Page "Albert Pike" Paragraph 11

Pike was commissioned as a brigadier general on November 22, 1861, and given a command in the Indian Territory.

With Gen. Ben McCulloch, Pike trained three Confederate regiments of Indian cavalry, most of whom belonged to the " civilized tribes ", whose loyalty to the Confederacy was variable.

Although initially victorious at the Battle of Pea Ridge ( Elkhorn Tavern ) in March, Pike's unit was defeated later in a counterattack, after falling into disarray.

Also, as in the previous war, Pike came into conflict with his superior officers, at one point drafting a letter to Jefferson Davis complaining about his direct superior.