The Blue, The Gray and The Red

Thom Hatch

Description

The Blue, the Gray, and the Red is the first book dedicated solely to chronicling the numerous campaigns waged against the Indians in the American West during the Civil War. In fact, more Indians were killed between 1861 and 1865 than in any other period in history. Some of the most noteworthy Indian Campaigns ever conducted, featuring a fascinating cast of larger than life characters, took place during these years.

Award-winning author Thom Hatch offers chronological narrative rich in details and full of new revelations of the bloody hostilities in the West. The Blue, the Gray, and the Red will appeal to all those interested in the Civil War and the Indian War in American history. It provides a thoroughly researched background of the conflicts and cross-references simultaneous battles and events in the eastern theater of the Civil War. The exhaustive documentation and analysis paired with the uniqueness of the subject will cast new light on this most turbulent period.

Sujets

• Civil War Period
• Histoire
• United States
• History

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 28 avril 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781684424559
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

The BLUE, the GRAY, and the RED
The BLUE, the GRAY, and the RED

INDIAN CAMPAIGNS
OF THE C IVIL W AR
by THOM HATCH
Turner Publishing Company
Nashville, Tennessee
www.turnerpublishing.com
Copyright 2019 Thom Hatch
The Blue, the Gray, and the Red: Indian Campaigns of the Civil War
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to Turner Publishing Company, 4507 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 100, Nashville, Tennessee, [phone], fax [phone], E-mail: [e-mail] .
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and the author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
Cover design: Bruce Gore
Book design: Tim Holtz
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Hatch, Thom, 1946- author.
Title: The blue, the gray, and the red : Indian Campaigns of the Civil War (with new material) / by Thom Hatch.
Other titles: Civil War Indian campaigns in the western frontier
Description: [Second edition] | [Nashville] : Turner Publishing Company, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: The Blue, the Gray, and the Red is the first book dedicated solely to chronicling the numerous campaigns waged against the Indians in the American West during the Civil War. In fact, more Indians were killed between 1861 and 1865 than in any other period in history. Some of the most noteworthy Indian Campaigns ever conducted, featuring a fascinating cast of larger than life characters, took place during these years. -- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019047973 (print) | LCCN 2019047974 (ebook) | ISBN 9781684424535 (paperback) | ISBN 9781684424542 (hardback) | ISBN 9781684424559 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Indians of North America--Wars--1862-1865. | Indians of North America--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 | West (U.S.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. | West (U.S.)--History, Military--19th century.
Classification: LCC E83.863 .H374 2020 (print) | LCC E83.863 (ebook) | DDC 978.004/97--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019047973
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019047974
Printed in the United States of America
17 18 19 20 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
T ABLE O F C ONTENTS

Introduction
ONE: The Flight of Opothleyahola
TWO: Bear River Massacre
THREE: Sioux Uprising
FOUR: Carleton, Carson, and the Apaches
FIVE: Sibley, Sully, and the Sioux
SIX: The Navajo Long Walk
SEVEN: The Woolsey Expeditions
EIGHT: Northern and Southern Plains Vengeance
NINE: Blood Along Sand Creek
TEN: Total War
Bibliography
Index
To my wonderful wife, Lyndy, and precious daughter, Cimarron
I NTRODUCTION

T ucked away in relatively obscure and scattered pages of Civil War history, overshadowed by the microscopic focus on Eastern battles, can be found some of the most dramatic and tragic, yet least known, events of that conflict-those desperate struggles between the white man and the Indian that occurred throughout the frontier West during the years 1861-65.
This subject, other than books about specific high-profile events, such as the Sand Creek Massacre, heretofore has been treated as if the Indians simply hibernated and westward migration halted while the war raged in the East. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, it can be stated as fact that more whites and Indians were killed in the West during those four years than in any other comparable period in American history.
Some of the most captivating, controversial, and noteworthy engagements ever waged between those two races-featuring a fascinating cast of colorful characters, both famous and lesser known-occurred on the frontier while the eyes of the nation were shielded by concerns in the East.
The Blue, the Gray, and the Red presents an accurate, balanced portrayal of these hostilities as undermanned and inexperienced Union and Confederate soldiers, state militiamen, common citizens, and bands of adventurers from Minnesota and Utah Territory to the regions of the Great Plains and the Southwest were called upon to contend with the native Red Man-and vice versa, for at times it is difficult to distinguish heroes from villains.
In certain cases, it was as if the Indians were being prodded with a sharp stick until instinct and self-preservation compelled them to strike back. In other instances, the Indians took advantage of abandoned forts when regular army troops were sent East and responded with violence to the presence of the white man in their homeland.
One aspect, however, becomes quite clear as the campaigns unfold. The toll of human loss and suffering on both sides due to these encounters is perhaps unparalleled, often beyond comprehension, and proves that savagery is not reserved for any one particular race of mankind.
The significance of this period of conflict on the Western frontier cannot be understated. When the guns fell silent in the East and peace prevailed, there was no truce to hostilities in the West. The army would experience twenty more years of warfare against the Indians, and every battle and every drop of blood that was shed was a direct result of operations conducted during the Civil War.
ONE

T HE F LIGHT OF O POTHLEYAHOLA
A t the outbreak of the Civil War, pledges of loyalty to either the North or the South created divisions among people who had previously shared the same history, if not the same blood. This pitting of brother against brother and neighbor against neighbor tore apart families, destroyed relationships, and divided communities in many parts of the country.
The discord and schism between resolute people with opposing points of view, however, were not reserved solely for the white man in the East. It also occurred within one particular tribe of Native Americans and would result in a winter of bitterness and violence. An abundance of blood would be spilled, and much suffering would be endured by thousands of men, women, and children before the issue was tragically settled.
Admittedly, the tribe involved already had been engaged for decades in a simmering internal feud of sorts within its ranks. The contrary allegiances embraced by two factions within the tribe would now serve as a convenient reason to enable one group to take advantage of the circumstances and exact revenge against the other, with assistance from white and red allies.
In 1861, when the Southern states seceded and the North stood firm, Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) became what could be called a buffer zone between the Confederate states of Arkansas and Texas and the Union state of Kansas and the territories of Colorado and New Mexico. This area was populated for the most part by Native American people, members of what were called the Five Civilized Tribes-Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creeks, and Seminoles. These tribes some years earlier had been resettled in Indian Territory from various locations within the South. Most had adopted a lifestyle based on Southern traditions, such as the practice of slavery. For that reason, the vast majority of these Native Americans, many of whom were successful plantation owners, were sympathetic to the Southern cause for fear of losing their valuable property, slaves in particular.
There existed, however, treaties between these tribes and the United States, and most members were dependent on the promised food and supplies granted them by the provisions. Also, there was some doubt about whether the South could provide for them in the same manner as the North. And another problem was that the recently replaced Federal agent was an ardent secessionist from Alabama, and the newly appointed replacement was unable to make contact with the tribes from his post in Kansas. That lack of communication from a representative of the divided United States would soon become a moot point when the disposition of troops in the area was settled.
The question of garrisoning Union soldiers in Indian Territory was addressed in early 1861. Fort Gibson had been abandoned four years earlier and turned over to the Cherokee nation. The several remaining garrisons, including Fort Arbuckle, Fort Cobb, and Fort Washington, were relatively small and isolated, and therefore vulnerable to an attack. Union colonel William H. Emery had been dispatched in March with orders to assume command at Fort Cobb and determine the prudence of leaving troops at the various posts. Events that occurred during his journey through Indian Territory, however, would dictate Emery s decision.
Confederate Texas volunteer units were sweeping the area. When Emery passed through Fort Washita and removed the garrison for fear of an attack, he was unexpectedly joined by all the troops from Fort Arbuckle, who also were worried about the advancing Texans. Within days, a courier