Oklahoma in the Civil War

"Nowhere was America's Civil War more intense or its impact more severe than in Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma. Every able-bodied male in the area fought either with the Confederacy or the United States, and many fought with both. Death and destruction prevailed for four years." LeRoy H.Fischer Professor of History Emeritus at OSU

Stand Waite

Stand Watie




Stand Watie was educated in Georgia and was one of the few Cherokees who advocated relocating to Oklahoma and relinquishing their land and relocated with his followers to Indian Territory before the Trail of Tears.

Stand Watie's Cherokee name was De-ga-ta-ga, or "he stands."

John Ross, the Chief of the Cherokees, came to Indian Territory on the Trail of Tears, angry that Watie and three others had consented to give away tribal lands.

Three other Cherokees that yielded land were killed as the Cherokee penalty for yielding land was death, but Watie escaped.

Watie owned slaves and had a plantation and so did Ross.

Ross wanted to remain neutral but eventually joined the Confederate side.

Some Seminole and Creek Indians fought on the Union side and Choctaw and Chickasaw fought on the Confederate side. Cherokee were divided between the opposing sides.

General Stand Watie was the leader of a Cherokee Confederate army, mainly men on horseback with rifles.

Watie led many successful raids that garnished the Confederacy much needed supplies.

A very successful raider, Watie and his troops captured a steam ship full of Union supplies, 150 barrels of flour, 16,000 pounds of bacon, and other goods at the Second battle of Cabin Creek.

Another raid of 300 wagon trains captured a Federal wagon train and netted approximately one million dollars worth of wagons, mules, commissary supplies, and other needed items.

Watie was the last General to surrender in the War and is the only Native American to achieve the rank of Brigadier General in 1864 on the Confederate side.