Stand Watie

Stand Watie
ᏕᎦᏔᎦ
Watie, c. 1865
2nd Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
In office 1862–1866
Preceded by	John Ross
Succeeded by	William P. Ross
Personal details
Born	(1806-12-12)December 12, 1806 Oothcaloga, Cherokee Nation (present-day Calhoun, Georgia), U.S.
Died	September 9, 1871(1871-09-09) (aged 64) Delaware District, Cherokee Nation (present-day Delaware County, Oklahoma), U.S.
Resting place	Polson Cemetery, Delaware County, Oklahoma, U.S. 36°31′32.2″N 94°38′09.5″W / 36.525611°N 94.635972°W / 36.525611; -94.635972
Relatives	Elias Boudinot (brother) E. C. Boudinot (nephew)
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States
Branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Brigadier-General
Commands	2d Cherokee Mounted Rifles (1861–62) 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles (1862–64) 1st Indian Brigade (1864–65)
Battles	American Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek Battle of Chustenahlah Battle of Pea Ridge Battle of Prairie Grove First Battle of Cabin Creek Second Battle of Cabin Creek Ambush of the J. R. Williams Battle of Fort Smith

Brigadier-General Stand Watie (Cherokee: ᏕᎦᏔᎦ, romanized: Degataga, lit. 'Stand firm'; December 12, 1806 – September 9, 1871), also known as Standhope Uwatie and Isaac S. Watie, was a Cherokee politician who served as the second principal chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1862 to 1866. The Cherokee Nation allied with the Confederate States during the American Civil War, and he was subsequently the only Native American Confederate general officer. Watie commanded Indian forces in the Trans-Mississippi Theater, made up mostly of Cherokee, Muskogee, and Seminole. He was the last Confederate States Army general to surrender.^[1]

Before removal of the Cherokee to Indian Territory in the late 1830s, Watie and his older brother Elias Boudinot were among Cherokee leaders who signed the Treaty of New Echota in 1835. The majority of the tribe opposed their action. In 1839, the brothers were attacked in an assassination attempt, as were other relatives active in the Treaty Party. All but Stand Watie were killed. Watie in 1842 killed one of his uncle's attackers, and in 1845 his brother Thomas was killed in retaliation, in a continuing cycle of violence that reached Indian Territory. Watie was acquitted by the Cherokee at trial in the 1850s on the grounds of self-defense.

Watie led the Southern Cherokee delegation to Washington, D.C., after the American Civil War to sue for peace, hoping to have tribal divisions recognized. The federal government negotiated only with the leaders who had sided with the Union. Watie stayed out of politics for his last years, and tried to rebuild his plantation.