Wisdom of the Grandfathers

Most Cherokees did not have slaves and lived simple lives caring less about the white man's war, while some of the wealthy, mixed-blood minority favored the South. Therefore, when Federal soldiers withdrew in the summer of 1861 and the Confederate army occupied Indian Territory, the Cherokee Nation voted to secede from the United States. A formal treaty, between the Cherokees and the new Confederate government would cost the Cherokees dearly at war's end. Some three thousand Cherokees enlisted in the Confederate army and about a thousand fought for the United States. They fought in a few battles in Missouri and Arkansas. The Cherokee Nation lost more than one third of its population. No state, north or south, came close to this. In my research, I drew upon sources of the region around my home in Northwest Arkansas which is located on Little Sugar Creek. Camp Stephens was located at the turnoff of Sugar Creek Road and Highway 72. Our farm is located about five miles from the Pea Ridge Military Park and site of the actual battle. I am a Coker by blood and a distant cousin of Daniel Ratliff Jr., the grandson of Richard Ratliff and a great-grandson of Chief Pathkiller. The battle of Pea Ridge, fought March 6-8, 1862, is a seldom-publicized battle theater. However, it was one of the fiercest and decisive battles fought west of the Mississippi during the Civil War. Over 26,000 soldiers struggled for two days in Northwest Arkansas in the battle that would decide the fate of Missouri. But why was Missouri so important that so many men would risk their lives for it? Control of Missouri was the key to winning the war in the West. Military strategists, both North and South, were fully aware of this. Missouri provided an easy invasion route either north or south and controlled the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers. It had abundant natural resources, especially lead and iron ore, a large military-aged population and was the home of the Saint Louis Arsenal, with a stockpile of over 60,000 muskets. This book was written to make the reader aware of the reality of soldier's life in the Civil War by presenting some of the little details of a Cherokee soldier's typical experiences, as well as provide a little education about Brigadier General Stand Watie and his Cherokee Mounted Rifles. It was my hope to portray the Confederate soldiers in this book as human beings making the best of often horrendous circumstances. Most importantly, I wanted to remind myself and my readers about our priorities. We all get so caught up sometimes in day-to-day life, our jobs, earning money, paying bills and the like, that we forget sometimes how precious our family, our heritage, our culture and most of all our Savior are to us. From these pages emerges a portrait of a man being tested, developing skills of adaptation and endurance. Travis Coker was an unwitting participant, who evolved into a soldier and survived, and came away with a greater sense of himself and others, and a greater appreciation for the simple pleasures of life. As Travis learned these lessons, let us each take a moment to look at our own priorities. If just one person does so, then this book has succeeded. Wado, Kathy Lynn "Sonseeahray"