Jim Martin
Re: Scalping in the Civil War
Mon Jul 23 08:05:35 2001


Mahlon,

I am aware of your efforts in Oklahoma to document the burials and locations of CW veterans. I commend you for your efforts and the honor this does to the memory of these men.

I've communicated with you in the past regarding the burial location of my gg-grandfather, a William Henry Jones, who was a member of the 5th Tennessee Infantry (US) who lies in an unmarked grave in the GAR section of a cemetery in Ardmore.

My purpose was not to attack you, but to attack "the story". How can you be blamed for repeating what is the most repeated account of Indian involvement in the battle of Pea Ridge? My primary concern is that the visitors to this site, who are probably little familiar with the war in and around the Indian Territory be prompted to do a little of their own investigation and see what conclusion they reach regarding this claim of atrocities.

A few years ago, I was heartened to read an article by Ed Bearss called "The Confederate Indians at Pea Ridge", in which, he debunks many of the claims of Indians scalping Union soldiers and, at the very least, casts doubt that the Indians were even involved or in any sort of large numbers. Recently, the new "historian" for the Pea Ridge NMP has contributed to a couple of articles on the Indians at Pea Ridge and states that a new book makes the claims of Indian scalping irrefutible. I have the book and it reaches no such conclusion.

Steven Cone posted a query asking whether "bows and arrows" were used at Pea Ridge or by Indians in the Civil War, generally. It's an honest question and is provoked by a misunderstanding of the society of the Indians by 1860 which was as advanced and prosperous as most other Southern states.

Along with the new message board for the Indian Territory in the Civil War, we will be building a full website affiliated with my first-cousin, Ken Martin's "History of the Cherokees" devoted to those troops from other states who fought in the Indian Territory (North and South) and provide additional detail as to the numerous engagements, in which Native Americans participated outside of the Indian Territory.

Yes, it is true that the treaties with the Indians limited there use outside of the Indian Territory, unless approved by the tribal leadership. This was similar to Georgia Governor Joe Brown's control over the Georgia state militia. As you may know, there was a severe conflict between Joe Brown and Jeff Davis over the use of this militia outside of Georgia.

I look forward to seeing you at the Indian Territory in the Civil War website and message board. Hopefully, this new site can contribute to a better understanding of the participation and contribution of Confederate and Union soldiers in the Indian Territory.

Under a separate email, I will be sending you an image file of the burial record of my ancestor, William Henry Jones, for your records.

Jim Martin