Thomas' Legion
Thomas' Legion of Indians and Highlanders 69th North Carolina Infantry Regiment | |
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Active | September 27, 1862 – May 10, 1865 |
Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
Branch | Confederate States Army |
Type | Legion / Regiment |
Role | Combined arms formation / Infantry |
Size | 1,125 men (initial strength)[1] |
Engagements | American Civil War |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Col. William Holland Thomas |
Thomas' Legion, also known as Thomas' Legion of Cherokee Indians and Highlanders, Thomas' Legion of Indians and Highlanders, and the 69th North Carolina Regiment,
The regiment was unusual in several respects. Thomas, the only white chief of the Cherokee Indians,[3] recruited a sizable number of Cherokees. In addition, like a few other Civil War formations, it was a true legion, that is a combined arms unit, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery.
William Holland Thomas actively promoted the idea of having Cherokees fight for the Confederacy. In 1862, he organized 200 Cherokee Indians in North Carolina as the Junaluska Zouaves, named after Chief Junaluska; by April, he had raised the North Carolina Cherokee Battalion.[4] His petition to recruit additional Cherokees and whites was approved by Confederate authorities and he was authorized to raise a legion.[4]
It was officially organized on September 27, 1862, at
The unit was mainly assigned to defend the area. A portion of the Legion was sent to
The Legion was sent east to join General
Back in his home state, Thomas brought the unit's strength up to 1200 men, including 400 Cherokees, by April 1, 1865.[4] Eight days later, however, Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Ulysses S. Grant. Thomas and his Legion surrendered to Union forces at Waynesville, North Carolina, on May 10.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "Thomas' North Carolina Legion". NPS Soldiers and Sailors System. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "69th North Carolina Infantry Thomas' Legion". Excerpt of Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861–65. (Volume 3) (1901), Walter Clark (ed.), posted by the Jackson County Genealogical Society. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
- ^ "Will Thomas". Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation (cherokee-nc.com). Retrieved February 10, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Timothy N. Osment (2008). "Thomas Legion". Digital Heritage.org (relinked: learnnc.org). Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Thomas' Legion : The 69th North Carolina Regiment". thomaslegioncherokee.tripod.com. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
- ^ a b "Thomas' Legion". stoppingpoints.com. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
Bibliography
- Volume XVI of North Carolina Troops 1861–1865 A Roster: Thomas's Legion (2008), Matthew M. Brown and Michael W. Coffey (editors).