The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

Re: John Benge - 1st Cav - State Troops

Below is a list the Confederate Indian units. I have the rosters, that have been found, for most of these. Most probably have a significant number whites, tribal members or from neighboring states. And, most have a significant number of mixed bloods tribal members.

Most 1861 enlistments were for one year, then two years, then 'for the war', so units went through multiple reorganizations and/or were merged with other units.

The units that essentially remained the same for the duration of the war include:

1st Cherokee Mtd Volunteers aka Watie's Regiment -- Watie/Parks/Bell
1st Creek Mtd Rifles -- D.N McIntosh
1st Osage Battalion -- Broke Arm

These units began service early in the war and then were expanded or combined with other units:

1st Cherokee Battalion (Partisian Rangers) -- Joel Mayes Bryan, combined with excess companies of Watie's Regiment to form the 2nd Cherokee Mtd Vols - Adair, in Feb 1863
1st Choctaw Battalion - Battice, expanded to 1st Choctaw Mtd Rifles - Sampson Folsom, in about May 1862
1st Choctaw Cavalry Battalion - Simpson Folsom, expanded to 2nd Choctaw Cavalry Regiment - Simpson Folsom, sometime before 1/1/1863
1st Chickasaw Cavalry Battalion -- Harris/Reynolds/Shecoe, expanded to 1st Chickasaw Regiment -- RW Lee, about 1/1/1865
1st Creek Cavalry Battalion - Chilly McIntosh, expanded to 2nd Creek Mtd Vols -- Chilly McIntosh, about Jan. 1862
1st Seminole Battalion Mtd Vols -- Jumper, expanded to 1st Seminole Mtd Rifles - Jumper, (didn't note the date)

Other units that were in service for part of the war or were reduced:

1st Cherokee Mtd Rifles -- Drew's, was organized in Oct 1861 but defected after Battle of Locust Grove and joined the 2nd and 3rd Indian Home Guard (Union) - July 1862
1st Choctaw & Chickasaw Mtd Rifles -- Cooper/Walker reduced to battalion probably at time of second reorganization in mid-1864
Cherokee Battalion (for Special Service) – Maj Joel Mayes Bryan – after 2/3/63 -- probably a temporary organization
Cherokee Regiment for Special Service in the Indian Territory – Col. J.M. Bryan, May 13, 1865
Deneale’s Choctaw Warriors – Lt Col George E. Deneale, began recruiting in Dec 14, 1861, reached battalion strength about March 1862 but then disbanded (no active service)
1st Squadron Cherokee Mounted Volunteers – Capt. Charles H. Holt, Dec. 12, 1862
1st Battalion Choctaw Cavalry – Lt Col Jackson McCurtain, 1864? became 3rd Regiment Choctaw Cavalry – Col Jackson McCurtain, 1865?
Frye’s Battalion Cherokee Cavalry – Maj Moses C. Frye, 6/3/63 became Scales’ Battalion Cherokee Cavalry – Maj Joseph Absolom “Joab” Scales, 4/23/64
Washington’s Squadron of Indians – Capt George Washington (Caddo), 1865
Wilkin’s Company Choctaw Infantry – Capt John Wilkins, 7/25/1862
Lee's light battery, Capt. R. W. Lee.
Picken’s Company Chickasaw

And...
1st Chickasaw Regiment - Hunter, this regiment was authorized and officers appointed but never organized. Hunter was discharged by the CS War Dept. The roster of this unit is apparently a fraud.

The Union Indian regiments are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Indian Home Guards (Kansas Infantry), aka Union Indian Brigade, Col Wm A Phillips. The enlisted men in these regiments were almost all Native American. The officers were almost all white -- notable exception being Lt Col Lewis Downing of the 3rd IHG. The 3rd IHG was formed from the defectors of Drew's 1st Cherokee Mtd Rifles (CSA) in July-Aug 1862. There were a few Native Americans in the 14th and 15th Kansas Cavalry regiments.

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John Benge - 1st Cav - State Troops
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