From the Cherokee Nation: Proclamation of Chief John Ross – Object #5

The Alliance of the Cherokee Indians with the Confederate States.
The Following letter from John Ross, Principal Chief of the Cherokee nation, is published in the Northern papers. This settles the question as to the alliance of that nation with the Confederates:
Executive Department, Park Hill, C.N., July 8, 1862.
To Col. Wm. Weer, U.S.A., Commanding.
Sir: Your communication of yesterday, dated from headquarters, Indian Expedition, camp on Wolff Creek, un der a flag of truce per Doc. Oilpatrick. has been duly raceived, and in reply, I have to state that a treaty of alliance, under the sanction and authority of ihe whole Cherokee people, was entered into on the 7th day ot October, 1861, between the Confederate States and the Cherokee nation, and published before the world. And you cannot but be too well informed on the subject to make it necessary for me to recapitulate the reasons and cir cumstances under which it was done. Thus the destiny of the people becamo identi6ed with that of the Southern Con federacy. There is no nation of Indians, I venture to say, that has ever been more scrupulous in the faithful observ ance of their treaty obligations than the Cherokees. Allow me to further appeal to the his tory of my long public and private life to sustain the assertion that my policy has ever been to preserve peace and good feelings among my people, and the observance of law and order. The horrors of civil war, with which this beautiful country is threatened, are greatly to be deprecated, and I trust that it may be averted by the observance of the strict principles of civilized and honorable warfare by the army now invading our country, under your command. 1 cannot, under existing circumstances, entertain the proposition for an official interview between us at your camp. I have, therefore, respectfully to decline to’comply with your request. I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient servant, JOHN ROSS, Principal Chief Cherokee Nation.