Stand Watie - Definition and Overview

Stand Watie (12 December 1806-9 September 1871) was a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He commanded the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole cavalry.

He was born near Rome, GA. He was the brother of Buck Watie (Elias Boudinot), nephew of Major Ridge, cousin to John Ridge and part of the Ridge Party that signed the Treaty of New Echota without the consent of the majority leaders of the tribe. Of the names mentioned above, only Stand Watie managed to escape assasination after removal by Cherokee who were angry at the selling of their land without consent.

Watie was the only Native American on either side to rise to a Brigadier General's rank during the war. Although he fought Federal troops, he also used his troops in fighting between factions of the Cherokee. At Fort Towson in Oklahoma Territory on June 23, 1865 Watie surrended the last significant rebel army, becoming the last Confederate general in the field to surrender.

He is buried in Polson Cemetery in Oklahoma, near southwest Missouri.

External links

• Biography at civilwarhome.com (http://www.civilwarhome.com/watiebio.htm)