I've been doing some research on the various Choctaw units and recently looking at Deneale's Choctaw Warriors, aka the Choctaw Virginia Regiment.

George E. Deneale was from Rockingham VA. In late 1861, he offered to recruit Choctaw to come to Virginia and join John B. Floyd's brigade. Johnson Pushmataha was a supporter of the plan. The plan was approved by the Confederate government and, it appears, Deneale arrived in the Choctaw Nation in January 1862. He recruited about 360 Choctaw, including Peter P. Pitchlynn. It appears bounties and clothing allowances were paid them in mid-March. Sometime before May 5th the plan goes sour. This may be related to Albert Pike's war of words with Hindman and others regarding all the arms and equipment he purchased with money of the Indian Bureau being confiscated for other commands. In May 1862, Sampson Folsom and Chief George Hudson intervene, claiming to be under orders from Pike, and refuse to allow the wagons loaded with supplies for Deneale's "battalion" be moved. Folsom essentially confiscates everything that has been collected for Deneale's command. Deneale returns to Richmond and has to give an account of all the money and supplies he lost. Deneale draws pay as lt. col. of cavalry of the "Choctaw Virginia Regiment" through at least September 1862. The records of some of the Choctaw appear to show they were paid in July in Richmond, however, I believe what this really means is they were paid in the Choctaw Nation in March and Deneale has provided documentation of such to the auditors in July. I don't believe any Choctaw went to Richmond with Deneale.

Finding biographical info on Deneale has been difficult. An earlier George E. Deneale was hero of the War of Independence and a friend of George Washington. The name "George E." becomes common in the Deneale family -- variously spelled Deneal, DeNeal, Deniele, Doneale, etc.. There are multiple George E. Deneales in Virginia and at least two that are of expected age (between 30-45). I don't find an enlistment or appointment record for Deneale when he became a LTC. I also don't find what happened to him after he returned to Richmond -- resigned, discharged, assigned elsewhere, died, court martial, etc..

There is a reference to this plan in the Jefferson Davis Papers. There are two or three articles in the Richmond newspaper. Pitchlynn wrote about his support and intent to join and go to Virginia (OU Western History Collection). There is Deneale's CMSR on Fold3.com but more info can be found in the records of others connected to the battalion (whose names escape me at the moment), i.e. the AQM, a wagon master, J.M. Skelton, etc.. The only CMSR I can find for Deneale is specific to the Choctaw unit, that is I have found no service records unrelated to "Deneale's Choctaw Warriors". I believe there is a listing of all the men Deneale paid. I hope to try and trace these men to service in other units -- probably the 1st Choctaw and the 2nd Choctaw regiments.

Any ideas on other sources to search?

Ken