I am fascinated by Cherokee leader Stand Watie. I’ve used him as a character in many of my stories. I think the reason I can’t seem to get enough of him is because of his remarkable life and accomplishments. Here’s a little bit about Stand Watie and what he did–and then I’ll tell you about my stories he appears in.
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.”
****
The next story Chief Watie was included in was my time-travel western novella, MEANT TO BE. Here’s a little bit about this Civil War story:
Robin Mallory is facing another Christmas all alone when she decides to surprise her aunt and uncle several hours away. A flat tire leaves her stranded near a desolate section of interstate. With a snowstorm on the way, Robin has no choice but to walk, hoping to find shelter before the storm hits full force. But the road she chooses leads her back in time, to a battleground she’s only read about in history books.
Confederate Jake Devlin, an officer in Stand Watie’s Cherokee forces, is shocked when the spy he captures turns out to be a girl. She’s dressed oddly, but her speech and the ideas she has are even stranger than her clothing. Where did she come from, and what is he going to do with her? Will he be able to hold on to his heart? Is it possible for a love this strong to span centuries? It is, if it was MEANT TO BE…
****
My most recent story that Stand Watie appears in is my first venture into “alternate history” in the alternate history anthology, TALES FROM THE OTHERVERSE released through Rough Edges Press. If you aren’t familiar with alternate history, it’s fascinating to read and to write–because you can change history to suit the story you want to tell. My novella is called MRS. LINCOLN’S DINNER PARTY–a very different story about how the Civil War ended, thanks to Varina Davis, Mary Lincoln, and of all people, Stand Watie. Hmmm…let’s just see what’s going on at this odd dinner party of Mrs. Lincoln’s, shall we?
****
“If you’ll excuse me, sir,” Mary said, “I must return to the receiving line. You’ve had a long journey—if you’d like a moment to freshen up, Mr. Pennington can show you to your quarters—” She nodded at the guard standing behind the general.
“Yes, please. I’d like to know where I need to place my bag,” the general said.
Mary glared at Mr. Pennington, who squirmed uncomfortably.
“Thought maybe there was a mistake, Mrs. Lincoln—”
“Mr. Pennington. There is no mistake. And I will not tolerate rudeness. Please, show General Watie to his quarters—and you carry his bag.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Pennington answered. “This way, sir.”
General Watie gave Mary a rare smile. “Thank you. I will see you at dinner, Mrs. Lincoln.”
Mary felt Abe’s eyes boring into her as she moved across the floor, back into her place in line.
“I’m…surprised at you, Mary.”
Mary felt the hot flush creep up her neck, into her cheeks.
“I’m wondering, what other—guests—you may have invited without my knowledge.”
Oh, how she did wish he’d keep his voice down! She didn’t want the children to see the discord between them—especially here in public, where it was so easy for others to read between the lines, pick up on any issues that were best kept private. As Robert had said earlier, they could all find themselves on the front page of the papers along with unflattering descriptions and comments if they weren’t careful.
She didn’t answer Abe’s prodding, becoming suddenly resentful of being placed in such a predicament. She wouldn’t have had to resort to this if Abe and the others who had started this war had been more reasonable.
And though, in her heart, she believed fathers loved their children dearly…she couldn’t yet reconcile how fathers could call for sons to go to war. War! Where the children mothers had fought so hard to keep safe and whole all their childhood years could—in one moment—be maimed, or left to die a horrific death at the hands of their enemy…The enemy—people who had, just two scant years earlier, been their neighbors, their friends—even their own families!
She couldn’t sit by any longer and do nothing. Robert would be heading off to West Point in the fall…then Eddie and Willie would follow.
She was not going to lose her precious boys to this confounded idiocy.
“My God,” Abe swore, his tone calling her back to the present. “Is that—”
“Varina Davis. Yes. It is.” Mary turned to look up at her husband. “It looks as if Jefferson declined the invitation. Would you care to accompany me to greet her, or—”
“Yes, I’ll come,” he all but growled. “Mary, we have some talking to do.”
But Mary was already on her way across the floor to greet Varina Davis, Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s wife.
****
I want to thank everyone for joining me today! Please leave a comment and you will be entered in my drawing for a copy (DIGITAL OR PRINT–YOUR CHOICE!) of FIRE EYES and I’m also giving away a copy of MEANT TO BE!
A native Oklahoman, I've been influenced by the west all my life. I love to write short stories and novels in the historical western and western romance genres, as well as contemporary romantic suspense! Check my Amazon author page to see my work: http://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson
I live in Oklahoma City with my husband of 40 years. I love to hear from readers and other authors--you can contact me here: fabkat_edit@yahoo.com
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Cheryl what a great blog if the Cherokee leader. Very interesting. I loved Fire Eyes, a very moving novel, one I will hold dear to my heart forever.
Aw, Tonya, thank you so much. That means the world to a writer–to know that someone loved their story so much. I’m so glad you enjoyed FIRE EYES.
Wow, interesting! I never knew most of what you wrote. Thanks so much.
Debra, he was a truly fascinating person. There is so much more I DIDN’T write that I didn’t have room for–but I think that’s why I always want to include him in my stories.
I have heard of this man, but not what he did. Very Interesting.
Thanks, Estella. I had a lot of fun using him as my focal point in my alternate history story. WHAT IF the tribes HAD banded together during the time of the Civil War? I imagine things would be very different!
Very interesting! Thank you for sharing, Cheryl. Have a great day!
You’re welcome, Melanie. I always love to share about Stand Watie. Although many feel that he sold out the Cherokees in the removal, I believe he saw the writing on the wall and knew it was going to come about.
Great pieces of history you are sharing with us. I know a little bit about the civil war, but there is still so much more to learn. That’s why I love to read. I get such a great education.
Kathleen, I’m the same way–and boy, I’ve gotten so hooked on alternate history now, too–I know it’s not for everyone, but to my mind, it’s a whole new plethora of “what ifs” that just run rampant. LOL I read Eric Flint’s 1812: The Rivers of War–and that’s what got me hooked.
Great facts on a Great man. Thanks for sharing.
Kim, you’re welcome! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting–I’m glad you enjoyed!
Wow, Cheryl, I had never heard of this man. Very interesting post. Thank you.
Kay, I just love learning about individuals of the different tribes of this area–and what got me going on the story I used in Fire Eyes of the ship going down was that I had gone with my sister to a very secluded cemetery that overlooked the area where the ship had gone down–the J.R. Williams. A man drove down to where we were and asked if he might help us. My sister told him no, we were just there because she’d brought an elderly man out there to visit the graves of his family and we were waiting on him. Well, the man who’d driven down to the cemetery started telling us of the history, and it turned out that the bell of the ship had washed ashore a few years earlier with the original name on it of the ship when it belonged to the Confederacy–before the Union had captured it. They had then put up a historical marker about it, since that was “proof” that the ship was nearby. My mind just started humming. LOL
Cheryl Pierson I Can’t hardly wait to read your book Fire Eyes.I love to read books that put actual history in them especially Native American history. My dear friend Tonya Lucas has told me how wonderful it is and she is sending me her copy to read. Cheryl I am So excited this will be my first book to read by you. I would love to win a copy of Fire Eyes from you so I will have my own when I send Tonya her copy back. Have a very blessed day!!
Glenda, you are too kind! And Tonya, too. It means so much to have your work so appreciated by readers. I will definitely stick your name in the drawing and here’s wishing you the best of luck. I hope you enjoy Fire Eyes very much–and here’s hoping you win your own copy, too!
I love historicals but there’s always something special about reading about our own history. All the books sound wonderful!!
I agree, Catslady! Love them all, but especially the ones about our history here in the US and particularly, the old west. Thanks so much for your kind words!
Thanks for such an interesting post. It has been quite a while since I read non-fiction Cherokee history. And isn’t something when a historical person just catches you and won’t let go?! I know what you mean. I have read about Stand Watie but I don’t recall reading about the J. R. Williams at Tamaha, so thank you!
I checked the map for Tamaha and it’s not at all far from where my family lived, although they arrived there after the war. Still, small world. I’ll have to send a link to a couple of OK cousins still there to see if they know the story.
Eliza, if you ever do get a chance to come back to Oklahoma and visit the area, there is a one room jail there in Tamaha that’s supposed to be the oldest jail in Oklahoma. It’s literally starting to fall in–I don’t know why they don’t do something to preserve it on the state level. They do have a historical marker up about the J.R. Williams, but of course, not the full story. Very interesting–I bet the guy who found that bell was soooo thrilled! Can you imagine finding something like that just out of the blue? That cemetery was on a bluff where the Arkansas and Illinois Rivers come together. If you go to Tamaha, anyone can point you in the right direction. Thanks for coming by!
I never knew that native Americans served in the Civil War!! How interesting..
Martha, just found this on the internet and thought you might be interested in it. This is truly a fascinating subject!
Stand Watie was a member of the Cherokee, who in 1861 were primarily located in Oklahoma. At the outbreak of war, the Cherokee proclaimed neutrality – which, by default, supported the Union. Stand Watie was a staunch supporter of the Confederacy, and in defiance of this neutrality he led a large number of unhappy men with him off the Cherokee lands to join the Confederate army. Watie would rise through the ranks to Brigadier General and become one of the most fearsome commanders in the western theater. General Watie was the last Confederate general to surrender, which he did on June 23rd 1865 – a good two and a half months after General Lee surrendered at Appomattox.
Ely S. Parker, on the other hand, was a member of the Seneca, one of the six nations of the Iroquois in the area of upstate New York. His father had fought for the United States during the War of 1812, and Parker may have wanted to follow in his footsteps when he enlisted in the Union army. Parker rose to the rank of Brigadier General as well, and served extensively on the staff of General Ulysses S. Grant. When it came time for General Lee to surrender at Appomattox, General Parker was the one who wrote the actual document that Lee had to sign. After the war, Parker went on to serve as the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.