The Civil War and Reconstruction in Indian Territory ed. by Bradley R. Clampitt (review)

The American Civil War, though fought more than 150 years ago, remains one of the most vivid conflicts in American history. While scholarship abounds on all aspects of the war and how and why it was fought, much of that scholarship focuses primarily on operations by the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac. While this attention is understandable, since much of the fate of both the Union and Confederacy involved hinged largely on the engagements fought by those armies, it does not tell the full story. In recent years, however, focus has shifted to include the study of border states as well as the far western Confederacy, including Texas, but the subject of American Indians is hardly, if ever, included in any narrative. In this respect, Bradley R. Clampitt’s The Civil War and Reconstruction in Indian Territory presents an intriguing and refreshing look into what he refers to as “a series of ‘wars within a war’” (2). Each of the eight essays presented here covers a variety of aspects of the war itself as well as post-war reconstruction, and all of them highlight a tumultuous experience not unlike those of better-known border states such as Kansas and Missouri.

Richard McCaslin opens with an essay on military operations across what would become the state of Oklahoma, providing an excellent resource for military historians with details on troops, tactics, and the rapid shift in Confederate fortunes there. Immediately following is an essay highlighting the tragedies experienced by those on the home front, both from soldiers of either side, as well as thieves and raiders. The next two essays trace tensions (old and new) among the tribes of the Five Nations, both during and after the war, and the experiences of the Wichita Agency tribes, with specific attention paid in both pieces to difficulties obtaining support and protection from both Union and Confederate forces throughout the war.

Continuing the theme of tensions and factionalism within the tribes, the next two essays discuss the post-war reconstruction process, and the complicated issue of the integration of freed slaves into tribal society. Particular attention is paid to the latter subject in Linda Reese’s essay on the complicated relationship between the freedmen and Native Americans, both during and after the war. The final essays discuss heartrending memories of the Civil War in Indian Territory among women from the Cherokee and Creek tribes, and the public commemoration of the Civil War in Oklahoma.

In a field of study largely dominated by discussions of battles, military tactics and political issues, Clampitt’s anthology represents a significant contribution to the larger narrative of the Civil War. Though often considered overlooked, as Oklahoma was not yet a state during the conflict, scholars can learn much from the material discussed in this volume.