The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-02
CONFEDERATE REDSKINS,
Soldiers From Several Indian Tribes
Bled for the South.
The CHOCTAWS WERE TRUE As STEEL
Interesting Letter From General Coieman'
ofThe Indian Territory Neterans-Wby
UeDoes Not Want to he citizen
of the United States.

of the United States.
The highly interesting account OF the
part taken in the war between the states
by the Southern Indians. herewith ap-
pended. is furnished by Thomas Il. An
derson. now OF Dennis Mills. La, VINO
WAS 4. A. G.. TO Waties Division.
Having been more intimately connect
ed with the ChcrOkccs, SAM me- wiz
| shall say principally concerns 'neii'
"At the time OF the discovery OF Amer
lea. the ChcrOkees. then powerful eiOe'
occupied much OF Georgia, parts OF rem
ncssec, North and South Carolina anu
a small strip OF Southern virginia my
gradually withdrew from virginia my
mg south ana during Gen. JacAsOii >
presidency. resided principally IS georgia
"As white settlers occupied thal Slae0'
the usual crowding out process began,
and laws were passed bearing hard ana
miuriOusly upon the Chef0heeS'
principal chief was John Ross. man u
liberal education, crafty ana unteilaO'e'
10 secure peace and quiet propositions
from the United States had been naue
10 purchase their lands east OF the MIS-
eigeinpi river and set apart 10 ththh
reservation west of the state OF Aihah
sas. These propositions were bitterly oP-
uosed by Mr.. Ross and his party numel-
'ic,llv The strongest. but composed prln-
cinallv of unclyllized and ignorant Iul
blOods. ....,.,.,.s,u
A TREATY WITH UNCLE SAM
"On the other hand Major Ridge louiiu-
or of the party subsequently named ai'oi
him. and composed Of intelligent nan
breeds and slave owners, among Whom
vas ELIAS TCudinot, one of the abest
90 is
eventually his people would nave 10 asn
ar be driven OFF, and with ms lollo"el'
ne concluded a treaty with the OAlleu
states. disposing Of the lands east anu
agreeing TO take a reservation west Oh
the AUssissippi. Previous 10 TINS q silaii
body of CherOkecs had removed ana set
tied in western Arkansas.
"John Ross. still the principal CHIEF
now began expressing the Ridge party
and had their principal men, such as the
Ridges. Boudinot, Jim Starr the Adaiis
and others murdered. STAND Nuuo'
afterwards the leader Of tho Ridge party
had attempts made upon him, but they
all failed. The last attempt was MADE
by "a noted bully named Foreman VINO
was himself laid out by Waite.
lin 1860 there were unusual local dis
turbances. 4 secret organization known
as the Ketowah Society, had long exist
ed among the followers Of John Ross.
The object OF the organization was de-
struction 10 half-breds and white men lly-
inc in the nation. The badge Of MEM
bership In this association was two pins
crossing one another and fastened 10 the
lapel Of the coat. vest or hunting shirl'
Hence they received the name and were
known as Pins. we captured all 'helt
papers during the war. 1 have them ana
the Kansas Jayhawkers 10 thank Tor the
burning Of my house and the uestIucuoH
Of all else that possessed.
In May, 1S5l Gen. Albert flke came
as commissioner from the Confederate
states Government. authorized 10 make
treaties with the Southern Indians. AT
first chief Ross refused and Insisted on
his nation remaining neutral, and would
not allow enlistment OF Cherokee troops
into the Confederate service. stand
Waite had. however, in "a quiet way enlist
ed a regiment in readiness 10 join the
Confederates. John Ross was evidently
holding off for further development. This
was before the battle Of Springfield on
Wilson's Greek. as the Yankees called i.
Success crow ming our arms there, Ross
FASTENED TO treat with cen. flhe' ana
agreed 10 put In the Confederate service
a regiment TO be armed ana equipped 10y
the Confcderacy, and he ald So III
making that treaty Dee would allow none
Of the leaders Of the Ridge party 10 take
part in it. .-.,.,,
6IrANTREIL AN INTREPID SOLDIER.
..Previous 10 this Gen. Ben McCulioch
authorized Capt. John Miller and myself
ia raise an independent company 10 serve
for three months. We were known as
the Dixie Rangers and we were 10 occupy
the neutral land in part OF the territory
and Southern Kansas. In thdt company
served the afterwards noted Nllliam
Ouantreu. about whom / Will at some
f,itiire time. take occasion TO say some
thing, TO correct stories about MS dealh'
etc. I will only say here thar, Wheh You
know Quantren, you knew a hlhu-he"i '1u
man, an intrepid soldier, and a gentleman
Of whose friendship / was, and am proud
''rhe Third Louisiana Regiment came
ID to US. Many Of US saw that Regiment
under fire at Springfield and Pea RIDGE
mace IFS mark a. wen as az otner points.
wherever IL served. In fact. When that
regiment left us after the Pea Ridge fight,
our Indians were distressed, and 10 the
end Of the war they never ceased TO re-
e-ret the separation from them or the
Third Louisiana.
THE RANGERS DISBAND.
"At the expiration Of their three months
term OF service the Dixie Rangers were
dieharded. and nearly an, myself includ-
ed Joined Company *, First Cherokee
Regiment. Capt. Thompson Mayes, a
brother Of the late principal Chief Joel
Il. Mayes. Capt. Maycs was man OF
superior education and a fine officer.
This was Colonel Yates pet company.
There was but the one company IN the
First Cherokee Regiment, composed OF
and Differed by Indians. In the other
companies. whites and Indians were NIX
ed as we'll among the officers as IN the
ranks. and 70 worked well and smoothly
in the CHoctaw regiments some compa-
mics vere either all whites or all Indians,
which caused more or less 1rlcuoh ana
Earring. But the plan had been adopted
bv Col. .. y. Cooper and could not well
DO changed
MANY Of Col Watie's Regiment took
part I'm the battle of Springfield, but
went there with his permission as indi-
yiduas and not as an organized body.
"a number Of Missourians came to US
and took part I'm the fight. Some came
unarmed and others armed with thelr
shotguns and rifles
PRAYED FOR HIS VICTIMS.
among them was an old, lean and lanh
Baptist preacher with flintlock rifle
about seven feet long lie would kneel
on one knee. take deliberate aim. and
say: May The Lord have mercy on mat
poor critters SOUL and pull the trigger.
Then he would get up. reload. get down
on one knee again and repeat HIS prayer.
fire. l stood and looked AT him IRE i've
or six times, and l believe ne made every
bullet count.
..Verv little vas done between ina