"The Union looked upon the South with horror and sorrow after the Great Hurricaines devestated it to oblivion (and admittedly some smug satisfaction). But the Indians, particularly the Cherokee? They saw an opprotuinity to reclaim their land, in particular a certain young ambitious teen who in time would grow up to be "The Red Napoleon"."
The closing paragraph from a history blog detailing the post-Civil War period known as the Native American Renaissance. Namely, on the rise of a Cherokee general known as Archchief Thunderbear or the “Red Napoleon”. After Hurricane Thomas, Ike, and Sally crushed the South during thr last years of the Civil War and after, it became a period of quasi-anarchy outside of the major cities, occupied by the northern forces who provided medical care and supplies.
The Thunderbear Army would be the rise of various Native American tribes of the South, led by the Cherokee, to claim the “lawless” land for themselves and exploiting a federal loophole in being able to claim ownership of the land due to the crisis. This along with the natives’ unique status allowed them to take alot of the unoccupied south, crushing the remains of the Confederate Army and other groups like the KKK and the like. By the 1870s, they occupied most of the western half of the former CSA, from Texas and the western territories to Tennessee and Alabama and even down in Florida. They also had parts of southern Georgia and western parts of the Carolinas. However, after some close calls, the Great Peace would see the occupied states reorganized under native control, albeit as part if incorporating the natives under the United States system. This was done after Thunderbear noted how seceding would not win them any support from the outside and decided to work within the system. The tribes now owned their land and ruled as such, if having to play by rules if states and the like. The remaining people there assimilated into the tribes or left
Archchief Thunderbear attempted to run for presidency though would fail the first few times as an independent before besting Grover Cleveland in 1884 after he won a court case to run and winning for three terms, before retiring and succeeded by McKinley. Many have compared Thunderbear politically a precursor to Theodore Roosevelt, with the two men having become close.
Archchief Thunderbear became the first non-white on US currency (the $20 dollar bill), and be remembered fondly by native Americans and their supporters. Also was an outspoken supporter of the Metis and Manitoba, and a friend of Louis Riel. Helped inspire a renaissance for Native American culture in the south along with helped to give African-Americans the right to vote.
“The Americans got rid of slavery as soon as they could in 1776 and managed to succeed despite the betrayal of the South. All thanks to the Freedmen Army there of liberated slaves.
