First Cherokee Mounted Rifles

1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles (Confederate)
1st Cherokee Mounted Regiment flag
Active	July, 1861-June 23, 1865
Country	Confederate States of America
Allegiance	Confederate States Army
Branch	Cavalry
Size	Regiment
Garrison/HQ	Fort Wayne (Indian Territory) Cherokee Nation
Nickname(s)	Watie's Regiment
Equipment	Rifles & Carbines Mississippi Rifle Brown Bess Kentucky Rifle Sharps Rifle Spencer Rifle Gallager Carbine Maynard Carbine Springfield Rifle Sabers M1860 Light Cavalry Saber Pistols M1858 Remington M1860 Colt Army M1851 Colt Navy
Engagements	Battle of Pea Ridge Battle of Old Fort Wayne Battle of Cabin Creek
Commanders
Notable commanders	Brig. Gen. Stand Watie Col. John Drew Lt. Col. William P. Ross Maj. Thomas Pegg

The 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles was a Confederate States Army regiment which fought in the Indian Territory during the American Civil War. It was formed from the merger of two predecessor units the First Regiment of Cherokee Mounted Rifles, and the Second Regiment of Cherokee Mounted Rifles. The first commander was Col. John Drew, while the second was Stand Watie.

Confederate officials commissioned Stand Watie a colonel in the Confederate States Army in July 1861 and authorized him to raise a military unit known as the Cherokee Mounted Volunteers. After Cherokee Principal Chief John Ross signed the Cherokee-Confederate treaty of alliance in October 1861, he and the Cherokee Council authorized and raised the First Regiment of Cherokee Mounted Rifles, commanded by Col. John Drew. Drew's regimental officers and men were largely full-blood Cherokees, who were ideologically uncommitted to the goals of the Confederacy, but were loyal to Chief John Ross. At this time, Watie's regiment became the Second Regiment of Cherokee Mounted Rifles. Watie's regiment consisted largely of mixed-blood Cherokees who favored the Confederate cause.

Drew's regiment became part of Col. Cooper's command and was ordered to help stop the flight of Union-supporting Creeks, led by their principal chief Opothleyahola, who were attempting to flee to Kansas. Although the unit participated in the Battle of Round Mountain, the Battle of Chusto-Talasah, and the Battle of Chustenahlah, they made known their dislike for fighting the Creeks, who had done the Cherokees no harm. They had expected to be fighting the invading Yankees, instead.

A portion of Drew's regiment deserted in late 1861. Following the Battle of Old Fort Wayne in October 1862, most of the remainder of Drew's men, including Maj. Thomas Pegg, deserted to the Union army. What remained of his troops was combined with Watie's regiment and reorganized as the First Regiment of Cherokee Mounted Rifles with Watie in command.