Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-09-17

Fought for south.
After this occurrence stand Waite
became known as the leader of his
faction. His brother was an amlable
scholarly man and long aided the
missionaries in their WORK among the
Chcrokccs. Waite is said TO have been
"A man of turbulent character in his
earlier days, but he was several times
elected as IA member of the national
council from the old Delaware dis
trict. and upon the breaking out Of
the CiVil war announced himself as
thoroughly in sympathy with the
south He cxerted himself in raising
a regiment of Cherokee citizens and
with many other Indians went with
Gen. Albert Pike to northwestern
Arkansas where in the battle of Pea
Ridge, in March. 1862, the confedcr-
ates were defeated and retreated to
the south. A number of his followers
remained with Waite until the close
of the war and about "A year before
that event he received the rank OF
brigadier general. While he took part
in no great battles, nor won any
notable victories, the mere fact that
a member of the Cherokee nation re-
ceived the rank of brisadier has
served to cast a certain halo Of DIS
tlnction about the name Df the old
Cherokee confederate officer. His
name appears upon the monument In
the public square at Tahlequah, and
one Of the Pythian lodges of the state
bears his name.
Another notable Cherokee confed-
crate officer was Col. WilliaE rem
Adair. He was of mixed white ana
Indian blood, descendant Of one of
the pioneer white citizens of the old
nation in the east, and during the
Civil war was a member OF the Chero-
kee regiment. He reached the rank
OF colonel and after the close of the
conflict was long in public life, serv-
ing as assistant chief and az delegate
to Washington. Colonel Adair was a
man of imposing appearance. tai ana
powerful and after an old-time FASH
ion wore his hair Ions. He was an
orator of much eloquence and would
probably have been elected as prin-
cipal chief of tho nation but for his
sudden death in the city Of Washing
ton in 1881.
NalOrOus Captain Vann.
On the Union side of the civil con-
flict there were many Indian officers,
as the Cherokees furnished three reg
lments for the service, but none OF
them reached high rank. Lewis
Downing. afterward principal chief.
wes lieutcnant-c Of the First
Cherokee regiment, and the ent'ro
Indian contingent was under COM
mand Of Col. William A. Phillips OF
The Sixth Kansas cavalry. While
Colonel Phillips performed the duties
OF a brigade commander, he for some
reason was never promoted above the
rank CT colonel. He served for many
years as congressman from Kansas.
There were q number Of captains, one
OF tho most noted having been Capt.
James Vann, who after the way be-
came assistant chief during the al
ministrat,on of Principal Chief VIII
liam p. Ross. Captain Vsnn, who
was small man. badly crippled IN
the legs by rheumatism, was noted for
| his valor II is related OF him that In
ono pa rticularly hot fight his com
| pany was getting the worst or the
contest, but refusing to retreat. the
old man struck members OF the COM
pany across the shoulders with the
! flat OF his sword and urged them 10
keep on. But being overcome by SUI
perlor numbers. a number Of the men
took ND the old man and putting him
into tho saddle. took the horses bride
reins and retroated at gallop from
the field the crippled officer volubly
| protesting.
In olden davs George Lowrey won
distinction at the battle OF Tohopeka,
| gained the rank OF major for valiant
services and was all his life noted as
OF of the great "skiya-yas" or brave
men of the Cherokee. He served for
thirty years as assistant chef was q
member Of the executive council or
the nation, assistant and interpreter
for the Park Hill missionaries, and at
his death early in the fifties was ac-
corded q monument by action OF the
national council.