The last tribal body of American Indians was removed from Missouri in 1837, but they would make a reappearance in the state during the Civil War. The conflicts that led to their involvement in the war began years before the first shot was fired.
Our July/August 2023 article, “In The Fight,” showed that the divisive nature of the Civil War extended to American Indian Tribes. Read about Opotheyahola, who refused to join the Confederacy, then explore our reading list to learn more.
Two groups with distinct cultures emerged from our region’s first residents to dominate this land. Worshipful and warlike on an untouched landscape, the Osage and the Missouria did more than live here. For centuries, they ruled.