Jim Martin
Re: Bows and Arrows
Sat Jul 21 13:59:00 2001


Though there are fanciful prints from the Civil War period showing Native American troops in buckskin and wielding knives, bows and arrows. The units from the Indian Territory were primarily armed with old flintlocks, sporting rifles, shotguns, fowling pieces and a few military longarms.

If you look at photos of the period of Native American Confederate soldiers, it is necessary to identify with a caption that they are such. In writings from the Texas units who entered the Indian Territory in 1861 and early 1862, it is stated that "Watie's Cherokee" troops were indistinguishable from the Texas troops and that the other Indian troops, though poorly equipped, bore no resemblance to the Plains Indian warrior stereotype. If you do some study of the Native-Americans of the Indian Territory and specifically the "Five Civilized Tribes" (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole and Muscogee [Creek]). You may be disappointed to find out that their dress, lifestyles, farming practices and economy were nearly identical to their white neighbors. In fact, in the 1850's there are references to the children of Cherokee attending the Univ. of Arkansas in Fayetteville having a wealthier and more cultured appearance to many of their Western Arkansas contemporaries.

So ultimately, when considering Native-American troops in the Civil War the picture in your mind should be more the appearance of "Trans-Mississippi" soldier with some of these soldiers exhibiting varying degrees of their racial appearance and culture. Many of these soldiers were so "Europeanized" by their upbringing that they like some of the modern paratrooper units wore warpaint, a feather, or beaded belt as a cultural symbol having no real connection with their personal experience.

The Indians of the Indian Territory had elected democratic governments, constitutions, laws, newspapers and farming and industry just like other mid-nineteenth century Southern communities.

Jim Martin