Historian to Speak on Native American Soldiers in U.S. Civil War July 12, 2009

Author and Civil War historian Lance J. Herdegen will speak on “Native Americans in the Civil War” at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 12, at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central Street, Evanston.

Herdegen, of Burlington, Wis., is the former director of the Institute of Civil War Studies at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis. He was a content consultant for Kenosha's Civil War Museum and has written several books on the Civil War. Herdegen previously worked for the United Press International (UPI) news service covering national politics and civil rights.

Herdegen says he became interested in American Indian participation in the Civil War when his research uncovered that three of his wife’s great uncles, who were of Ojibwa descent, served in the 36th Wisconsin infantry regiment.

More than 20,000 American Indians fought in the Civil War for both the Union and the Confederacy, according to HistoryNet.com. Among them were the Cherokee soldiers under General Stand Watie, the last Confederate general to surrender; and the Chippewas and Ottawas of Company K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. Others from Michigan guarded Confederate prisoners of war at Camp Douglas on Chicago’s South Side.

Admission to the talk is included with museum admission, which is $5 for adults, $2.50 for seniors, students, teachers (with valid school ID), and children. Maximum admission per family is $10. For information, phone (847) 475-1030. On the Net: http://www.mitchellmuseum.org.

Official Website: http://www.mitchellmuseum.org