An Arizona MOS&B already exists; however, the Colorado Society of the MOS&B has a non-duplicative and unique interest in the nation within our nation that embraces parts of three of the four western states of our focus - the Navajo Nation. The predecessor to the modern Navajo Nation counts has its defining period an era that overlaps the War Between the States - 1862-1868. A curiosity of history is that two forts with similar sounding names play prominent roles in the struggles of the people of the South and the Diné (Navajo) of the Southwest. These were Ft. Sumter and Ft. Sumner.

     In 1862 the U.S. Congress authorized the creation of Ft. Sumner. Associated with this fort was the Bosque Redondo reservation - a 40 square mile area. Coincidental to the hostilities between the Union and the Confederacy were those between the Union and the Navajo. When the North and the South were facing off at Gettysburg, Kit Carson was beginning his campaign against the Navajo. Carson was charged with rounding up and imprisoning the Navajo, who started arriving at the Bosque Redondo in large numbers in early 1864. The Navajos refer to the journey from their homeland to their internment camp as the "Long Walk." About 8,500 Navajo were interned at the Fort in April 1865; where they were detained until 1868.

     The New Mexico District Military Governor, General James H. Carlton told 18 Navajo chiefs that they must surrender by July 20, 1863, and move to the Bosque Redondo. Between September 1863 and January 1864, Carson began a systematic campaign against the Navajo similar to the scorched earth tactics to be used later in the South by Sherman in his "march to the sea." Without food or shelter to sustain them through the winters, and continuously chased by the U. S. Army, different groups of Navajo began to surrender in January 1864.

     These actions are described in "Expedition Against the Navajo Indians - Jan 6-21, 1864" found in The War of the Rebellion; A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Discussion with the Historic Preservation Department of the Navajo Nation in Window Rock, AZ, and correspondence with the National Park Service specialists dealing with the Navajo "Long Walk" results in the conclusion that there was no "direct" contact between the Navajo and representatives of the Confederate States.

     Albert Pike, acting in behalf of the Confederate States, was engaged in drawing up treaties with the Plains Indians. The Union had a vested interest in seeing that such formalities failed. The most that can be said is that the Union's punitive actions against the Navajo and the Apache tied up military assets that otherwise could have been directed to the eastern fronts. Conversations with the Navajo suggested that contacts, if any, were probably through third-party Indian tribes.

     The fact, that the Union Army correspondence in these actions is preserved in the above cited source, is an indication that the Union Army at the time viewed the actions against the Navajo as a part of its master strategy against the Confederate Army.
In 1868 a treaty was negotiated with the Navajo and they were allowed to return to their homeland. There they rejoined thousands of Navajo who had been in hiding. Today the Navajo Nation encompasses well over 16 million acres. Some sentiment exists that since the Navajo Chiefs and Headmen during the War Between the States were in fact co-combatants (along with the Confederacy) against the Union - playing a similar role to the officer corps and public officials of the Confederacy - that their descendants should be considered as eligible for membership in the Military Order of the Stars and Bars. The following were signatories to the Treaty of 1868:

Navajo Chiefs:

Armijo (Former New Mexico Governor's name)
Barboncito (Moustached Short Man) - Principal Chief
Chiqueto (Small Man)
Delgado (Thin)
Ganado Mucho (Many Cattle)
Herrero (Smith)
Hombre (The Man)
Largo (Tall)
Manuelito (Emmanuel - God Is With Us or Little Messiah)
Muerto de Hombre (Killer of Men)
Narbona (A former Colonel's name)
Narbono Segundo (Narbona the Second)

Navajo Head Men:

Barbon Segundo (Beard the Second)
Cabares (Caballos) Colorados (Red Horses)
Cabason (Cabezon) (Head)
Cabello Amarillo (Yellow Hair)
Chiqueto Segundo (Little Man the Second)
Desdendado (Toothless)
Francisco
Grande (Large)
Guero (Guerrero - Warrior)
Gugadore (Jugador - Gambler)
Inoetenito
Juan
Juan Martin
Muchachos Mucho (Many Kids)
Riquo (Rico - Rich)
Serginto (Sargento - Sergeant)
Torivio