Pike,Albert CSA

.Ol'WarHorse

Cadet
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Location
Ohio
Albert Pike-Brigadier General, Freemason CSA

Like some Confederate generals before him, Pike was once a loyal Northerner. Pike, the son of Ben Pike and Sarah Andrews Pike, was born in the town of Boston on December 29th 1809. Pike would attend school in nearby Newburyport until he was of the age of 15. Later on, Pike would be accepted to Harvard University, an elite Ivy League school in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

After his schooling was finished, Pike would travel out west to Missouri. He would then take an excursion to New Mexico. On the way to New Mexico, Pike’s horse was able to run away, forcing Pike to walk the remaining distance to Taos, New Mexico. On the way, Pike had to learn how to trap and hunt, which he did with efficiency. After spending some time in New Mexico, Pike would settle down in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1833, where he would become a school teacher as well as a journalist, writing articles for Arkansas Advocate under the pen name “Casca.” His writings were so successful for the Advocate, that in 1835, Pike would own the Newspaper. In 1837, Pike decided to study law.

During the Mexican American War, Pike became a Calvary officer. Pike would also fight at the Battle of Buena Vista. After the war, Pike would continue to study law, although this time, he was in New Orleans, Louisiana. Pike would return to Arkansas in 1857. By this time, Pike had been renown as a flawless lawyer, and was a part of the Whig Party. After the dissolving of the Whig party, Pike would join the Know Nothing Party, and would also become an advocate for slavery. Pike would be against the secession of the South, but when the war began, Pike would take the side of the Confederacy. On November 22nd, 1861, Pike would become a Brigadier General for the Confederates. Alongside, Ben McCollough, Pike was put in charge of the Indian Territory, where he raised three regiments of Cherokee Cavalry. Pike’s Indian Cavalry would fight at the Battle of Pea Ridge. Although initially successful in the battle, Pike’s cavalry was defeated in a counterattack by the Union army. After the battle of Pea Ridge, Pike would be arrested on the account of his soldiers scalping Union soldiers on the field of battle. This claim was made by Major General Thomas C. Hindman. Hindman also charged him with mishandling money and material. Pike however, was able to escape to the hills of Arkansas. Pike would resign his commission on July 12th. This however, did not stop Hindman from arresting Pike on November 3rd for Insubordination and Treason to the Confederacy. This charge, however, was short lived, as Pike was allowed to return to Arkansas on November 11th.

Pike is revered in Freemasonry. He originally joined as an interim to the Masonic Lodge. He would become extremely active in Masonic dealings, which would lead to his election as Grand Commander, the highest position in Freemasonry. As Grand Commander, Pike would publish the book Morals and Dogmas of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in 1871. Pike would keep the position of Grand Commander until his death in 1891, in the Country’s capitol of Washington D.C. Pike is still looked at today as an eminent in the Freemason world.
 
Pikes Cherokee and Choctaw troops didn't so much fail to stop a counter attack as scatter when they came under Union Artillery Fire. They were a non-factor for the rest of the battle after that.

The scalping as been alluded to in several period newspapers and correspondence but never been proven.

Pike also commanded the Leetown road/ Morgans Woods sector of the battlefield after McCulloch and MacIntosh were killed and Hebert's column seperated and wounded. It has been opinioned that had Pike not stalled due to indescision the Battle of Pea Ridge would have gone another way. Who knows.
 
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