Wednesday, February 20, 2013

STAND WATIE--A MOST UNCOMMON SOLDIER

Only two Native Americans on either side of the States’ War rose to the rank of brigadier general. Standhope Watie (Uwatie), fighting for the Confederacy, was one of those two. Yet, what makes this accomplishment so incredible is the fact that while he was fighting for the Confederate States of America, he was also fighting other Cherokee tribal leaders who held opposing political views and very different visions for the Cherokee nation.

Stand Watie commanded the Confederate Indian Cavalry of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi. While the cavalry unit was comprised mainly of Cherokee, some Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole tribal members also served.

Born in Oothcaloga in the Cherokee Nation, State of Georgia, Uwatie (or Oowatie) was also known as Isaac. He was educated in a Moravian mission school. In his early adulthood, he occasionally wrote articles for the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper. The State of Georgia confiscated Cherokee lands in 1832 when gold was discovered, including the thriving plantation owned by Stand’s father and mother. Stand and his brothers, part of the powerful Ridge-Watie-Boudinot faction of the Cherokee council, stood in favor of the Cherokee Removal. Their signing of the Treaty of New Echota facilitated the removal of the Cherokee people to Indian Territory—what is now Oklahoma.

Another faction of Cherokees following John Ross refused to ratify the treaty signing. This segment was known as The Anti-Removal National Party. Members of this group targeted Stand Watie and his brother, Elias Boudinot, along with their uncle, Major Ridge, and cousin, John Ridge for assassination. Stand was the only one who survived the assassination attempt. Although Watie’s family had left Georgia before the forcible removal of all Cherokees in 1838, another brother, Thomas, was murdered by Ross’s men in 1845.

In October, 1861, Watie was commissioned as colonel in the First Mounted Cherokee Rifles. Besides fighting Federal troops in the States’ War, his men also fought opposing factions of Cherokee, as well as Seminole and Creek (Muscogee) warriors who supported the Union.

In 1862, Stand Watie was elected principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, through dissension continued among John Ross’s supporters.
< On June 15, 1864, Watie’s troops captured the Federal steamboat J. R. Williams on the Arkansas River off the banks of Pleasant Bluff near Tamaha, Indian Territory. The next morning, Colonel John Ritchie’s men, who were stationed at the mouth of the Illinois River near where the two rivers met, engaged Watie’s men as they attempted to confiscate the cargo. The river was rising, and they fought to a standoff. When Watie learned of the advance of Union troops from Fort Smith, Arkansas, (within about 40 miles), he burned the ship and much of the remaining cargo, then sank it. Watie surrendered a year later in June of 1865, the last Confederate general to lay down his arms.
In my debut novel, Fire Eyes, I weave this bit of history into my plot. The villain, Andrew Fallon, and his gang have come upon the site where the J.R. Williams was sunk four years earlier. Fallon speculates there could have been gold aboard, and sets his men to dive for it. As mercurial as his temper is, none of them dare question his order. Here’s what happens:

FROM FIRE EYES:

“Damn! I know where we are.” Dobie Perrin said.

Andrew Fallon turned in the saddle, glaring at Perrin, the afternoon sun dappling them through the leaves of the thick canopy of trees. “So do I, you idiot! So do we all, now.”

The secluded cemetery sat on a bluff, overlooking the Arkansas River. They had been wandering for two days, ever since retracing their steps to the first small creek they’d come to. The one Fallon felt sure would give them their bearings. Now, at last, he recognized where they were. He’d figured it out ten miles back.

“Tamaha,” Denver Rutledge muttered. “I was raised up over yonder.” He inclined his head toward the riverbank. “Over in Vian.”

“Then why didn’t you know where we were?” Fallon’s anger surged. “I am surrounded by idiots!”

“I shore ’nuff shoulda known, General,” Rutledge said apologetically. “Right yonder’s where we sunk the J.R. Williams. Rebs, I mean. Stand Watie’s bunch.”

Fallon jerked his head toward the other man. “Right where, soldier?”

Rutledge kneed his horse, coming abreast of Fallon. “Why, right yonder, General. It was in June of ’64. She was a Union ship, the Williams was.”

“What was she carrying?”

Rutledge shrugged. “Don’t rightly know. Supplies, maybe.”

“Payroll? Gold?” Fallon fingered his curling moustache. “Could be anything, eh, Rutledge? But the Yankees were known to cache their gold profits in casks. Maybe that’s what the J.R. Williams was carrying. Casks that weren’t really supplies, but were filled with gold.”

“Could be, I 'spect.” Rutledge’s voice was hesitant.

Fallon nodded toward the river. “I think maybe we’ll try to find out.”

****
AND LATER, WILL THE HOSTAGES BE ABLE TO ESCAPE WHILE FALLON’S MEN ARE OCCUPIED WITH THE SHIP?

“What’s he doing, Tori?” Lily whispered. She moved closer to her sister. The night had turned colder, and the girls’ clothing was becoming threadbare and ragged.

Tori shook her head. “Fallon’s plumb crazy, Lily. Making his men dive for that ship! What’s he think he’s going to do if he finds it? Pull it up with his bare hands?”

“Or a rope, maybe,” Lily said innocently.

Tori didn’t say anything. She reminded herself that Lily was, after all, only eight years old. And she, at eighteen, knew how the world worked much better than little Lily did. At least Lily had stopped crying all the time. Now, Tori wasn’t sure if that was an improvement.

Lily sometimes scared her, the way her eyes looked hollow. Like there was no feeling left in her. Tori had no mirror, but her little sister looked like she herself felt. Older than she should be. And sad. But Lily didn’t seem to be afraid any longer, and Tori supposed that was a good thing.
Tori knew what Fallon intended to do with her and Lily. But the initial shock and fear of Fallon’s intent was overshadowed by other things that had actually happened. The violent deaths of their parents and younger brother, the endless days of riding with scant food and water, the bone-deep weariness that never let up, not even when she slept on the hard ground at night next to Lily.
She was responsible for Lily, now that her parents were gone. She squared her thin shoulders, her gentle eyes turning hard for a moment. She would protect her sister, no matter what.

Tori watched as Fallon ordered three of his men back into the water yet another time. Even if they could see what they were diving for, it would be too deep to reach. But the scene helped Tori realize just how unstable Andrew Fallon was. Once or twice, she’d caught herself thinking he was almost a nice man. He’d brought her and Lily a blanket one cold night. And he’d given them extra rations another time. But she knew he was not nice, not even sane.

Evil, was what Andrew Fallon was. Evil, and most insane.

She watched him, posturing and screaming at his men, who were so terrified of him that they were making fools of themselves trying to dive for an unreachable goal, a ship that may contain treasure, but just as well may not. A vessel that was impossible to get to, all the same. Especially in the pitch-black night. Lily leaned against her, her weight heavy with sleep. They sat beside a tree, their backs propped against the rough bark. The night was cool, and Tori had drawn the blanket close around them. She sagged against the tree trunk, her arm around her little sister, as Lily’s eyelids drooped.

I will be giving away a pdf copy of FIRE EYES to one commenter today! Just leave a comment with your contact info to be entered in the drawing.

To see all my work, go here:

https://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson

25 comments:

  1. Thanks for directing our attention to this fascinating historical figure, and for incorporating history into your excellent fiction so well! Of course, the Anti-Removal Party would not have said they were assassinating the Ridges and Boudinot, but that they were executing them for breaking Cherokee law and signing away their lands, something which as a minority party they had no right to do -they would also say that Ross remained the Principal Chief through the Civil War, and that Watie's claim didn't count as they didn't consider his election official. Fact is, though, Watie received a majority of the vote, and his standing in the history of Principal Chiefs IS official. All of which demonstrates A) how divided the Cherokees were from Removal through the Civil War and B) whether you're executed or assassinated, you're still pretty dead.

    An interesting irony- 30 years earlier Major Ridge had been one of the people who executed/assassinated Cherokee chief Doublehead for signing away tribal lands. James Vann (another prominent Cherokee leader, and owner of the Vann House which is still a tourist spot in northern Georgia) was supposed to go with him to help do it, but was too drunk.

    Forgive me for rambling -excellent article, as always!

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  2. Cheryl, Most of us are never exposed to this history unless doing research. Thanks for bringing it to light. It opens the door to further study.
    Jerry

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  3. Troy, I love it when you ramble. LOL I just find Stand Watie to be one of the most fascinating characters and I am always glad to learn more about him. Thanks for your very kind words! I appreciate it.
    Cheryl

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  4. Jerry, the sad thing is, I was born and raised right here in Oklahoma where much of this took place and we never learned about it at all. There is so much history out there that is just forgotten unless care is taken to teach it, research it, and talk about it. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I am so intrigued by tribal politics, and the individuals behind them. This is just the tip of the iceberg--he was a very complex man.
    Cheryl

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  5. Hi Cheryl, I've heard his name but didn't know the facts. Amazing that he and his brothers stood for the removal.

    And I agree with you how much history seems to be found in our own back yards. Loved the post. xo

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  6. Hi Tanya,

    Yes, there is so much history all around us, but it seems that our schools anymore don't teach it. Stand Watie was very multi-faceted, and I really enjoyed learning about him.
    Cheryl

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  7. Great post, Cheryl. Love info on these old Cherokees, and Stand Watie is one of my favorites. Colonel Watie will have a bit part in my upcoming historical Western novel, too, as he commands the 2nd Cherokee Mounted Rifles at the Battle of Pea Ridge (Arkansas).

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  8. My mother always said that she learned more about North American history growing up in England than was taught in American and Canadian schools.

    I wonder if she had heard of Watie - I hadn't before this.

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  9. Utterly fascinating! Thanks, Cheryl.

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  10. I was amazed to learn from your article that Gen. Stand Watie was for the removal of the Cherokee.
    Fallon was the craziest, most evil villain I ever read. I loves me a terrible villain. LOL

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  11. Nice bit of forgotten history, Cheryl. It's great that you weave that sort of thing in with your story line.

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  12. Phil, that sounds like another good 'un! What's the name of it and when will it be out? I love books that include Stand Watie. I wrote a Christmas short story, Meant to Be, that included him. The protagonist of the story is one of is soldiers.
    Cheryl

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  13. Alison, I know that's probably true. I have seen very old testing requirements for 8th graders which used to be the pinnacle of education here that were by far harder than some of the things highschoolers are expected to learn in today's schools.
    Cheryl

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  14. Thank you, Keith. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
    Cheryl

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  15. LOL Sarah, I loves me a terrible villain too. Yes, Fallon was truly evil--the kind of villain you love to hate, right? Thanks for coming by today, Sarah! I know you are busy with your new book, THE LIGHT OF VALMORA. I can't wait to read that--just gotta find some reading time for myself.
    Cheryl

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  16. Hey, Marc! I try, and always try to be so careful not to sound preachy about it or anything. I've read more than my share of books where the author wants to let you know how much they know about the entire subject. LOL (Well, that probably wouldn't happen in my case, cause I don't know nearly as much as a lot of other people out there.) LOL Thanks for coming by and commenting. I know you've got a new release, STATE OF EMERGENCY, on the way, too!
    Cheryl

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  17. What a great historical character. Thanks for telling us a little about him, Cheryl. I think I'd read, way back in time, about Stand Watie, but this filled in some holes.

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  18. Hey, C.K., he is just so unique--at least, I think so. There was a book, Rifles for Watie, that my kids did have to read in school, come to think of it. Can't remember who it's by. Anyhow, I just think he was amazing. I'm glad you came by!
    Cheryl

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  19. Hey, y'all, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for stopping by today and commenting. That's what makes this blog a success! I just drew a name out of my big ol' Stetson to win a copy of FIRE EYES and my winner is.........


    C.K. CRIGGER!!!!!

    And I'm wondering if that was Karma because my first two initials are C.K.

    SO, C.K. if you will email me at fabkat_edit@yahoo.com and give me your contact information, I will see that you get your PRIZE!!!!

    Congratulations!
    Cheryl

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  20. Cheryl, fascinating post! I've read a little about Gen. Stand Watie but didn't know very much about him. Did you know there was also a Choctaw/Chickasaw unit on the Confederate side? They were called Cooper’s Choctaw-Chickasaw Mounted Rifles. The hero of my WIP, Dearest Druid, served with them. I loved discovering the part Native Americans played in the conflict.

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  21. Lyn, I'm so glad you came by! No, I didn't know about Cooper's Choctaw-Chickasaw Mounted Rifles. VERY COOL that you used that in your WIP! Yes, I love learning about the ins and outs of the tribal politics and the parts they played in the Civil War, too. It's like a giant puzzle.
    Cheryl

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  22. It also brings home just how divisive the Civil War was. Thanks for posting this article, Cheryl!

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  23. Great post on a great American. :-)

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  24. Jacquie, most people would never even consider how the Civil War affected the Native American tribes. I think (just my opinion) that's one reason why the wounds to the structure of our entire society caused by the Civil War are still not healed, over 150 years later. Glad you enjoyed this.
    Cheryl

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