"Figures for Native American ACW troops?" Topic

So I've been reading about Honey Springs Depot (July 17, 1863), the largest battle in what would become Oklahoma. Many of the Union forces and most of the Confederate were Indians of the "Five Civilized Tribes" – Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Creek. Naturally I'm considering creating a tabletop scenario but I'm not having any success finding suitable Indian figures. Eastern woodlands tribes from the flintlock era and Western plains tribes from the postwar era are thick on the ground, but I'm not having any success with this search. 15mm would be preferred, but at this point I'm prepared not to be picky. Any ideas?

wargame foudry does some bloody Kansas ones

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I don't think you are going to find anything in 15mm. I would use a combination of uniformed rebs, ragged rebs, Plains wars cavalry scouts and Indian scouts. You would have troops in uniform, troops in civilian clothes, and troops in a mixture of the two. Use putty to add Indian accouterments such as feathers, leggings civilian hats. Some 1812 Kentucky mounted militia would add some color as well.

We make Mounted Cherokee Rifles, albeit in 28mm.

Chris

Check out the Warrior series Osprey on Native American troops of the Civil War. That should help.
There is also a paperback museum book on Indian actions during the Civil War.
Old tribal rivalries often decided on whose side that tribe fought. For example if the Chickasaw fought for one side, the Choctaw would fight for the other.

I think Minifig made some mounted "Native" troops in 15mm.

These are 28mm but they work very well: link and link

Kevin, those are beautiful and just the thing – but I'm not sure I can bring myself to dropping hundreds of dollars on what would be a single-use army. Still, definitely under consideration.

@Eumelus

Be advised, the Company D figures are excellent, but quite large. I fear they wouldn't mix well with most other 28s.

I am not sure if these are available commercially yet.

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Many years ago we did Pea Ridge and one of my friends brought Pike's Indian Brigade 15mm.

I had know idea then were he got them and were they ever ended up, but they were actual Confederate Indians. This was in the mid 80's so someone made them back in the day.

Kim

Many years ago we did Pea Ridge and one of my friends brought Pike's Indian Brigade 15mm.

I had know idea then were he got them and where they ever ended up, but they were actual Confederate Indians. This was in the mid 80's so someone made them back in the day.

Kim

Seems like Eumelus got plenty of information about 28mm but he is after 15mm!

I also would be interested to know about any 15mm (really 18mm) as they would be especially useful for western theatre battles. Unfortunately, so far as I know, no-one makes them apart from Minifig (mentioned above). Regrettably, they would not be suitable for me as my figures are mostly AB/Battle Honors and Minifigs are a true 15mm.

The only solution I came up with (when I wanted to play 'The Apache Uprising' from Featherstone's Wargaming Campaigns book) was to purchase boxes of plastic figures of various brands (no actual Apache though, just other tribes – I've never seen any of the main tribes from the Civil War period made either).

I would have thought it would be worthwhile to at least produce some Cherokee troops as one of them (Stand Watie) was even a General in the CSA.
@KimRYoung – Pea Ridge is probably the battle I am most keen to play with miniatures (I've played a couple of interesting boardgames of that battle).

HI Jedgburgh. The native allies are on hold due to COVID. My caster is extremely behind because of the shut down.

I can't wait to see them in metal though.