Between hard marches, privation of food and bed and the pall of death, a soldier’s life had hours of boredom. After “seeing the elephant”, Ephraim McDowell Anderson had lost the romance of war, but romance was not dead. His account of a soldier on leave revealed “not easily forgotten amid the scenes of war” in his memoir of Missouri Confederates in the Civil War[i].
Following the battle of Pea Ridge, Anderson’s troops encamped at Van Buren, Arkansas. This battle had the largest contingency of Native American soldiers fighting for the Confederacy in the war. Joining the watershed battle were, perhaps, one thousand Cherokee troops[ii]. It may have been here that the Confederate soldier of Anderson’s story befriended an “old Indian hunter” with an offer of lodging and hunting at his home on the Arkansas River. On leave, the soldier was some distance into Cherokee territory by eight or nine in the morning, when he altered his course and gave chase to a very large buck. He followed his prey into a cane brake…
“Suddenly the blast of a horn broke upon his ear…immediately in view came a pack of dogs, followed at a short distance by two well-mounted equestrians, and not far behind appeared a couple of negro boys, about fourteen or fifteen years of age, each bestriding a strong, active pony, and one of them carried a short, fine rifle.”
“The rider, whose countenance and figure at once attracted and fascinated the beholder, was a young girl in the very bloom of maiden loveliness: she was foremost in the chase; the first glance surprised and bewildered, to be succeeded by a second of wonder and admiration: the features were faultless, her eye dark and sparkling with animation and excitement: her complexion was a clear, pure brunette; the rich coloring of her cheek and very black hair were strikingly beautiful. She wore a riding hat in the fashion of the times, a tight-fitting bodice, and her dress short; a pair of exquisitely ornamented leggings and moccasins, with handsome gloves, completed her costume. In the midst of these wilds, the sudden and singular appearance…of this youthful Diana, struck the young soldier with a strange and irresistible fascination. “
“The other rider was a young man apparently of twenty… a brother of the fair girl: he had a handsome rifle[.]”
[The soldier addressed the rider.]
“’What game do you pursue?’
‘A bear—the dogs will soon bring him to bay.’
‘I am out from camp seeking adventures—will you permit me to join the chase?’
‘Certainly—forward!’ No obstacle seemed to diminish the speed at which they rode[.] The soldier beheld with increasing interest and astonishment the wonderful address and dashing movement of the fearless huntress.”
“In about a half mile they came to an opening in the cane and forest; and here a quarter of an acre, perhaps more, was free from any growth, except a large tree standing near the middle: in this space the dogs surrounded a bear, and sometimes adroitly attacked, but for the most part kept at a respectful distance; and here the young negro handed the huntress the rifle he bore.
The first shot was courteously allowed the soldier, who advanced to the tree and discharged his rifle with deliberate aim: the bear immediately dashed towards the tree where his foe was stationed; the quick spring of the horse and the report of another gun were simultaneous, and the huge animal, arrested in his attack, fell dead upon the ground. The first shot had taken effect a little too far back—the second went through the brain.”
“The youthful hunter courteously invited his new acquaintance to return with them, and the young girl, addressing the soldier, observed, ‘As you are out in quest of adventures, you perhaps will take our castle in your route, whose enchanted halls are always open to welcome wandering knights.’ The invitation was promptly accepted; curiosity, wonder and admiration, equally combined to urge and induce a more intimate acquaintance with this bright and charming vision.”
“After a brisk gallop of four or five miles, they drew up before an irregular building, which seemed large and spacious, and was sheltered by a growth of the native forest. Leaving their horses at the yard fence, they passed under a portico to the front door, and through into the hall, upon whose walls were suspended many trophies of the chase; the way was led into a handsomely furnished apartment, among the ornaments of which were an elegant piano and guitar.”
“The youthful huntress, excusing herself, was absent some little time, when, returning, she appeared in a handsome dress of the usual fashion, and the jewelry she wore was of a rich and antique style. They had scarcely talked over the adventures of the day, when dinner was announced: the meal was excellent, the service unexceptionable, and no one was present but the hunting party.”
“The soldier forgot the old hunter he had started to visit, and, being courteously asked to remain for the night, willingly assented. In the course of the evening he learned that the young girl’s father was dead, and she and her brother the only children; the mother was an invalid, and left her to pursue her passion for the chase; the remonstrances frequently interposed at first, had gradually settled into a silent, through reluctant, acquiescence. In her appearance could be traced the blood of the ancient Indian chiefs from whom she was descended.”
“The moments passed by the young soldier in these wilds, went swiftly by. With the hope that he might some day see their queen and beauty again, at an early hour the next morning he left, and towards sunset drew rein at camp, where the note of preparation gave admonition that the army was about to move.”
This non-martial account of the war has not been researched to this author’s knowledge. Even in Anderson’s old age, he stated passages of this type as “boyish”; however, as a social history of this time, it is quite interesting. With facts from the Murrell Home historical site staff, the last standing antebellum plantation in Oklahoma, a compelling theory has emerged.
A strong candidate for the huntress may have been Jennie Pocahontas Ross. She lived and was educated at the Murrell home with her brother, Joshua[iii]. Ross was a niece of John Ross, the principal Cherokee chief and a cousin to Minerva Ross Murrell, wife of George M. Murrell who was a wealthy white planter, merchant and fox hunter. Jennie and Joshua would both have been in their twenties during the war and their father, Andrew Ross, was dead.[iv]
At this time, bear would have been quite rare as they were a great sport animal of the local tribes. An alternative name of the Murrell home was “Hunter’s Home.” The house contained many hunting trophies, hunting dogs, and a piano from the time period, rare but consistent with the story. [v]
The Confederate soldier had a “good” riding horse. This would put his range within approximately 100 miles at most[vi]. Current competitive racing horses can travel overland and mountains at this distance in one day’s travel. The soldier had to travel all day in the spring/summer to return from the huntress’s home to camp, sun up to sun down. This amounts to ten to twelve hours of light. The Murrell home is within range at approximately 62 miles from Van Buren.
Regardless of the identity of the huntress, Anderson not only illuminated a soldiers’ campfire entertainment, but opened a glimpse of the Native American’s Confederate views and plantation lifestyle. The deposed Cherokee, as slave owner and plantation magnate with the history of the Trail of Tears remains a strange dichotomy. Approximately, 1% of the tribe owned slaves[vii]. Embittered feelings between the Cherokee factions emanating from the Indian Removal and hostility toward the Federal government were clearly driving factors of Native Americans to fight for the Confederacy. A fight not easily put down. The last Confederate General to surrender was Stand Watie, a Native American of the western theater.
[i] Ephraim McDowell Anderson, Memoirs: Historical and Personal; Including the Campaigns of the First Missouri Confederate Brigade. (St. Louis: Times Printing Company, 1868) [Second Edition—Notes and Foreword by Edwin C. Bearss, Index by Margie Riddle Bearss (Dayton: Morningside Bookshop, 1972)]
[ii] National Park Service, BRIGADIER GENERAL ALBERT PIKE: Commander, Pike’s Indian Brigade, http://www.nps.gov/peri/historyculture/general-pike.htm (July 12, 2012). Note: This important western battle at Pea Ridge had two unique outcomes as both the largest number of Native American troops in any Civil War battle and a decisive victory for Missouri to remain in Federal hands.
[iii] Oklahoma History Center, Murrell Home History: The Murrells & Hunter’s Home, http://www.okhistory.org/sites/mhhistory?full (July 12, 2012).
[iv] Find a Grave, Andrew Tlo-s-ta-ma Ross, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42070738 (July 12, 2012). Note: According the Murrell Home, other possible candidates were from the Webbers Falls area. A map from the time shows a concentration of slaves in this area. After the Slave Revolt of 1842, large plantation slave labor was dispersed to other spread out work, like steamboats, construction, etc. Stand Watie was a Native American General for the Confederacy with the distinction of being the last Confederate general to lay down arms. His extended family and neighbors, such as the Vann Family would be likely candidates for the huntress, also.
[v] David Fowler, director of the Murrell Home, phone interview with author, June 6, 2012.
[vi] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endurance_riding
[vii] David Fowler.