A Native American Sharpshooter in Confederate Territory

Payson Wolf, a member of the Odawa Nation, joined the Union Army as a member of Company K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. The company was composed of Native Americans from Northern Michigan's Chippewa and Potawatomi nations. Here's Wolf's story.
Special thanks to filmmaker David B. Schock, Ph.D., for making me aware of his documentary, “The Road to Andersonville: Michigan Native American Sharpshooters in the Civil War.” Mr. Schock also introduced me to Chris Czopek, author of “Who Was Who in Company K.” I am indebted and grateful to Mr. Czopek for generously sharing his knowledge and vast collection of resources.
"Life on the Civil War Research Trail" is hosted by Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher of Military Images magazine. Learn more about our mission to showcase, interpret and preserve Civil War portrait photography at militaryimagesmagazine.com and shopmilitaryimages.com.
Image: Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library
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[@oldgeezerproductions]

Thanks Ron. I really liked this episode about Payson Wolf. One of my ancestor's wife left him (though not divorced). Today these men would be diagnosed with PTSD because of what they had been through. The horrors of what Payson Wolf was put through, it would be amazing if he wasn't permanently and severely scarred mentally. By the way, at the time, what later would be called "Shell Shock," later "Battle Fatigue" and today "PTSD," was then known as "Da Costa's Syndrome" and "Soldier's Heart" but who today has ever heard of Da Costa's Syndrome(?)-- how quickly are the horrors of war forgotten.
I especially liked this episode because one of my own ancestors was involved with Native Americans in the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) during the Civil War. Perhaps many people do not know that many dramatic events occurred in the Indian Territory during the Civil War and that the Territory was administered by the Confederacy. I'm sure there are many that don't know how the evil of black slavery, endemic in the Cherokee Nation by the start of the war, led many tribesmen to side with the very same ugly racial factions in the South that had forced their people to endure the earlier "Trail of Tears" out of their ancient native Southern lands out to the Territory. Perhaps a look into the War in the Indian Territory would be a fertile source of some interesting stories.

[@SempreGumby]

Been to Andersonville. When I went you could still see place on the north side where soldiers had dug tunnels into the ground.

[@THE-HammerMan]

Ron, your work is without peers. Thank you.
Happy Holidays, Sir!

[@revolutionaryhamburger]

I have come to expect a gripping tale from Ron, but certainly this one is more of a gut punch than most.

[@flyonbyya]

I just ordered the print edition of military images, winter 2025 delivered to my brother Jack!
He’ll love it!

[@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail]

Excellent! Thanks so much. The issue will be mailed next week.

[@KevinCave-rj8eq]

Ron I thought a little bit about the civil war you blew me away every time congrats you're my go-to guy 👍 I would love to sit down and have a dream with you maybe a little who t you went to college😂

[@rickpaton7538]

13 kids and THEN divorce??! My god that sounds like a story.

[@modifiedwpns]

how about multiple pics that take up entire screen while narrating

[@KevinCave-rj8eq]

As I told you before this Chinese phone don't say what it wants to all I can say is man I didn't know that

[@curtgomes]

Better to die than to become a prisoner and sent to Andersonville.

[@remydaitch9815]

Makes sense they didn't learn the language, friend today, foe tomorrow.