knowing Morgan's reputation for reckless
daring, he became alarmed at the possible result to them of such
leadership. Forced either to see them go from his own protection or
to lead them himself, he chose the latter alternative and proposed to
them to enlist in the Confederate legion which he was about to organize.
His object, as he himself has stated, was to keep them out of danger
so far as possible by utilizing them as scouts and home guards through
the mountains, away from the path of the large armies. Nothing of
this was said to the Indians, who might not have Keen satisfied with
such an arrangement. Morgan went back alone and the Cherokee
enrolled under the command of their white chief. '
The "Thomas Legion," recruited in 1862 by William H. Thomas for
the Confederate service andcommanded by him as colonel, consisted
originally of one infantry regiment of ten companies (Sixty-ninth
North Carolina Infantry), one infantry battalion of six companies, one
cavalry battalion of eight companies (First North Carolina Cavalry
Battalion), one field battery (Light Battery) of 103 officers and men.
and one company of engineers; in all about 2.800 men. The infantry
battalion was recruited toward the close of the war to a full regiment
of ten companies. Companies A and B of the Sixty ninth regiment
and two other companies of the infantry regiment recruited later
were composed almost entirely of East Cherokee Indians, most of the
commissioned officers being white men. The whole number of Chero-
kee thus enlisted was nearly four hundred, or about every able-bodied
man in the tribe. 8
In accordance with Thomas's plan the Indians were employed chiefly
as scouts and