Looking for people that do native portrayals

[Dullknife]

Hello,

I am interested in furthering a portrayal of a native (aka Indian) involved with the conflict. Thought it might be cool to portray someone who was a member if a homeguard unit out west. I have some information to draw from. My problem is no one here in Massachusetts does such a portrayal and I am not sure they would "get it".

Anyone here do an impression of a CSA or Union allied native?

Thank you,
John

 

[captaindrew]

Hello,

I am interested in furthering a portrayal of a native (aka Indian) involved with the conflict. Thought it might be cool to portray someone who was a member if a homeguard unit out west. I have some information to draw from. My problem is no one here in Massachusetts does such a portrayal and I am not sure they would "get it".

Anyone here do an impression of a CSA or Union allied native?

Thank you,
John

I don't myself but several guys in my group also do Seminole War reenactments down here in Florida. I do some events up your way in the summer, I have family in NH. I haven't heard of too much of Native American impressions up your way other than some French and Indian War stuff. I could ask some of the guys up there and see what they have to say.

 

[ErnieMac]

I'm from Pittsburgh area. The Native American impressions I've seen relate to French and Indian and American Revolution periods.

 

[Old Breck]

Look at the image in your avatar. It's a Native soldier in a standard Federal cavalry uniform. I think that would be typical of a Native American during the Civil War; not much different from any other Federal soldier. They were Federal soldiers and would have been issued clothing and equipment the same as any other soldier in US service. I doubt very much that the Federal Government would issue anything different to soldiers, be they white, USCT or Native.

The same can be said of the Cherokee that served with the Confederacy. "Thomas's Legion of Cherokee Indians and Highlanders" was in reality the 69th North Carolina Infantry. When they served with Jubal Early in the valley, they would have been issued the same clothing and equipment that Early's other troops would have received from Richmond.

Even Waitie's troops way out west were still considered regular soldiers of the Confederate Army and they would have made the same effort to clothe and equip them in some uniformity. A lot of those troops were mixed race and probably viewed themselves the same as white Confederates.

Does Ely Parker look at all out of place with the other members of Grant's staff?

I think the images we see of Native Americans clad in traditional garb with bits and pieces of military gear and clothing is a romanticized idea and in reality, Native Soldiers in the war wouldn't stand out at all.

 

[Dullknife]

There is an account by Wiley Briton that deals with the Indian Brigade out west. He mentions the use of war paint. I also think war whooping. Then there are a count of allied natives with the Texans. When they show up supposedly they came in a variety of dress and even some with bows.

Didn't John Drew's Cherokees use bows and war paint at some point? Didnt Watie continue that?

Trying to learn what I can.

Thank you,

John

 

[Ragged Old First]

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/civil-war-surgeons.75324/

Walter Thompson Adair (b. 1834) was a part Cherokee, Confederate surgeon to the 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles

 

[johan_steele]

I've read of Ojibwa Warriors in the 4th MN personalizing their uniforms at Vicksburg which upon further investigation had them wearing breach clothes while working the trenches. I've read of scalp taking. And Indian War whoops were not strictly the purview of Native Americans. Both the 4th & 5th MN were known to let go with Indian war whoops instead of the traditional 'Huzzah' which was rather unnerving to Regiments around them, regardless of the side. The 5th had real experience fighting the Dakota during the Dakota Uprising/War. The 4th had numbers of Ojibwa and at least one Dakota in the ranks.

Unfortunately, wearing blatant Native garb at a re-enactment will likely get someone branded as farbtastic. I tell all who are just getting into the hobby that less is more. Keep it simple and be ready to be challenged by those more experienced if they feel there is an issue with an impression. Hollywood has had too much of an impact on the hobby.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Stand Waite and Ely S. Parker were high-ranking Native American Indians.

 

[Old Breck]

This is Co. K of the 1st Michigan. They were made up of Anishnaabe, including the officers. They were heavily engaged at Petersburg

You can see the are wearing standard Federal uniforms

 

[Dullknife]

Has anyone read what Don Troiani has written? I want to check his sources but what he says here about the Cherokees is interesting....https://books.google.com/books?id=I...epage&q=don troiani mounted cherokees&f=false

 

[johan_steele]

Has anyone read what Don Troiani has written? I want to check his sources but what he says here about the Cherokees is interesting....https://books.google.com/books?id=IAY3DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=don+troiani+mounted+cherokees&source=bl&ots=J4RR9yNK8H&sig=ACfU3U0hF1nyLY_re7_ZM2gSmWEgtHKZlQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQoeHnrLXhAhUGpIMKHf-3ABQQ6AEwEHoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=don troiani mounted cherokees&f=false

Mr Troiani's research is impeccable. He doesn't include it in his paintings unless he's handled an original or seen a good enough picture or CDV to replicate.

 

[Tailor Pete]

Rufus Everett Owen of Company F, 16th Tennessee Infantry wrote just before Stones River (Murfreesboro) about the NC troops camped nearby. Here, he talks about the Cherokee members of the regiment (which I believe MAY have been the 39th NC.)

"The North Carolina boys are a well tended lot, needing nothing as they have everything a soldier could need. Everything about them is soldierly and as uniform as it gets in this army except for the Cherokee Indeins. They are equiped like the rest of there troops, but some have added feathers to their caps and hats and beeds to there haversacks. All of them to a man carrys a large knife and a few wear indein shoes insted of army shoes. Some of them is as white as me and others look dark as a slave and all colors between but in the ranks when they drill they carry on as a full soldier."

This gives us some interesting mid-war insight lending some credibility to a bit of cultural individuality even among seasoned and well supplied troops. As for beads on their haversacks, I don't for one minute envision the Indian Wars 'seed beads' so common on the Plains, but probably simple dangles of glass, wood, and bone beads sent to them from home. Nothing in this brief narrative indicates 'war paint' or any other such loud individuality, but men who were proud of their heritage and had a desire to make sure it was recognized among their fellow soldiers.

 

[Dullknife]

Cool.

--John

 

[Dullknife]

This fella's account is it easily available?

 

[Tailor Pete]

This fella's account is it easily available?

The original letters are in possession of a descendant of Owen. Some years back, a friend of mine from LSU was involved in research of the 16th TN and he transcribed the letters as part of his dissertation. He never got rights to publish, but to share portions of these letters with others. He knew I was working on AOT North Carolina units, so he shared pertainanent info with me, and I have shared highlights here at CWT.

Most of the letters are pretty mundane, but your post jogged my memory as to Native participation in the CS army, so I felt impelled to share. This quote came from an undated letter that we are certain shortly predates Stones River.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Look at the image in your avatar. It's a Native soldier in a standard Federal cavalry uniform. I think that would be typical of a Native American during the Civil War; not much different from any other Federal soldier. They were Federal soldiers and would have been issued clothing and equipment the same as any other soldier in US service. I doubt very much that the Federal Government would issue anything different to soldiers, be they white, USCT or Native.

The same can be said of the Cherokee that served with the Confederacy. "Thomas's Legion of Cherokee Indians and Highlanders" was in reality the 69th North Carolina Infantry. When they served with Jubal Early in the valley, they would have been issued the same clothing and equipment that Early's other troops would have received from Richmond.

Even Waitie's troops way out west were still considered regular soldiers of the Confederate Army and they would have made the same effort to clothe and equip them in some uniformity. A lot of those troops were mixed race and probably viewed themselves the same as white Confederates.

Does Ely Parker look at all out of place with the other members of Grant's staff?

I think the images we see of Native Americans clad in traditional garb with bits and pieces of military gear and clothing is a romanticized idea and in reality, Native Soldiers in the war wouldn't stand out at all.

Andrew Jackson "Horse" Dyson 5th NC Senior Reserves & Home-Guard. Andrew's father was Eastern Cherokee. Andrew was married to a 4 x 1st cousin of mine. He had two younger cousins (also half-Cherokee), in the 39th NC.

His wife Amelia & son

 

[major bill]

I am not sure all events would accept this unless the person doing so was themself a Native American. Non Native Americans dressing up like Native Americans and pretending to be a Native American, is viewed as insulting.

 

[Tailor Pete]

I am not sure all events would accept this unless the person doing so was themself a Native American. Non Native Americans dressing up like Native Americans and pretending to be a Native American, is viewed as insulting.

We are starting a Company of the 39th in AZ, and our preliminary regulations restrict the use of Native American regalia to a case by case review for that very reason. We don't see it as a problem moving forward.

 

[Dullknife]

I am not sure all events would accept this unless the person doing so was themself a Native American. Non Native Americans dressing up like Native Americans and pretending to be a Native American, is viewed as insulting.

You are making a pretty broad statement; assuming native folks or all white folks think alike on issues is kinda insulting, eh?

 

[Dullknife]

In my opinion "Native American" is a bs white liberal guilt term anyway. (Not saying you are that but just pointing out where it came from)