Stand Watie

Stand Watie was a Cherokee leader and the only Native American senior officer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He played a significant role in supporting the Confederacy’s cause, reflecting divisions within the Cherokee Nation over the war. Watie was also known for being a diplomat and trader before the war. After the conflict, he remained active in Cherokee politics and was the last Confederate general to surrender. His life highlights the complex choices and allegiances faced by Native American tribes during the Civil War period.