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“Third Indian Home Guard” living history program

March 29, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

|Recurring Event (See all)

One event on February 8, 2025 at 10 a.m.

One event on February 15, 2025 at 10 a.m.

One event on March 8, 2025 at 10 a.m.

One event on March 15, 2025 at 10 a.m.

One event on March 22, 2025 at 10 a.m.

One event on March 29, 2025 at 10 a.m.

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The Fort Gibson Historic Site’s February and March living history programs on Saturdays in February and March will be centered on the Union Third Indian Home Guard, and how they performed daily maintenance on their firearms, uniforms, and other equipment.
The Third Indian Home Guard were mostly recruited from pro-Union Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole tribal members who joined the Union army from refugee camps in Kansas. When the Civil War began, Indian Territory quickly fell under Confederate control, forcing Pro-Union Indians to flee to Kansas to escape reprisals from their Pro-Confederate neighbors. The Union army eventually organized a successful “Indian Expedition” in 1863 with the goal to retake Indian Territory from Confederate control and restore Pro-Union tribal members to their homes.
While the Third Indian Home guard did participate in many well documented battles and skirmishes within Indian Territory, they also spent far more time living their daily lives as soldiers. Soldiers serving in both sides of the conflict spent months awaiting orders, marching, and performing mundane but important daily chores of maintaining their weapons and equipment, in anticipation of just minutes of combat.  The Third Indian Home Guard also had the added responsibility of caring for their own refugee families once they returned to Indian territory.

The program includes paid admission to the site. For more information, please call 918-478-4088. The Fort Gibson Historic Site is located at 803 N. Garrison Ave. in Fort Gibson.

Visit The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture to read more about the history of the Indian Home Guard.

The 3rd Indian Home guard were equipped as standard Union infantry during the war.  They received the 1860 Union blue sack coat wool uniform, black leather cartridge boxes and belts, and all the other equipment normally issued to regular Union Infantry.  However they did also receive two pieces of gear that made them unique: their rifles and hats.  The hats issued to the 3rd Indian Homeguard were Hardee hats, instead of the usual kepi cap for regular Union infantry.  They also received a unique rifle, the model 1841 rifle or “Mississippi rifle,” previously used by the US military during the Mexican war.  These rifles were stored in large numbers at Fort Leavenworth Kansas, and were the most convenient option to arm the 3rd Indian Homeguard when they were first formed as a regiment.

 

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Details

Date:
March 29
Time:
10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Event Category:

Location

Fort Gibson Historic Site
803 North Garrison Avenue Fort Gibson, OK 74434
918-478-4088
www.okhistory.org/fortgibson

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