Drew's Regiment, Cherokee Mounted Rifles
HISTORICAL NOTES:
At a mass meeting at Tahlequah 21 August 1861, the Cherokees decided to seek
alliance with the Confederate States, and also to raise a mounted regiment. Each of the nine districts of
the Cherokee Nation raised one company, except Tahlequah, which furnished three. By October 7, the
day the treaty between the Cherokee Nation and the Confederacy was signed, the regiment was almost
completed. At Fort Gibson, on November 5, 1861 the regiment was officially mustered in for a period of
twelve months, with 1214 men on the rolls.
Drew's regiment, composed mostly of full-blood Cherokees ('Pins') hostile to Stand Watie and his
followers, never identified with the Southern cause. During the pursuit of the Creek dissident
Opothleyahola in December 1861, officers and men refused to fight, deserted in large numbers, and
many even joined the enemy. A reorganization of the regiment was attempted, and about 500 of its men
fought at Pea Ridge the first day (March 7, 1862), where they scalped some Federal soldiers. A Union
invasion of the Cherokee Nation in July 1862 resulted in the mass surrender of most of Drew's men, and
their subsequent enlistment in the Federal 2nd and 3rd Indian Home Guard Regiments. A few officers
and men (notably Colonel Drew, Captains John Porum Davis, Pickens M Benge, Richard Fields, and
Lieutenant Charles Drew) remained loyal to the Confederacy and later served under Stand Watie.
Captain John Vann's company of Watie's 1st Regiment, later Co I of the 2nd Regiment (formed 1 Sep
62), was composed mostly of loyal Confederates from the ranks of Drew's late regiment.
OFFICERS:
COLONEL. John Drew.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL. William Potter Ross, later sutler for 3rd Indian Home Guards.
MAJOR. Thomas Pegg, later Capt, Co A, 2d Indian Home Guards.
REGIMENTAL STAFF
Adjutant: 1st Lt James S Vann, resigned 12 Dec 61
Assistant Quarter Master: Capt Israel G Vore, later AQM on Brig Gen D H Cooper's staff
Assistant Commissary of Subsistence: 1st Lt Frederick Augustus Kerr, dropped 2 Aug 62
Surgeon: Maj James P Evans, POW 7 Mar 62, Pea Ridge
Assistant Surgeon: Capt Joseph V Carden, resigned 7 Apr 62
Chaplain: Rev Lewis Downing, later Lt Col, 3rd Indian Home Guards
Companies and their Commanders
Company A. (Saline District) Jefferson D Hicks, KIA 27 Jul 62, Bayou Menard, n. Fort Gibson ?
Company B. (Tahlequah District) Nicholas B Sanders
Company C. (Canadian District) John Porum Davis, to 2nd Lt, Vann's Co, 1st Regt 1 Sep 62 (became Co I,
2nd Regt)
Company D. (Delaware District) Isaac N Hildebrand
Company E. (Flint District) James Vann, later Capt, Co A, 3rd Indian Home Guards.
Company F. (Illinois District) Richard Fields, POW 7 Mar 62, later served on the staff of the 1st Regt.
Company G. (Going-Snake District) George W Scraper, later Capt, Co H, 2d Indian Home Guards.
Company H. (Tahlequah District) Edward R Hicks
Company I. ( (Tahlequah District) Albert Pike
Company K. ( (Sequoyah District) Pickens M Benge, MW 24 Aug 62.
Reserve Company. (Cooweescoowee District) James McDaniel, later Capt, Co A, 2d Indian Home Guards.
ROSTERS:
SOURCES:
https://www.thepeoplespaths.net/history/CherConfed.htm
https://www.bjmjr.net/indian_territory/index.htm
