HISTORICAL NOTES:
There are many errors about this battalion in contemporary accounts.
The 1st Choctaw Battalion Cavalry was organized at Jackson, Mississippi, during the summer of 1862. It contained Choctaw Indians from the region south of Jackson. On June 9, 1863, it disbanded.
The 1st Choctaw Battalion was raised by John W. Pierce, a white planter from Copiah County, Mississippi. The battalion was headquartered at Newton Station, Mississippi where it mustered 101 Native American soldiers from the Choctaw tribe. The Indian soldiers were from the Mississippi counties of Jasper, Kemper, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, and Smith. The battalion served in John Adam's 4th district which consisted of Mississippi and East Louisiana. The 1st Choctaw Battalion served from February 17th of 1863 until May 9th of 1863. This battalion served exclusively in the Western Theater. The Trans-Mississippi Theater also had battalions called the 1st Choctaw Battalion from the Choctaw Nation; they are not to be confused with the 1st Choctaw Battalion in Mississippi.
All commissioned officers were white. Some of the officers were Major John W. Pierce, Captain Benjamin F. Duckworth, Captain Simon F. Williams, and Captain Nathan W. Slay. The battalion consisted of both infantry and cavalry. The battalion served in a scouting and tracking fashion.
After a train wreck occurred on the Southern Rail Road a few miles east of Newton Station, the battalion was ordered to rescue and recover victims. A month later, the battalion was ordered to Ponchatoula, Louisiana where they participated in the Battle of Ponchatoula. Another month passed and a skeleton crew was left to guard the Ponchatoula, Louisiana area. This skeleton crew included the 1st Choctaw Battalion which was diminished in size because of desertion.
In May of 1863, the battalion was ordered to disband on the recommendation of Generals John Adams and John C. Pemberton. The disbanded 1st Choctaw Battalion was caught off guard during a second Union raid on Ponchatoula but most soldiers barely escaped. Captured Indians were sent to New Orleans and later to New York City where they spent the summer of 1863. In the fall, the Choctaw Indian prisoners were sent back to New Orleans. It is believed none returned to Mississippi alive.
After a petition was sent to Richmond, Virginia in August of 1863, some former 1st Choctaw Battalion members were transferred to Spann's Independent Scouts which was headquartered in le, Alabama.
The 1st Choctaw Battalion muster rolls are believed to be lost; however, several Indian names who were apart of the John W. Pierce's battalion survive to this day.[3] Some names are Jack Amos, Elder Jackson, and Isaac Johnson. Most had Choctaw Indian names as well as their English names.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana
OFFICERS:
Major J. W. Pierce
BATTLES:
Skirmished within the boundaries of Mississippi.
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ROSTER
No roster has been found for this battalion.
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SOURCE:
Ferguson, Robert. "Southeastern Indians During The Civil War". The Backwoodsman. Vol. 39 no. 2 (Mar/Apr 2018 ed.). Bandera, Texas: Charlie Richie Sr. pp. 63–65.
"Interesting Roster". The Meridian Press. March 23, 1903.
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