Early the next morning, the friends made their way to the camp of the Cherokee Mounted Rifles near Gainesville.
They rode close to the headquarters and stopped. Jock trotted ahead of Jim and brought his mount to a sudden halt. He looked at the distant garrison and tried to bury his fear of having to fight.
Jim cantered up beside his friend and stopped.
“Don"t worry, my friend.”
Easy for him to say. Jim had proved he could fight, going into battle at Elk Horn Tavern, in Arkansas, in March 1861. Southern Cherokees captured a battery of guns and turned them on the Yankees. Outnumbered, they had to pull back. Stand Watie showed his talent for soldiering by protecting the retreat of Confederate forces from the field.
Jim, at sixteen, fought at Oak Hills in August 1861. Stand Watie"s leader
