Actually, the civil war was proceeding in and around Indian Territory as early as March, 1861. Confederate Colonel Stand Watie and his Cherokee troops had taken Fort Smith, held raids into Missouri, along with some Texans in the early spring.
A little here:
http://www.civilwaralbum.com/washita/OR.htm
I’m looking for some dates on this, just going from notes in a book about the Civil War in Indian Territory.
“Jesus Wept” An American Story
http://jesusweptanamericanstory.blogspot.com/
Watie was also the last to cease hostilities, June, 1865, months after Lee surrendered. Watie did not surrender, but agreed to cease hostilities. My grgrgrandfather wrote the agreement with the Union.
Your post it very timely, particularly since I was just searching for a FReeper by that name less than an hour ago, but I couldn't remember the correct spelling.
Interesting information. Thanks for posting!
Near as I can tell, Watie's official role in the Confederate Army began in July 1861.
"A portion of Watie's command saw action at Oak Hills (August 10, 1861) in a battle that assured the South's hold on Indian Territory and made Watie a Confederate military hero."
And here is a second version of events:
"After a majority of the Cherokee Nation voted to support the Confederacy in the American Civil War, Watie organized a regiment of cavalry.Battle of Pea Ridge, March 6-8, 1862:"In October 1861, he was commissioned as colonel in the 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles.
Although he fought Federal troops, he also led his men in fighting between factions of the Cherokee, as well as against the Creek, Seminole and others in Indian Territory who chose to support the Union."Watie is noted for his role in the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, on March 68, 1862.
Watie's troops captured Union artillery positions and covered the retreat of Confederate forces from the battlefield after the Union took control."
So my point here still stands: no Southern soldier was killed by any Union force before the Confederacy started and formally declared war on the United States, on May 6, 1861.
And the simple reason that's true is because President Lincoln on his first day in office had ordered that there could not be war unless the secessionists started it.