An unknown Indian woman wearing a union frock coat
ARMED INDIAN CONFLICT IN eastern Tennessee
I'm an avid Genealogist, and I have been digging up my ancestry for well over 35 years. I'm so pleased to have so many historic records now being published online. And thanks to social media, and Ancestry.com. I've been able to make many more connections. While researching my ancestors, I located an ancestor, a Gr, Gr grand parent by the name of John Lewis Hoover, who served in the 14th Illinois Cavalry in the eastern theater during the civil war.
14th Illinois Cavalry
The units extensive history, told the story of the units pursuit and engagement with "Thomas Legion" of whites and Cherokee Indians. Thomas Legion was running operations in Eastern Tennesse. Thomas' Legion, also known as Thomas' Legion of Cherokee Indians and Highlanders, was a unit of the Confederate Army in the American Civil War. The formation was organized in 1862 by William Holland Thomas and fought in the last skirmish of the war in North Carolina before surrendering in May 1865.
Synopsys
"The regiment was unusual in several respects. Thomas, the only white chief of the Cherokee Indians, 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. The Thomas Legion was organized under the command of Colonel William Holland Thomas. Thomas was Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the only man of European descent to become a chief of the Cherokee. The Legion was a true combined arms organization. It included an infantry regiment of ten companies of infantry under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James R. Love II, of which Companies A & B were all Cherokee. Lieutenant Colonel William C. Walker commanded a cavalry battalion from Cherokee County, and a Cherokee Battalion was made up entirely of Cherokee. An artillery battery was added in April of 1863.The Legion was assigned to the Department of East Tennessee, intended for local defense.
On December 24, 1863, the 14th Illinois Cavalry was consolidated under General Sturgis. At Dandridge Tennesse, a severe battle was fought. January 30, 1864, the Fourteenth alone, out of a large number of regiments in the Corps, was designated to fight "Thomas' Legion" of whites and Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. February 2, with the brass pieces, after following a mountainous old Indian trail, it surprised the Legion, killing and capturing the greater part. General Grant in a special dispatch highly complimented the Regiment for this work. May 27, at Cittico, Thomas having re-organized his command, attacked a portion of the Fourteenth guarding the mountain passes, but was handsomely repulsed.
References
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