Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-01
('lVI[, WAR
F|fTY VARS AGO TO-DAY
May rs 186AIbert Pike, Native of Boston and Poet
vs. Recruiting Two Regiments for the Confederacy
Among the Civilized Indians of Arkansas and Indian Ter
ritory

eracy. The Confederates diGtrusted Chief
Ross and he was obliged 10 fee to the
north. He lived for some years in Phil
adelphia.
Albert Pike was able to raise hts two
regiments among the various tribes
named. including the Cherokees. When
these had been equipped and mustered
into the Confederate service he took
command of them with the rank Of brig
adler general.
He also made a treaty with the Choc-
taws and the Chickasaws, under which
they were permitted to send delegates
to the Confederate congress.
TROUBLE FOR GENERAL PIKE
Yet there was naugllt but trouble for
General Pike in his new command. He
endeavored to rule In camp as sort OF
patriarchal chief. He believed the In
dams he had armed should not be used
as active soldiers, but that his duty
was to keep them out Of mischief, and
out of the reach OF the federals, In or
Arkansas.
In spite of this, they were requisition-
ed for the battle of Elkhorn, and by
this use. says an Arkansas historian,
the Confederate cause was scandalized"
for they were charged with barharous
mutilation of the dead"
General Pike made his headquarters at
McCulloch, ''25 miles from the extreme
south line OF the Indian country, with
the Red river in his rear"
Here he attempted little in the way Of
drilling, for the Indians showed little
aptitude for the military ways Of the
white man. Zach one of them rode a
scrubhy little plains pony and was con-
tent to travel with his fellows in the
irregular, easy way Of his people. but
not to march In ranks like cavalry.
Furthermore, money and supplies sent
by the Confederacy for the Indians
somehow were diverted to the uses OF
white troops in Arkansas, and this did
not render General Pixies position the
easier.
Still. he believed II left alone he could
at least keep the Indians neutral
While engaged in terrifying his posi-
ton General Pike received pefemptory
order from General Thomas G. Hind
man, who had been newly appointed Con-
federate commander OF the trans Mlssis-
sippi district to advance his force to
the Kansas border "for prolecpoh Oh
the Indian country"
General Pike did not recognize Gen.
eral Hindman's right to order him away
from his base, declaring 1T was In Vio-
llation of his understanding with Presi-
dent Jefferson Davis. Therefore ne
declined to march.
General Hindman thereupon ordered
General Pike under arrest and sent 70
Little Rock. Before the incident was
closed General Hindman was transfer
red. General Pike in dudgeon resigned
his commission, and his Indians never
soldiers, ceased to be feature in the
military situation beyond the Missis-
sippi
THE POETS PROPHECY.
After all the most interesting thina
about these forgotten Indian regiments
was the personality of their leader.
Pike appears to have enlisted In the
lConfederate cause with all his heart. he
was fond of Fighting, and no novice Al
lit. for he had commanded q SQUADRON
of Arkansas volunteer cavalry IN tne
Mexican war.
one of the most interesting things
about him was his gift of poesy.
Before the war he wrote poem that
was I'm a way prophecy. 1t was en-
titled "Dissolution of the Union" IN
this. addressing the south, he pictured
the results of the war as he saw them;
where are your leadersG Where are
they who led
Your souls into the perllous aDyssF
The bravest and the best are lying dead,
Shrouded in treason and dark perJu-
ries;
The most of, them have basely from
you fled,
Followed by scorn's intending gener-
al hiss:
Flea into lands that Liberty disowns.
Encrouched within the shadows or tail
thrones.
While many of the southern leaders
were to die for their cause, as Pike
foretold, very few of them fled after
Tie war.
Albert Pike was one of the last to
think. Of such a course outside the
realm of poetr. After the war he WI
dened his learning. already remarkably
o41fuse for one who had lived long in
the new west. He made TRANSACTIONS OF
works on French law and examples OF
Aryan literature. and wrote numerous
Masonic rituals.
Meanwhile he practiced law IN Mem
phis, edited the Memphis Appeal, and In
1858 .emoved to. washington, where he
became a well known figure. both as a
lawyer and IN Masonic circles
He died in 1891.
I(Copyright, 1911, by Associated Literary
Press1