USMA CLASS OF 1822: DAVID MONIAC

David Moniac (USMA Class of 1822) was the first Native American to graduate from West Point. While graduation from West Point is still no small feat, of the 119 students who entered with Moniac, only 40 graduated. The school was not yet well established nor well funded, and cadets felt immense pressure when not home helping to financially provide for their families…not to mention the unique trials of being the only Native student in a majority cuture school.

After graduation, Moniac received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th United States Infantry. Although he accepted the commission, Moniac resigned his commission soon thereafter to manage his clan’s property in Alabama, where he rebuilt his family’s financial prospects by establishing cotton farms and breeding race horses.

When the Second Seminole War erupted in 1835, Moniac re-entered the military. He led bravely and was killed in action at the Battle of Wahoo Swamp on Nov. 26,1836.

Moniac was a member of the Creek tribe and related to major Creek leaders on both sides of his family. He married Mary Powell, the cousin of Osceola, the Creek-born leader of the Seminoles.

Every month, but especially this month, we celebrate the contributions of Native Americans in the military.

Source: https://www.americanindianmagazine.org/story/west-point-wahoo-swamp-career-cadet-david-moniac-class-1822