The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-11-21
THE CHEROKEE INDIANS.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THEIR SERVICES As
ALLIES IN THE CCEFEDERATE ARMY.
T. the Editor Of the Cour,er-Journal.

Re the Editor OF the Couner-J ournal
In yonr issuo Of tho 18th inst. l notice
9 correction by ID. 9. Usher, Company
l, Ninth Texas cavalry, OF former
statement OF yours, that the Cherokees
had no cavalry In the Confederate service.
Will you permit me to still further cor
rect the correction? will be as brief as
possible.
In the early part Of the first year of the
war, Colonel Stand Waite mot Stand
waitie), the acknowledged head OF the
Ridge party in the Cherokee nation,
raised q regiment to cooperate with
Gems. Price and McCulloch. Gen. AL
bert Pike had been sent by the Conieder.
ate Government, and was then in the In
dian Territory for the purpose OF making
treaties with tho several ma.
tons. Mr.. John Ross, then principal
Chief OF the Cherokecs, delayed making
o treaty with the Confederate Govern
mens, pretending that it was the wish
and true policy Of his people to remain
neutral, but In reality waiting to see the
issue OF the fight at Springfield or Wilson's
creek. The Confederates getting the up
per-hand there. he Immediately after.
ward made the treaty with General Pike
at Tahlequah. The Cherokee authorities
bound themselves by that treaty to put
In the Confederate service one regiment.
to DO armed and equipped by the Con.
federacy. This was done, and Col. John
Drew got the command of this regiment.
he was by no means full. blood, and
had but little. ifany, Indian blood In him.
This regiment was composed principally
of tull.bloods ofthe Ross party, and took
part In the fight at Pea Ridge. Soon
after this fight, the whole regiment, ex.
oept Col. Drew, Major Wore, A. @. M,
and about lao men deserted to the Fe,
derals, and was afterwards known as the
First Cherokee regiment, U.S.V
In the second year Of the war a re or.
ganization took place. The Cherokecs
had then In the Confederate service the
First Cherokee regiment, Col. James M.
Bell; the Second Cherokee battalion,
Mayor y. A. Scales. All OF these officers
were Cherokees of intelligence and re-
fnement. Col. Stand Waite was promo.
ted Brigadler General, and took com.
mand OF the First Indian brigade, com.
posed OF the forenamed regiments and
battalions. Wells batt!llon of Texans.
Cooper's battilion Of Missourian's and
Arkansans, and Col. j. NJ. Bryan's repi.
ment, organized In the third year Of liz
war and composed about equally OF
Cher0kees and whites. Major w. Guam.
trell also reported to these brigade head.
quarters, but was seldom seen, except
when Missouri or Kansas got too hot for
them. '-...sr..a
The Creeks had two regiments, the
ChoctAws two, the Semin0lcs one. the
ChickasawS one battalion, the Osaoes ono
battalion, Major Brokearm the Reservs
Indians, Caddoes and Arappahoss, living
near Fort Cobb, one battalion, Cant.
George Washington and the Comanches
and company, Capt. Esl,habbee, or Es.
opah, - his name was generally pro-
nounced. The whole forces in the In.
dian Territory were cavalry, exccpt n
company OF infantry from Texas, stat.
Toned at Doggy Depot, Choctaw Nation,
The indian troops were SUCCESSFULLY
Under the immediate command OF Gener.
ais Pike, Steele. Hindman, 4. b. Maxev.
the present distinguished Senator from
Texas, and. at the close OF the war. under
General Douglas II, Cooper, formerly
Captain OF Company B, Mississippl RIfes.
In the late war with Mexico.
let as hope that history will some dsy
do Justice to the now apparently forgot,
ten brave and noble Indian allies OF The
Confoleraey. TH0s. y. ANprRsoN.
Late A. A. G. Ind. Div, q, q, A.
ANTE CRY, La, Oct, ~, 1877.