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(Indian Territory 1861)

Indian Territory, 1861

After the Native tribes were removed from the eastern states, they were settled in reservations in the Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.  Over time many had adopted some of the white man's ways; some were Christians and many had some white blood.  Some held slaves and identified with the planter class in the South.

But they were not part of the United States, nor the Confederacy.  Instead, they were in their own private hell, caught in between with no chance to avoid the war that had little to do with them.  The Five Civilized Nations generally supported the Confederacy, although with differences.  The Choctaws and Chickasaws, living along the Texas border, were the most pro-Confederate.  Further north the Creeks only allied with the Confederates after Arkansas seceded; Arkansas was the key for them because they relied on traffic along the Arkansas River.  The Seminoles, greatly reduced in numbers after long wars with the US, followed the Creeks lead.  Meanwhile the Cherokees, the largest and richest tribe, hoped tried to stay on the fence long enough to join the winning side.

The Confederates put considerable effort into persuading the Nations to ally with the Confederacy.  All the tribes recognized slavery, and the Confederacy hoped to expand slavery throughout the South West after winning their independence; the Indian Territory was a natural starting place.  They generally did a better job than the Washington government had at negotiating with the tribes as equals, and were (initially) careful not to interfere in internal tribal matters.

There were differences within the tribes as well as between them.  Religion was one, with Christians tending to favor the South.  Those with mixed blood also tended to favor the Confederacy.  There was less dissention among the Choctaws and Chickasaws, and a substantial pro-Confederate faction (led by Stand Watie) among the Cherokees ignored their cautious relatives and organized units to fight with the Rebels.  In the Creeks and Seminoles the majority were pro-Southern, and it was for the Unionists to take action.

Under the leadership of Chief Opothleyahola perhaps 3,500 (including over 1,000 warriors) left their new lands for somewhere safer.  The Confederates wanted to support their new allies, and sent a cavalry force in pursuit.  The goal was complex: either force the refugees to stay where they didn't want to (apparently secession wasn't an option in the Indian Territory); or, if they couldn't be rounded up, then force them out of the Territory.

A skirmish at ROUND MOUNTAIN was claimed a Confederate victory, but more a matter of the Confederates never catching the refugees.  Instead, they captured a number of cold campsites.  About two weeks later the Confederates caught Opothleyahola and his people at CHUSTO-TALASAH.  Again they failed to surround the refugees, and only after prolonged skirmishing could they force a retreat.  After another two week lapse, during which the Confederates brought up more troops to try and surround Opothleyahola, the third battle came at CHUSTENALAH.  This time the fugitive's camp was overrun and many were killed or scattered.

Still, many (including Opothleyahola) escaped to Kansas.  They had their political freedom, and were useful political symbols for Washington, but that didn't mean the settlers in Kansas liked 'Indians' any better.  They spent an uncomfortable war suffering discrimination wherever they went.

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(Indian Territory 1861)