Q: About 188,000 black troops fought for the Union during the Civil War, with about 38,000 killed in combat. Did American Native troops fight for either side?
—Don White, Atlanta
A: Native Americans fought for both the Union and the Confederacy in the Civil War, with men from many tribes seeing action. Ely Samuel Parker, a Seneca, became a general in the Union Army, served on Ulysses S. Grant's staff and wrote the terms of surrender that Robert E. Lee signed at Appomattox. Stand Watie, a Cherokee who was born near Rome, was a general in the Confederate Army. Members of the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes typically sided with the Confederacy and the Union Army formed units – called the Indian Home Guards — from the Delaware, Creek, Seminole, Kickapoo, Seneca, Osage and Shawnee tribes, among others.
Q: When the Democrats were in power in Georgia, Pierre Howard, the lieutenant governor appeared to be a shoo-in for governor. He dropped out of the race. Why?
—Mike Blaylock, Marietta
A: Howard was considered the front-runner for governor in 1998, but dropped out of the race 15 months before the election because of what he said was the impact the race was having on his family. "We know the children need us now more than anyone else, including the state of Georgia," Howard said at a news conference in August 1997. Howard, who was lieutenant governor from 1990-98, left the race two months after Republican candidate Mike Bowers admitted he had an extra-marital affair. Howard is resigning as president of the Georgia Conservancy on June 30. He's held that position since 2009.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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