Thomas Ah-yes-takie Peggs, Major, CSA, USA, Civil War Chief

Pegg, Thomas (Ah-yes-takie)

A Major of the 2nd Reg Cherokee Mounted Rifles, CSA (also known as Drews Regiment & First Reg); after the Battle of Pea Ridge in AR, switched to the Union Side as Capt., Co. A, 2nd Indiah Home Guards. Thomas was a member of the Grand Council of the Cherokee during the Civil War and a delegate to Washington DC for John Ross. He helped to found the Keetoowah Society and was a leading Cherokee Minister. In 1863, he was assistant and acting principal Chief in John Rosss absence during the Civil War; the Union Cherokee legislature met in council on Cowskin Prairie. In Feb, the council in session repudiated the Pike Treaty and deposed all Cherokee officials who had been disloyal to the US government. From May 1863 to Oct 1865, the seat of the Union Cherokee government was located at Kee-too-whah; by Oct 31 of that year, the government had moved to Tahlequah where it was mainteaned henceforth. Thomas Peggs served as acting and assistand principal chief until sometime in 1863. Late in that year Smith Christie succeeded to the office and served for several months. The office then passed to Lewis Downing who continued as acting and assistant chief until the death of John Ross on Aug. 1, 1866. [Source: the OK Chronicles]