Jayhawkers and Bushwhackers, part 2

One of the most unknown aspects of the Civil War is the participation of American Indians as soldiers in the Union & Confederate armies. In recent years a number of books have been published about the Confederate Indian soldiers, but very little has been written about the Union Indian soldiers who are the "Forgotten Warriors" of the Civil War. The largest concentration of American Indians to serve in the Union Army were loyal refugees who escaped from the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma) and found a sanctuary in the Neosho River Valley in eastern Kansas. Between 1862 and 1865 approximately 3,000 Indians served in the Kansas 1st, 2nd & 3rd Regiments of Indian Home Guards. Future columns will focus on the participation of these Indian Regiments throughout the war. However, this column is the conclusion of "Missouri Rebels" by Pvt. Hugh L. Thompson of Companies C & H, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry who, as a young civilian witnessed & describes the participation of the 2nd Indian Home Guards in the Battle of Newtonia, Missouri on September 20, 1862. Sometime after this battle Thompson found his way to Fort Scott, Kansas and enlisted in Co. C of the 3rd Wis. Cav. served throughout the balance of the Civil War, was discharged on March 23, 1865 and returned to his home in Carl Junction, Mo.

"The rebels were re-enforced from the south, and our army commenced concentrating in the vicinity of Carthage, Mo., the 2nd Indian Regiment being removed to a point on Center Creek some six miles southwest of that point. After remaining some days the troops were again removed; this time to Sarcoxie, except the 2nd Indian, which stopped to head off the rebels under Cooper from going any farther north. The 2nd Indian moved on or about the 18th of September 1862, to a point called Shirley's Ford, on the Spring River, (where Georgia City is now) where they were attacked on the 20th by a part, at least, of Stand Watie's Regiment of Confederate Cherokees, Alexander's Texas Regiment and Coffee's Missouri Regiment, some 2,000 strong, all under the command of Stand Watie. Col. Ritchie had about 500 men able for duty and some Southern Loyalists, who had come to his camp for protection, with a refugee train to take care of. Corralling his train on the opposite side of the river and placing a small guard with it, he took the principle part of the force under his command and, forming his line along the edge of the timber, waited anxiously for the enemy. As the rebels came across the prairie the Union Indians opened fire with their muskets, maintained their line and finally driving them from the field, where they left a Major of the Texas regiment among the killed, and many wounded, with one stand of colors flags, to be added to the laurels of the loyal Indians. That night (Sept. 20, 1862) was long remembered by the Unionists in this country. Livingston's bushwhackers scattered out over the country, taking every Union man and boy prisoner; carrying them south or killing them. More than 50 were taken within a few miles of here. Many never saw home or friends again.

My brother, a cousin, and myself were together and finally got through to Union lines on foot after losing our horses. There had been a small lot of 12 soldiers of the 2nd Indian left at Baxter Springs with their women. They came to our houses on the 20th, and as none of them could speak English, my mother was afraid to bring them to us, because she knew there were rebel Indians in the country. After we got away, I learned that they were all killed. An old gentlemen named Hewelt who lived about 10 miles from here on the edge of Newton County, was taken out and no one except those concerned know where his body lies.

Livingston, with his band made a raid into Kansas some 12 miles from Fort Scott and captured the Rev. Wm. B. Stouthard, (who had fled from this country), one of the men who had voted for Lincoln in 1860 and Solomon Schouse, of Newton County and they to lay in unknown graves if buried at all. The only crime these men were guilty of was loyalty to the Union of our fathers. No wonder the cry often went up: How Long O Lord will we have to bear this! Hugh L. Thompson, Cos. C & H, 3rd Wis. Cav., Carl Junction, Missouri."