A "Rebellious District and Dangerous Locality": Cherokee Soldiers and Refugees in Neosho, Missouri, 1862-1863.

The article focuses on the experiences of Cherokee soldiers and refugees in Neosho, Missouri, during 1862–1863 amid the Civil War. It details how, despite Missouri laws prohibiting Native Americans' presence, over 2,250 Cherokee refugees—mostly women, children, and elderly—were escorted by Union soldiers to Neosho for temporary shelter after fleeing violence in the Indian Territory and Kansas. The text explores the complex allegiances within the Cherokee Nation, divided between Union loyalists and Confederate supporters, and highlights the inadequate federal protection and mismanagement by the Office of Indian Affairs and the military, which exacerbated refugee suffering. It also describes the military campaigns involving Indigenous regiments, the harsh conditions faced by refugees in Neosho, and the eventual, difficult return of many Cherokees to their devastated homeland. The article concludes by noting the severe demographic and territorial losses suffered by the Cherokee Nation after the war, despite their significant support for the Union cause.