Stephen,

I've seen this reference to the casualties in the Cherokee Nation, specifically and a comparison with the highest casualties of any of the Southern states on a percentage or per capita basis. There is little doubt that the Indian Territory was horribly devastated by the Civil War and the civilian population, as well as, the military forces suffered tremendous losses. The figure; however, that is used to determine Civil War losses is based on Cherokee and Indian Territory Censuses from before and after the war. These numbers, as I recall, show a decrease of over 35% of the Cherokee population. Unfortunately, these numbers cannot be entirely reliable, as many of the Cherokees who relocated to Texas, Kansas and other adjacent states did not return immediately after the war out of choice. They had not died, they were refugees or resettled in other areas. Still the losses, probably rivaled the worst losses of any of the Southern states. No one should ever discount the commitment and the suffering of the Native-Americans in the Indian Territory during the Civil War. The treatment by the respective governments of both the Union and Confederate Indian forces was terrible. After the war, the alliance of some of the Indian Territory forces with the South was used as an excuse to alter treaties and to breakup the tribal lands for the benefit of speculators and carpetbaggers. In the case of the Cherokees, the Nation was divided about 50/50 in their allegiance. The federal government didn't treat the Union Indian veterans any better than they did the Confederates. That stinks, huh?

Jim
Member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma