The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-04-30

Guthrie, Okla, April 2S-Among
the full bloods or Snake band of the
Cherokee Indians, who have been for
several years protesting Interference
of the federal government in their tri.
bal affairs, and opposing the aliol-
ment of their Indian lands. there are
number who We're soldiers of the
union army during the civil war.
These aged warriors, who were loyal
to the country then. are Just as pa
triotiC now in defending wnat tnry
believe to be their sacred rights.
1t was because the mixed blood
Creeks entered the Confederate army
that the fun bloods remained loyal
to the union. This. at least, was the
statement made by Legus Porryman.
who lived for many years in the vi.
cinity Of the present city OF Tulsa.
and was chief of the Creek nation
eight years, from 1887 to 1895. II was
with him that Senator Dawes of Mas.
sachusctts dealt when he sought 10
make q treaty with tnc Creeks TOR
the allotment of their lands i'm scv.
crafty, when the Dawes commission
was first established i'm Indian Terri
y a.. 7
ryman spoke the English language
ilucntly, and was as familiar with the
history of white men i'm Indian Tern
tory as with that of the Indians He
was one of the few original claimants
for share i'm the loyal Creek pay
ment fund distributed by the fed
"ral government among Indians who
had remained loyal during the civil
war.
Prior to has death a few years ago.
oN-Chiot Pcrryman gave an interesting
bit of history, explaining the attitude
of the Creek Indians during the civil
war. He said the first Creeks that
"migratcd to this country, according
10 treaty stipulatious with the United
states government, represented the
Mcintosh party, or mixed element.
The full bloods were SLOW to leave
their homes and accept new condi-
tions Offered by the government, and
dld not come TO Indian Territory until
lN32. This caused u breach between
the two elements of the nations, and
the mixed bloods were aligned against
the full bloods in nearly every pont.
zeal struggle
At the opening of the civil war the
Mcintosh faction allied themselves
with the Confederacy. The fun bloods
being opposed 10 anything that the
Mcintosh or mixed blood element
would do very naturally offered their
services to the federal army. This
explained according to DR.. Perryman,
the reason that nearly all the Creeks
that fought for the union were fun
bloods. The mixed blood element be-
ing more advanced in civilization.
held slaves before the war while few
OF the full bloods used slave labor
This made ii natural for the Mcintosh
party to ally with the Confederate
cause.
I'm the opinion of MIR. Perryman few
of the Greek Indians joined the armies
OF the North and South purely from
patriotic reasons so far as their inter
est In the cause they were supporting
was concerned.
II fought in both armies" said Mr..
Pcrryman. When the war broke out
| Joined the Confederate army. At the
expiration of my term | went home
and thought no more of going into the
army until | visited a union camp
near Flat Rock. The boys wore such
nice uniforms and were so anxious TO
have me join as scout in the South
ern army and my experience there
came in handy. We We're stationed at
Fl. Gibson and made raids from there
on small bands of Confederates, but
had no big battles 1t was very dat.
gerous warfare, for if the enemy
caught you it meant death"
According 10 eX-Chief Perryman, the
United States government at the open
ing of the civil war sent out procla-
nations TO the chiefs of the five civil
lied tribes asking them to take no
part on either side OF the struggle.
The Indians were regarded as neutral
and the government did not desire
that they should suffer loss of life