflemen) FHL Film 880296
 * - Second Creek Mounted Volunteers Cherokee Regiment (Special Service) Deneale's Regiment, Choctaw Warriors (Deneale's Confederate Volunteers) Shecoe's Chickasaw Battalion, Mounted Volunteers) Washington's Squadron of Indians, C.S.A. (Reserve Squadron of Cavalry) Capt. of Wilkins' Co., Choctaw Infantry Miscellaneous Indian Records. FHL US/CAN Film 880297

Union Records

 * Britton, Wiley, The Union Indian Brigade in the Civil War, (Ottawa, Kansas : Kansas Heritage, c1922), 474 pages. Internet Archive. . Other libraries with book (WorldCat).

Internet Sites

 * Oklahoma Historical Society, Civil War Era, article in the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed 15 August 2011). This article discusses how the Civil War impacted the Five Civilized Tribes.
 * Oklahoma Historical Society, Civil War Refugees, article in the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed 15 August 2011).
 * Oklahoma Historical Society, Free Companies, article in the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed 15 August 2011). Free companies were irregular soldiers. They sometimes included partisans, renegades, bandits, and bushwhackers. Such groups infested the Indian Territory (Oklahoma).
 * Wikipedia contributers, Indian Home Guard (American Civil War), (accessed 28 April 2011).
 * Wikipedia contributers, Native Americans in the American Civil War, (accessed 15 August 2011).

Books

 * 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.


 * Fischer, LeRoy H., ed., The Civil War Era in Indian Territory, (Los Angeles: Lorrin L. Morrison, 1974). Libraries with book (WorldCat)


 * Fischer, LeRoy H. and Jerry Gill, Confederate Indian Forces Outside of Indian Territory, (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Historical Society, c1969), 36 pages. Libraries with book (WorldCat)


 * Hauptman, Laurence M. The Iroquois in the Civil War: from Battlefield to Reservation. (Syracuse, New York : Syracuse University Press, c1993). ; Libraries with book (WorldCat)


 * Hauptman, Laurence M. Between Two Fires : American Indians in the Civil War. (New York, New York : The Free Press, c1995). Discusses military role of Native Americans during the Civil War. ; Libraries with book (WorldCat)


 * Taylor, Ethel Crisp, Indian Territory, 1861-1865 : the Forts, the Battles, the Soldiers, (Westminster, Maryland : Heritage Books, c2010), 610 pages., Libraries with book (WorldCat).