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General Stand Watie, grave, tombstone and monuments, Polson Cemetery, Delaware County, Oklahoma, photos

General Stand Watie, grave, tombstone, Polson Cemetery, Delaware County, Oklahoma.

The tombstone on the grave of General Stand Watie. Watie is noted as the only Native American to become a general during the Civil War, holding the rank of Brigadier General in the Confederate Army. Watie was born on December 12, 1806 at Calhoun, Georgia. Watie served on the Cherokee Council from 1845 to 1861 and was the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1862 to 1866. The troops led by Watie participated in a number of battles and skirmishes in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), Arkansas, Missouri and Texas. The most notable battles were Battle of Wilson's Creek (west of Springfield, Missouri) August 10, 1861; Battle of Pea Ridge (Northwestern Arkansas) March 6-8, 1862; Battle of Prairie Grove (Northwestern Arkansas) December 7, 1862; and the two Battles of Cabin Creek (Northeastern Indian Territory, now Oklahoma), the first battle July 1-2, 1863, and the second battle September 19, 1864. Watie holds the distinction of being the last Confederate general to formally surrender, on June 23, 1865, nearly three months after General Robert E. Lee, who surrendered on April 9, 1865. Stand Watie died on September 9, 1871 at the age of 64 and is buried in Polson Cemetery.

Polson Cemetery is in Delaware County, Oklahoma and located west of the Missouri - Oklahoma border just west of Southwest City, Missouri. Two other notable Cherokee Nation leaders, Major Ridge and John Ridge are also buried in Polson Cemetery, near the grave of Stand Watie. See below for photos of two additional monuments in the Polson Cemetery honoring General Stand Watie.

The monument placed by the Oklahoma Division United Daughters of the Confederacy at the grave of General Stand Watie.

The monument placed by the Oklahoma Division United Daughters of the Confederacy at the grave of General Stand Watie.

A monument in honor of General Stand Watie placed by the Oklahoma Historical Society at the entrance of Polson Cemetery.

A monument in honor of General Stand Watie placed by the Oklahoma Historical Society at the entrance of Polson Cemetery. This monument also records the Cherokee name of Watie as Degataga OO-Watee.

View an historic 1922 map of Delaware County, Oklahoma

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