The American Indian as Participant in the Civil War

This work focuses on the involvement of Native Americans in the Civil War, particularly their alliances and conflicts aligned with both the Union and Confederate forces. It provides an in-depth exploration of how various tribes engaged in the war, reflecting on the social and military dynamics of the time. At the start of the book, Abel outlines the precarious alliance between Native Americans and the Confederate forces, highlighting the Battle of Pea Ridge as a pivotal event. She describes how the Confederacy sought support from Indian tribes but faced instability in those alliances, particularly during military engagements. The opening chapters present a detailed analysis of the strategic movements of both Confederate and Union leaders, the mobilization of Indian troops, and the shortcomings and successes experienced by these Native American forces in the broader context of the Civil War. Abel emphasizes the complicated interplay of politics and military strategy, and the often-overlooked contributions of Indigenous peoples during this tumultuous period in American history.

Annie Heloise Abel (1873-1947) was a pioneering British-born American historian who became one of the earliest professional historians to study Native Americans. Renowned for her meticulous archival research, she was a groundbreaking figure for women in academia, being one of the first thirty women in the United States to earn a PhD in history.