The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1919-11-16
Three Regiments Of Indians
Joined Union and Helped
Defeat Confcderacy.
PHILLIPS LED THE REDMEN
After the War Able Leader
Represented Nation in
Washington.
nx q. W. ROHA


TAIu.EoUAH Nov. lb.--ln the
days Of tho civil war mo Cherokee
nsilon Furnished three regiments for
he saryico OF tho United bis les
These regiments would have been
raised carly In tho beginning OF tho
war had not peculiar conditions ob-
tained at tho outset OF the great ciNh
conflict Tho government. an mas
usually occurred when war IN near
At hand, was caught unprepare1
Tho indian nations OF ihe terfl-
tory lay near TO several states In
which The sentiment was for Ascer.
sion. The majority OF thu officers o!
the forts In The indian county ano
near ilA borders. haHfened 10 loIh
tho Confcdcracy and tho mon com
posing tho Esrrisons were sent 70
ths hattie ground In the states OF
ths south. The Cherokee nation lay
unprotected and al tho meroy or
marauders. tn. government for the
lime was puwerlcns to excnd sln
and pro,ection. Al this juncture the
Leaders OF tho Chcrokcca wero n0u-
fled that tho Confederate were
canning "nr friends or as enemies,
a general convention was Cslled ana
mo voice of the majority Al this con
yrntion was for an Alliance Win the
Confoderacy
Albert PIKE Won for south,
ppecial Confederate Commission
ar Albert PIKE. thereupon met many
OF the leaders OF tho Cherokee ma
ton and a treaty OF alliance was
contaminated Specifically and In
very plain language II WAS stated In
this treaty that the indian soldiers
were not to b. taken beyond me
borders OF tho territory, but were 70
remain on their nativs soil an de-
renders and protectors OF homes ana
persons Consequently thern we're
many cherokees, VINO, according 10
their own statements. made = VIZ,
tue OF necessity" ana joinedb the
ranks OF tho First Cherokee reKi-
ment." which was placed In com.
mand Of Colonel John Drew, noien
citizen Of white and indian b1ood,
This organization W also known y
Drsw's regiment The treaty nea
been In force but q rev mon.n:
when the First Cherokes regiment
m portion Of the Indian brigade.
wM taken out OF the territory ana
In March, 1893, participated In the
battle Of Pea Ridge. In northwestern
Arkansas The Confederate FORCES
were defeated and Drew's regiment
practically went to pieoss The ma
jurity OF It's members hastened 10
tnjist In the Union regiments being
kormed and tho remnant remaining
followed General Pike and Colons'
waite 10 y point seath Of the Ar
kansas river.
Tho Cherokee AAtion tor ths union
service went forwArd with Npidity
snd In all thers were three full rsu.
AaA AAhtAAAA. Tina
totaI number Of Chsrokses serving
N IN. Union army during the pAried
n the var wAs l,a0o. Many OF tht
ssp,ain. wers fuiiblooa Indiana. oth.
,rs Of mixed white and Indian biood,
,nd some ware white men. The
highest ranking Cherokee cfficer
sas Lieut.. Colonel lAws DOWNING
onsausr,~r white, end By profession
Raptist preacher, The Cherokee
soldiers were armed. furnlshed with
uniforms, we'll drilled and instruct
I'd, ana Mt tho close OF the war when
rsviewed at Fort Gibson by Major
General John McAllis,er sebohsld,
we're pronounced 10 be among me
rest drilled men In tho Union armies
IN tho various engagements In which
noy nartio,pated in indian terri.
,ory Missouri ana ArkansAs these
indian .roldiers exhibited the Dc.
armlncN bravery characterishe OF
heir ancient race Many fell In
,ction. but larger numbers died OF
disease and exposure, The graves OF
hundreds OF them may be seen today
n the United s'etes national ceme.
cry at Fort Gibson,
The Cherokee regiments with the
sixth Kansas cavalry, formed
brigade. which was commanded by
.'olonel william Addison Phillips
who should have borne the rank -
hrlgadier general hut the govern.
-nen, was perhaps 90 occupied with
he cares and responsibilities " the
war that the officers serving In the
AR dls'anct indian country received
promotion very slowly