Stand Watie was a Cherokee politician and general who served as the second principal chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1862 to 1866.
He was the only Native American Confederate general officer of the Civil War, and he commanded Indian forces in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. Watie was also the last Confederate States Army general to surrender.
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Watie was born in 1806 and raised in the Cherokee Nation. He was educated at a mission school and later became a successful businessman.
In 1835, Stand Watie signed the Treaty of New Echota, which ceded Cherokee land to the United States. This decision was unpopular with many Cherokees, and Watie was later targeted for assassination. He survived the attack, but his brother and uncle were killed.
Watie sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War. He led a cavalry brigade that fought in many battles, including the Battle of Pea Ridge. Watie was promoted to brigadier general in 1864. He was the last Confederate general to surrender, doing so on June 23, 1865.
After the war, Watie led a delegation of Cherokees to Washington, D.C., to sue for peace. The federal government refused to recognize the Cherokee Nation's division between Union and Confederate supporters. Watie retired from politics and died in 1871.
Watie was a complex and controversial figure. He was a successful businessman and a skilled military leader. However, he also made decisions that led to the deaths of many Cherokees. Watie's legacy is still debated today.
Read Article: Famous Civil War Generals
Family Overview
Stand Watie came from a Native American family and would become a plantation owner with slaves.
He had many siblings and would eventually have many wives.
Unfortunately, he was not lucky with children, as many of them died young and did not have any other children.
He was married four times, with some marriages being short, which suggests that he was not the best husband. His final marriage lasted the longest and until his death.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Oowatie Watie (1773 - 1842) - He was a full-blooded Cherokee whose family was displaced by the Revolutionary War in 1776. He and his wife would have 11 children.
Susannah Charity Reese (1775 - 1832) - She was half-Cherokee and half-welsh who grew up in Indian territory. She married a full-blooded Cherokee and had 11 children.
Spouses
Elizabeth Fields (1814 - 1835) - She was briefly married to Stand, and the two had no children. She died in 1835 when she was in her 20s.
Isabel Miller (1813 - 1858) - She was the second wife of Stand and was married in less than a year.
Eleanor Looney (1816 - 1896?) - She and Stand married and had a daughter. The couple did not last long, and the two divorced.
Sarah Caroline Bell (1820 - 1882) - The last wife of Stand and the two would have five children, and none would have any children of their own.
Children:
Susannah Watie (1834 - 1861) - She married and died without any children. She was the daughter of Stand's third wife.
Saladin Watie (Unknown) - Born in Indian Territory, his birthdate is unknown, as is his death date. There is no record of children.
Solon Watie (unknown) - He was born in Indian Territory like his other siblings. Like his brother, there is no record of marriage or children.
Cumiska Watie (unknown) - There is not much known about him.
Minnie Watie (unknown) - She died after her father. She did not have any children.
Jacqueline Watie (unknown) - She died after her father. She did not have any children.
Siblings:
Dawnee Watie (1800 - 1812) - The child only lived to 12 years of age.
Kilakeena "Buck" Watie (1802 - 1839) - Married but, like their other siblings, did not live long.
Peggie "Wakie" Watie (1806 - ?) - Died young.
Nancy Watie (1808 - 1852) - married John Foster Wheeler (7/10/1808 - 3/10/1880) and Died at Fort Smith, AR.
Unnamed daughter (1810-1816):
Thomas Black Watie (1812 -1845) - He was murdered near Van Buren, Arkansas.
Mary Ann Watie (1814 - 1844) - She married and was around 30 years of age.
John Alexander Watie (1818 - 1852) - He married and possibly had children. Died in 1852 in Indian Territory.
Elizabeth Watie (1821 - 1860) - married twice and died in 1860. Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory.
Charles Edwin Watie (1829 - 1877) - Buried at Polson Cemetery, Delaware, OK.