concluded on the 7th of the month at Tahlequah. This instrument was very lengthy, being comprised in fifty-five articles.[568] The preamble set forth that-- The Congress of the Confederate States of America having, by an "Act for the protection of certain Indian tribes," approved the 21st day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, offered to assume and accept the protectorate of the several nations and tribes of Indians occupying the country west of Arkansas and Missouri, and to recognize them as their wards, subject to all the rights, privileges, immunities, titles and guarantees with each of said nations and tribes under treaties made with them by the United States of America; and the Cherokee Nation of Indians having assented thereto upon certain terms and conditions: Now, therefore, the said Confederate States of America, by Albert Pike, their commissioner, constituted by the President, under authority of the act of Congress, in that behalf, with plenary powers for these purposes, and the Cherokee Nation by the principal chief, executive council, and commissioners aforesaid, has agreed to the following articles, etc. With some slight amendments to the instrument as originally concluded it was duly ratified by the Confederate States. CHEROKEE TROOPS FOR THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. Long before[569] the conclusion of this treaty, authority was given by General McCulloch to raise a battalion of Cherokees for the service of the Confederate States. Under this authority a regiment was raised in December, 1861, and commanded by Stand Watie, the leader of the anti-Ross party. A regiment had also been previously raised, ostensibly as home guards, the officers of which had been appointed by Chief Ross and the command assigned to Colonel Drew.[570] After the conclusion of the treaty this regiment was also placed at the service of the Confederate States, and in December[571] following, in an address to them, Ross remarked that he had raised the regiment "to act in concert with the troops of the Southern Confederacy."