African-Cherokee American Civil War Veterans: Harry Buffington and Mary Dorcas (Darkie) Foreman Harlin Riley Buffington

I’ve been researching my Native American roots for almost 20 years. It has been an incredible journey of enlightenment. Now that I have several pieces, I will start putting the puzzle together.  When possible, I will refer to the primary source documents.  There may be variations in the spelling of names as well as the name used to refer to the individual.

The 3rd Indian Home Guards

According to Wikipedia: “The leaders of all of the Five Civilized Tribes signed treaties with the Confederacy at the start of the Civil War. Many of the tribal members, however, did not support the Confederacy, and, not being organized, were driven from Indian Territory with a large loss of life. Most fled to Kansas and Missouri. Many of the “Loyal” Indians volunteered for Union duty in order to get control back from the Confederate generals. The Indian Home Guard regiments fought mostly in Indian Territory and Arkansas. It was mainly due to these Loyal Indians that the Five Civilized Tribes were able to retain any of their lands following the end of the Civil War.”

The Third Regiment of the Indian Home Guards was formed at Talequah and Park Hill in July 1862. It was commanded by Colonel William A. Phillips.  Jesse Bushyhead was also in this regiment.

I am intrigued by the military service of the African-Cherokee Americans. These were former enslaved individuals who were literally fighting for their American existence. Women also served alongside former masters and current husbands.

Civil War Pension Records

According to the Civil War pension records, Dorcas Reiley was also known as Dorcas Buffington (Mary Dorcas Foreman Harlin Reiley Buffington).  She was the widow of Joseph Reiley who was owned by Cherokee John Riley of the Tahlequah district.

Another husband, Harry Buffington fought as a Union soldier in the 3rd Indian Home Guards .  It appears that Mary Dorcas applied for a pension from her late husband and a separate pension for service as a nurse in the Civil War. She received the nurse pension: certificate # 897103.

Dawes Enrollment Card F258

According to the back of her Dawes Enrollment Card (258), Dorcas was the daughter of Cherokee Chas. Foreman and a female slave, Patsey Bushyhead .   Her mother was owned by     Jesse Bushyhead. Mary Dorcas was born into slavery in 1825/1826 in Tennessee. She was also owned by Jesse Bushyhead, the second chief of the Cherokee who inherited her through marriage to Delilah Alberty Harlin.

She resided in Tahlequah, Indian Territory.

According to her sworn testimony to the Dawes Commission, she “bought her freedom 6 years before the war” (circa 1856), and she was only out of the nation when she was “traveling around with the soldiers.” She was a free woman fighting for her continued independence and equality.