Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-01

Fifty years ago today an agent OF tht
Confederate states government was en-
gagged in recruiting, among the Indians
of Arkansas and Indian territory, two
regiments TO serve the south.
While the rules of modern warfare
would not justify the employment OF
savages in arms, there was believed .te
be no contraventions of any moral OF
legal obligation in recruiting these dusky
warriors, for they had for generation
been called civilized.
The recruiting, therefore, was interest
ing. chiefly because picturesque. Seer
after a lapse of half a century, it pre-
sents one of the odd features of the early
days of the war that have been almost
lost to view in the light OF the greater
events.
The agent chosen by the Confederacy
to recruit it's Indian regiments, Albert
Pike, was no less striking, in his way
than his redmen volunteers.
A native of Boston. a student for Q
time at Harvard and next school teach
err, he had gone west in 1881. Filled
with the spirit of adventure, he Joined
at st. Louis a caravan Of 10 wagons and
20 men bound for the far southwest over
the Santa Fe trail,
When 500 miles from his destination
the ex-schooImaster lost his horse, which
ran away from camp. He was Obliged
to finish the journey on foot-a terrible
ordeal. amid burning sands. with death
from thirst often threatening him.
Returning alone across the stakee
plains and through the Indian territory
Mr.. Pike reached Fort Smith. Ark, where
he decided to remain. Here he became
associate editor of a newspaper. sci
type, taught school, read law, learned
languages, and wrote poems. He soon be-
came proprietor of the paper. One of his
poems, "A Hymn to the Gods" writ
ten when teaching at Newburyport
Mass, was published at this time In
Blackwood's Magazine, and attracted at
tention.
UNDERSTOOD INDIANS
| But all the while editor. lawyer and
poet Pike was cultivating the Indians
He understood them, and when thes
had dealings with the United States gov
eminent touching the sale Of extensive
tracts of land, Albert Pike was theil
counsel and representative.
He knew their customs, habits o.
thought and character, could speak some
of their dialects and had great persona
influence with them.
This was due In part to his striking
appearance. He stood feet inches
high, was broad-shouldered, muscular
and active and an exuberant talker. He
was at heart a ranger of the plains. He
understood horses as we'll as Indians
He dressed in bright plainsman's cos
tune, and when dealing with Indians
wore a plume in his hat
The employment of Albert Pike to re-
cruit the Confederacys Indian regiments
came about in logical sequence OF
events
When Arkansas Joined the Confederacy
the government of jefferson Davis Gre
ated a department OF Indian affairs, and
made Albert Pike Indian commissioner.
Mr.. Pike was then 81 years old and had
then been in close touch with the In
dams of Arkansas and the region along
its borders for rs years or more.
He had more influence with these In
dams probably than any one else in the
ers among his friends,
AS a whole they were peaceable and
industrious, numbering about 10000 souls
they had long been on a friendly footing
with the whites. A considerable number
of them were of the Greek nation. q
remnant of the powerful tribes Andrew
jackson had been instrumental in re-
moving from Alabama to wider lands In
the west. sues
The others were Cherokees to the num-
Der OF about zz,uVJ, Choetaws about lS.00t
and Chiekasaws about 5000
There We're also In the region In 1861
few Thousand Senecas and Shawnees
from the northern states, who had gone
there on a visit.
CHEROKEES HESITATED.
In his appeals to the Indians on behalf
of the Confederaoy Mr.. Pike was assist
ed in no small measure by their agent
who was brother of Governor Rector,
of Arkansas.
But the Cherokees proved the least
pliable of the tribes and, led by John
Ross, who for 40 years had been their
principal chief, at first refused largely
to enlist
Chief Ross, who was an intellectual
man, issued a proclamation on May H.
1861. urging his people to remain neutral
in the war between the states, and to
maintain a trust that God would not
only keep from their borders the DESC
lation of war. but also stay It's ravages
among the brotherhood Of the states"
The chief received strong moral support
and active material assistance in his re-
sistance from his wife, who was both
young and intelligent.
Ross was unable to guide his people
however, and the tide of their sympa-
thy in time turned toward the Confed-