Native Americans During the Civil War

     The Civil War is often thought of a conflict between white and black men. However, a group whose role is often overlooked is the Native Americans.

     By the time of the Civil War, most Indians were minorities in the regions where they lived and where increasing numbers of non-Indian immigrants settled. They experienced the war from a sort of powerless perspective, where the conflict was being instigated by a larger community of which they were a part but over which they had no control. Although they tried to retain their traditions, many tribes were forced to adapt politically, economically, and culturally to better coexist with the settlers. Generally, the closer the Indians lived to incorporated states, the more they assimilated into and were influenced by US politics. Groups living farther away retained more of their tribal autonomy.

     Understandably, Indians were not primarily concerned about the issues of slavery or secession--they viewed Civil War service as a means to their end of holding onto their territories and cultures. Most of the Native Americans who fought for the Union were looking for food, pay, shelter, and respect from the federal government. Moreover, service was also an opportunity for them to continue the honorable traditions of Native American warriors; even though the warriors often faced discrimination and “desperate drunk man” stereotypes within army units, they were commended for their valor.

     Indians on the shifting Western frontier tried to stay out of the national conflict as much as possible--the war was another burden on top of their existing tasks of rebuilding their societies after Indian Removal. However, this proved to be practically impossible because both the Union and the Confederacy realized the strategic significance of the frontier. Many states pressured and incentivized the Indians to join the war.

    Although the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole all decided to support the Confederacy, internal civil wars among and within the tribes soon broke out when the Cherokee were ordered to attack their Creek neighbors, violating Native kinship values. The war left many native societies ruined by poverty, disease, and dislocation. It pitted tribes and brothers against each other, and this threatened to destroy Native American culture. In the end, virtually all Indian tribes became involved in the war whether they took sides or not, and most failed miserably to accomplish their end goals of winning respect from the federal government and preserving their territories and cultures.

     This discussion begets a few questions for further reflection. First, how do you think the Indians’ role in fighting for the Union affected the federal government’s views on Native Americans’ importance and their rights? Second, do you think Native Americans would be economically and politically stronger and more united if the Civil War had not happened?

http://www.cowboysindians.com/2012/01/native-americans-in-the-civil-war/
https://www.alexandriava.gov/historic/fortward/default.aspx?id=40164