JUNE 23, 1865

CHEROKEE BRIGADIER GENERAL STAND WATIE SIGNS CEASE FIRE–LAST CONFEDERATE GENERAL TO STOP FIGHTING.

Born at Oothcaloga, Cherokee Nation, Georgia, on December 12, 1806, Stand Watie served as Speaker of the Cherokee National Council prior to the “Trail of Tears.”  A member of the Ridge-Watie-Boundinot  faction, he supported removal and signed the Treaty of New Echota in 1835, defying Principal Chief John Ross.  After the murders of his uncle, cousin, and two brothers, he became faction leader.  In July 1861, Watie was commissioned a colonel and his men were organized as the Cherokee Regiment of Mounted Rifles.  His troops saw action in 18 battles, but his 2 greatest victories were the capture of the federal steam boat J.R. Williams in June 1864, and the seizure a federal wagon supply train that September.  The only Indian to achieve the rank of general in the Civil War, he was promoted to brigadier general on May 6, 1864.  After the war, Watie served as a member of the Southern Cherokee delegation during the negotiation of the Cherokee Reconstruction Treaty of 1866.  He died September 9, 1871.

Sources:  Kenny A. Franks, “Stand Waite,” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society.  Retrieved 7/4/2019, https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=WA040 “Stand Waite (1806-1871),” CivilWarHome.com.  Retrieved 7/4/2019, https://civilwarhome.com/watiebio.htm
Photo:  Author unknown.  Date prior to 1871.  Public Domain in U.S.:  Pre 1/1/1925.  Public Domain elsewhere where copyright term is author’s life plus 70 years or less.