THE 1ST CHEROKEE MOUNTED Rifles is representative of the more than thirty units of Native American troops who were raised to fight as allies to the Confederacy. The fact that they served in an overlooked theater of the war has overshadowed their history.71 The reason for their adherence to the fight for Southern independence was ably summed up by Captain Richard Fields, Company F, in a letter written from Prairie Springs, Cherokee Nation, June 21, 1863. Speaking not just for his regiment but for the Cherokee Nation, he wrote, “We are allies assisting in maintaining the rights and establishing the Independence of another Nation.”72
The Cherokees were not alone in declaring their independence. The Raleigh Semi-weekly Register on June 22, 1861, reprinted an article that had appeared in the Memphis Appeal and contained a proclamation of the gover nor of the Chickasaw Nation:
Whereas, The Legislature of the Chickasaw Nation has, of the 25th day of May, 1861, adopted a resolution declaring that in consequence of the Secession of a large portion of the State, formerly comprising the United States of America, the Federal Union has been dissolved . . . the Chickasaw people are absolved from all allegiance of any foreign government, and are left independent, which it is proper should be made known to the people of this nation and to the world.73
Like the United States itself, the Indian nations were divided, with some choosing to fight with the Union. As elsewhere, where local differences split families and communities, the fighting became bitter. Appearing in the Inland News from the Creek Agency was the description of a battle with some of the Union Cherokees (considered deserters): “The deserting Cherokees had a corn shuck tied to the top of their head for a badge, and 30 of their heads lost their corn shuck scalps over which our Choctaw allies danced to the tune of Dixie on the following night.”
Confederate brass artillery “A” button found on the battlefield of Knoxville by a soldier of the 17th Michigan Volunteers. DON TROIANI COLLECTION
Other such descriptions served to elevate the fear of the Union soldiers serving in the area. The Daily Columbus [Georgia] Enquirer on September 16, 1862, reported from Knoxville, Tennessee: “We have at the [Gap] about 300 Indians, dressed cap-a-pie in the usual Indian costume including the paint. They have a merry time picking off the Yankee pickets with their unerring rifles, nor have they forgotten how to handle their scalping knives, for a few days ago one of them came into camps with a Yankee’s ear dangling by his side. The enemy’s pickets have a mortal fear of Indians and as soon as they are espied they ‘skedaddle.’”
The fear of the Indians was not limited to the Yankees. The bishop of the diocese of Arkansas wrote his concerns to the Confederate secretary of war on May 11, 1861, saying, in part, “The trouble is not with the chiefs, who are generally half-breeds, and men of intelligence.”74
As with most Confederate troops of the Trans-Mississippi, the Indian regiments were poorly armed and initially had little or no uniform issue. As the war progressed, complaints netted results, and uniforms and equipment were issued on a level with most Confederate troops in the area. Weapons also improved but retained a diversity ranging from double-barrel shotguns to rifle muskets and captured Union carbines. Handguns included nearly everything of military value, with Colts and Remingtons held in highest esteem.
Ordnance issued to the 1st Cherokee Mounted Volunteers on May 13, 1862, included “6.24 lbs. of lead, 20,000 musket cartridges cal. 69, 92,000 shot gun caps, 100,000 musket caps, 10,000 buckshot cartridges, 10 cap bags.”
An example of a typical clothing issue to the same regiment shows the following received for Company I on December 14, 1862: “59 suits clothing, 27 pair shoes, 24 pair drawers, 23 shirts, 48 caps, 4 hats, 7 comforts, 2 over shirts and 1 oil carpet.”75
Eyewitness records vary but emphasize the use of feathers in their caps and the wearing of war paint.76
A large number of the Cherokees in the 1st Mounted Rifles (as well as in other tribes) were mixed Indian and white blood, referred to at the time as “half-breeds.” The warrior/soldier shown here is wearing clothing probably received from the Houston Depot in the form of a “suit,” which meant a jacket and pants made of the same material. His boots were likely obtained from a Union cavalryman. Rather than a cartridge box, he carries a powder flask, which he used to load the charge in his shotgun to be topped by buckshot that he carried in a separate bag slung from the shoulder. He carried his scalping knife on his waist belt, and the ever-present feathers and war paint clearly show his heritage. His unrivaled skill as a horseman is evidenced by the use of a simple rope halter on his horse.
Confederate enlisted man’s single-breasted frock coat made of jean cloth material with state of Virginia buttons on the breast. By the third year of the war, most troops were issued short jackets. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
In the end, the decision to support the Confederacy was a poor choice. Rather than gain an independent nation, they would see the “Indian Territory” divided up, with continued encroachment by the white population. Considering the general lukewarm concern for the Indian before the war, being on the losing side did nothing but make it worse.
Avery plain satinet, butternut-colored frock was worn by Francis Gibson of Company D of the 26th South Carolina Regiment. The single-breasted front is closed with six brass Old English Infantry “I” buttons. Unusual are the pocket flaps on either side of the coat, which are something more generally associated with civilian clothing. Gibson enlisted April 8, 1864, and is listed as receiving new clothing on the 29th of the same month, which may have included this coat. He was wounded in the right foot at Appomattox a year later almost to the day of his enlistment and taken prisoner. An interesting example illustrating that some coats were still being issued late in the war. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Uniform coat of mixed cotton and wool with dark blue cuffs and finished with U.S. artillery officer’s buttons, worn by Private Samuel Blake Ryan, Company A (Logan’s Grays) of the 5th/9th Kentucky Infantry. Ryan was wounded April 6, 1862, at the battle of Shiloh and after a long hospital stay was discharged for disability in September 1862. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, DON TROIANI PHOTOGRAPH
Ahigh-quality, cadet gray woolen enlisted man’s frock coat from the beginning of the war. Very well made, it has nine Virginia state seal staff buttons down the front and a narrow black braid around the collar. This standard of materials and workmanship did not last long. MICHAEL D. KRAMER COLLECTION
Regulation frock coat of Colonel Robert W. Harper of the 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles (dismounted). Harper mustered at Fort Smith, Arkansas, in June 1861 and became colonel in April 1862. Although this regiment was named as a mounted unit, to their great dismay they served as infantry on foot. An excellent officer, Harper was killed in action instantly by a cannon projectile while bravely leading McNair’s brigade during the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. Considering the superb condition of this coat, it is likely he was wearing something else at the time of his death. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
An enlisted man’s light gray woolen frock coat from the first part of the war. It is nicely trimmed with dark blue pointed cuffs and collar. Down the front are brass infantry “I” buttons. MICHAEL D. KRAMER COLLECTION
Colonel Harper’s dark blue kepi with gold lace trim. The side buttons and chin strap are missing. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Painted waterproof cloth cap cover for Colonel Harper’s kepi. Note the buttonhole, one of which is on either side to fasten to the chin-strap buttons, thereby securing the cover firmly. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Tan slouch hat worn by Colonel Harper and possibly the headgear worn when he was killed at the battle of Chickamauga. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Arather plain gray frock coat with blue piping on the front and gold lace on the sleeves, worn by Colonel George T. Rogers of the 6th Virginia Infantry. The United States Navy buttons are a good indicator that whatever was available was pressed into service when a more desired item was unavailable. Rogers was elected colonel on May 3, 1862, and continued this service through the surrender at Appomattox. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
This rectangular belt plate has the Louisiana state seal with the motif of a pelican feeding its young. This style is a thin, stamped brass with a lead backing. NELSONIAN INSTITUTE
This Confederate “C.S.A.” belt plate was produced at Atlanta, Georgia, and is affixed on its original russet leather waist belt. This pattern was heavily favored in the Western Theater of the war as opposed to the frame or roller buckle issued to the Army of Northern Virginia. This belt and buckle belonged to a Georgia infantry soldier. WILLIAM ERQUITT COLLECTION
State seal of Maryland plate on a leather waist belt. Due to the divided sympathies of the state, Marylanders fighting on either side might have worn this beautiful prewar plate. PRIVATE COLLECTION
Asergeant’s jacket with turned wooden buttons down the front. It is trimmed with bright royal blue chevrons on the sleeves and the cuffs, which are faced only on the outward side. NELSONIAN INSTITUTE
This jacket of imported blue-gray kersey was worn by James H. Berryman of Company C of the 4th Kentucky Infantry. It has been trimmed with a narrow black tape edge around the collar, front, and bottom. The buttons are United States staff officer’s pattern. Berryman enlisted in August 1861 and was taken prisoner November 11, 1863, at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee. JAN GORDON COLLECTION
Made of a wool-cotton mix, this short jacket was most likely a product of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The six buttons on the front are a staff officer’s pattern, which might indicate this jacket was worn by an officer. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
This stylish Confederate infantry officer’s kepi was brought home by James W. Hildebran. Hildebran enlisted in September 1862 as an eighteen-year-old private and was mustered into Company A of the 139th Pennsylvania Infantry, serving through to the surrender at Appomattox. Made of royal blue wool, garnished with infantry “I” buttons, and laced for the rank of colonel, this was indeed a worthy souvenir of three years at war. MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM COLLECTION
Afine example of a type II Richmond Depot jacket worn by 2nd Lieutenant John James Haines of the 2nd Virginia Infantry. It was an enlisted man’s jacket, but Haines converted it into a sensible officer’s uniform for himself by adding a blue collar and cuffs, plus the usual metallic trim. The front is fastened with six Maryland state buttons. Haines was lightly wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg and later captured in the fall of 1863, spending the remainder of the war in Federal prisons. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SKINNER AUCTIONEERS AND APPRAISERS, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Very simple infantryman’s jacket in a coarsely woven, butternut-colored wool and cotton mix. The only insignia or trim consists of a row of solid-cast brass, infantry Roman letter “I” buttons down the front. It belonged to an unidentified soldier named “C. Wright.” SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
This well-used jacket was worn by Alexander Hunter of Company A, 17th Virginia Infantry. It was given to Hunter by the sister of a previous wearer in the 8th Virginia who had been wounded at the Battle of Second Manassas. The jacket is lined with brown and green brocade material. Hunter was captured at Frayser’s Farm, exchanged, and captured again at Sharpsburg on September 17, 1862. Paroled, he joined Company H of the 4th Virginia Cavalry, was captured once again at Warrenton, and later escaped from Point Lookout Prison. He was wounded at Todd’s Tavern in May 1864 and passed away in 1914. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
ANorth Carolina Depot jacket of woolen jean and brass North Carolina state seal buttons. MICHAEL D. KRAMER COLLECTION
Apair of Richmond Depot–issue, dark gray woolen trousers. MICHAEL D. KRAMER COLLECTION