A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume I, Part 15

Author: Hill, L. B. (Luther B.)
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pubishing Company
Number of Pages: 645

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formed in three columns, the Choctaws and Chickasaws on the right, the Texans and Cherokees in the center, and the Creeks on the left, and the whole advanced at quick gallop upon the enemy, who had by this time shown himself in large force above us, along the timber skirting the main creek for over two miles, as well as a ravine ex- tending far out into the prairie."

After some skirmishing in the rear and with that portion of the enemy along the ravine, the forces advanced to the position of the main engagement. "The position then taken up by the enemy at Chusto- Talasah," reported Col. Cooper, "presented almost insurmountable obstacles to our troops. The creek made up to the prairie on the side of our approach in an abrupt, precipitous bank, some thirty feet in height, at places cut into steps, reaching near the top and forming a complete parapet, while the creek, being deep, was fordable but at certain points known only to the enemy. The opposite side, which was occupied by the hostile forces, was densely covered with heavy timber, matted undergrowth and thickets, and fortified additionally by pros- trate logs. Near the center of the enemy's line was a dwelling house, a small corn crib and rail fence, situated in a recess of the prairie, at the gorge of a bend of the creek, for horseshoe form, about 400 or 500 yards in length. This bend was thickly wooded and covered in front, near the house, with long interwoven weeds and grass, extend- ing to a bench, behind which the enemy could lie and pour upon the advancing line his deadly fire in comparative safety, while the creek banks on either side covered the house by flank and reverse.".

The different divisions of the Confeder- ates, charging, forced their way under hot fire across the creek, and engaging the enemy often in close at hand conflict in the

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

timber and over the rough ground finally forced them back. The engagement lasted three or four hours, and the advantages varied from side to side several times. "The ' enemy disappeared from our entire front, and the sun having set, the troops were withdrawn and marched to camp. On the next morning the Choctaw and Chickasaw regiment, the Creek regiment, Colonel Drew and his Cherokees and a por- tion of the Texas regiment returned to the battle ground. The enemy had retreated to the mountains."

After the battle on Bird creek the Con- federate forces returned to Fort Gibson to reorganize, their victory having been dearly bought. There Col. James McIntosh with 2,000 troops was preparing for a campaign against Hopoeithleyohola. McIntosh, Stand Watie and Cooper now began a concerted movement against the old Creek chief. About noon of the 26th of December, McIntosh's troops, which were in advance, approached Shoal creek, a tributary of the Verdigris, and on crossing the stream were subjected to the fire of Hopoeithleyohola's men, who were posted on a high and rugged hill with its side covered with oak trees.

"The enemy was in a very strong posi- tion" (Colonel McIntosh's report), "and from it observed our actions, in happy in- nocence of the gallant resolve which ani- mated the hearts of those in the valley be- low them. The Seminoles, under the cele- brated chief, Halek Tustenuggee, were in front on foot, posted behind the trees and rocks, while others were in line near the summit of the hill. Hopoeithleyohola's Creeks were beyond, on horseback. A few representatives of other tribes were also in the battle. Between the rough and rugged side of the hill a space of 200 or 300 yards intervened of open ground. Each tree on the hillside screened a stalwart war-

rior. It seemed a desperate undertaking to charge a position which appeared almost inaccessible, but the order to charge to the top of the hill met a responsive feeling from each gallant heart in the line, and at 12 m. the charge was sounded, one wild yell from a thousand throats burst upon the air, and the living mass hurled itself upon the foe." The Union forces were gradually driven from their positions, and retreated to the rocky gorges amid the deep recesses of the mountains, where they were pursued, and were finally forced to yield their last stand at their encampment. "The battle lasted until 4 o'clock, when the firing gradually ceased, and we remained victors in the cen- ter of Hopoeithleyohola's camp. The stronghold of Hopoeithleyohola was completely broken up, and his force scat- tered in every direction, destitute of the simplest elements of subsistence." Stand Watie followed the defeated Indians the next day, overtook them, and in a running fight killed fifteen of them.

After the loyal Indians were defeated in the third battle, the scattered remnants, with their old men, women and children, were compelled to flee for their lives from the Indians' country, and to the number of from 6,000 to 8,000, still led by the dauntless old Creek who had directed them in battle, took refuge near the southern border of Kansas. Here they were fed during the winter of 1861-62 from stores provided for the army of General Hunter. "It would be impos- sible," reads the Indian commissioner's re- port for 1862, "to give an adequate descrip- tion of the suffering endured by these people during their flight, and for several weeks after their arrival. When it is re- membered that they were collected for the journey with scarcely a moment for prepa- ration, amid the confusion and dismay of an overwhelming defeat; that their enemies

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

were close upon them . . . it may well be believed that their preparations for the journey were wholly inadequate. It was in the dead of winter, the ground was cov- ered with ice and snow, and the weather most intensely cold. Without shelter, with- out adequate clothing, and almost destitute of food, a famishing, freezing multitude of fugitives, they arrived in Kansas entirely unexpectedly. . . Within two months after their arrival 240 of the Creeks alone died. . . Over a hundred frosted limbs were amputated within a like period of time."

The situation in the part of Indian Ter- ritory north of the Arkansas during the early months of 1862 is described in a re- port, dated May 1, 1862, from Baptiste Peoria, who had been sent as "United States special agent" to observe the state of feel- ings among the Cherokees. He says: "A Cherokee by the name of Stanwaite [Stand Watie], together with a white man by the name of Coffee, have been occupying that portion of the Cherokee country along the line of Arkansas and Missouri and the southern line of Kansas for some six months. Stanwaite was upon the neutral lands last March, threatening and driving off settlers and burning their houses. Cof- fee has a scouting company of two or three hundred with which he watches the line. The Cherokees are the most power- ful tribe in the Indian Territory, and the smaller tribes are afraid of them. Stan- waite and Coffee are now watching the line between Kansas and the Cherokee country. Whenever a force moves down into that country they retreat down to Fort Gibson, where they claim to have large forces, some five or six thousand, composed in part of Texans and Arkansans."8

'Report of Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1862.

The battle of Pea Ridge, or Elkhorn, in March, 1862, reversed the conditions of the opposing forces in Indian Territory. Up to that time, as a result of the victories over Hopoeithleyohola, the Confederate su- premacy in Indian Territory was undis- puted. With the Elkhorn disaster, however, the southern troops were compelled to re- treat to the Arkansas, and at the same time the loyalty of the Indian allies was much shaken, the Cherokee regiment commanded by Colonel Drew deserting, soon after, to the Union army. Many of the troops of the Trans-Mississippi department were moved east in anticipation of the grand contest at Corinth, and Missouri, Arkansas and Indian Territory were left almost en- tirely exposed to any movements that a considerable Union force might project within their borders.

After the defeat of the loyal Creeks in 1861, an expedition was planned by the Union government to enter the Territory and offer protection to the Indians. This was known as the Indian expedition, in- cluding two regiments of white troops and about two thousand loyal Indians, which after a delay of some months finally marched south about July, 1862. The In- dian regiments had been organized to act in the capacity of home guards for Indian territory and adjacent country. They were commanded by white officers and were sent against the enemy in co-operation with a small body of white troops.

Major General T. C. Hindman, in his general report to the Confederate depart- ment of war, said, referring to this expedi- tion : "The federal Indian expedition was moving from Fort Scott, and its advance had crossed the Cherokee line. To meet this force, 5,000 strong, we had only the brave Stand Watie, with his faithful regi- ment of half-breed Cherokees ; Drew's regi-

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ment of full-bloods, many of whom were disaffected, and Clarkson's battalion of Mis- sourians, raised under my orders, and sent there at the urgent request of Watie and Drew. . . . This small command en- countered the enemy and was defeated. Clarkson was captured, with his train, and many of his men dispersed. Except a small body, under the gallant Capt. Pickens Benge, Drew's regiment deserted to the enemy. With a courage never surpassed, Stand Watie still resisted. On one occa- sion a portion of his regiment, under Major E. C. Boudinot, repulsed the federal ad- vance of fivefold greater strength. But it was not possible to make head against such odds, and he was at length compelled to fall back beyond the Arkansas. The full-bloods, or Pin Indians, now rose in rebellion and committed horrible excesses. John Ross, the Cherokee chief, was pretendedly taken prisoner, but, as afterwards appeared, really went over to the enemy with the archives and money of the nation."

Col. William Weer, as commanding offi- cer of the Indian expedition, was unable to control his troops, and on July 19, 1862, while encamped on Grand river, matters came to a climax with the arrest of Colonel Weer by Col. F. Salomon, who then as- sumed command. This meeting, as it was in effect, brought confusion to the entire expedition, and resulted in the retreat of all the white forces, leaving the three In- dian regiments behind to fight the enemy's forces. The objects of the expedition were

' Major General Blunt's report of the battle of Fort Wayne is as follows: " · Hav- ing learned from my scouts (sent out during the day) that Cooper and Stand Watie were at or near Maysville with a force variously estimated at from 5,000 to 7,000 men, I determined, if possible, to reach their camp and attack them at daybreak. The distance to march was 30 miles, and the road through a rough, wooded, and hilly

completely defeated, and the country, re- stored for a brief time to the loyal Indians, was laid open to a still more ruthless raid- ing by the scouting bands of Confederates. Early in August, because of a threatened movement against Fort Scott, Colonel Salo- mon withdrew into Kansas, leaving Fort Gibson and the valley of the Arkansas quite at the mercy of Stand Watie and his southern allies.

In the latter part of September, 1862, Brigadier General J. M. Schofield was as- signed to command of the operations in the southwest, and an aggressive movement was begun to recover the ground lost in the pre- ceding summer. With General Blunt's command co-operating, he moved from Springfield, Missouri, into northwest Ar- kansas. In the meantime the Confederate forces under Cooper had gone in the di- rection of Maysville, while Rains' cavalry command was learned to be in the neigh- borhood of Huntsville. General Blunt was sent in pursuit of Cooper, and overtaking him in his camp at Old Fort Wayne, in the Indian Territory, defeated him in a sharp engagement, and captured all his artillery. This battle, of October 22, was of decisive importance. Stand Watie was forced be- yond the Arkansas, and his forces disor- ganized. The federals advanced with little opposition to take possession of the Chero- kee country, and in the course of the fol- lowing months captured Forts Gibson and Smith.º

In the closing months of 1862 the forces

country. Three miles from Bentonville I directed my train to go into camp and follow in the morn- ing at daylight, and moved the column forward, Colonel Cloud's brigade being in advance.

"At about 2 o'clock in the morning the ad- vance was halted by Colonel Cloud, with a view of letting the column close up. The men were weary and exhausted, and no sooner were they halted than they dropped down in the brush by

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of the Union army were in possession of Fort Gibson, and nominally had regained the territory north of the Arkansas. But the difficulty of holding such a country,

the roadside and were soon fast asleep. Being in the rear of Colonel Cloud's brigade, after waiting half an hour at a halt, I took a portion of my body guard, went ahead to learn the cause of the delay, and ordered the command to be moved on, going myself with the advance guard. After proceeding on 5 miles farther an open prairie lay before us of some 5 miles in ex- tent, over which we had to pass to reach the rebel camp. At this point I went ahead of the ad- vance guard, accompanied by Captain Russell, of the Second Kansas Regiment, and 2 men, for the purpose of getting information. In this we suc- ceeded admirably. Stopping at a large, fine house at the edge of the prairie, and disguised as a rebel just escaped from the Federals and wish- ing to get with Cooper's command, I readily en- listed the sympathies of the lady, whose husband was a soldier in the rebel camp. She informed me where their pickets stood, of the location of their camp and of their strength, which was near 7,000 men, two Texas regiments having joined them the day before. I now moved the advance across the prairie and halted a quarter of a mile from their outpost, which was at the edge of the timber, on a little wooded stream, near the town of Maysville. From this point I sent Companies B and I, of the Second Kansas, under the command of Captain Hopkins, by a circuitous route, to enter the town in the rear of the enemy's pickets, for the purpose of, if possible, capturing them without alarming the camp. This, however, proved fruitless, from the fact, as I afterwards learned, that they heard us advancing across the prairie and ran in, alarming the town as they went, from which all the male inhabitants speed- ily decamped to seek rebel protection.

"It was now near 5 o'clock, and my desire was to attack at daylight; but, while waiting to give Captain Hopkins time to get in the rear of their pickets, on going back to ascertain if the column was closed up I learned, much to my surprise and disappointment, that during the last two or three hours' march the only troops with me had been three companies of the Second Kan- sas, two of which had already been sent ahead under Captain Hopkins. The main column was back 7 miles, where it was first halted. After sending a messenger back to order it up I pro- ceeded with the one company remaining with me to the town, and reached there at the same time with Captain Hopkins. There I learned that intel-

whose inhabitants were about equally di- vided in loyalty to the north and south, is indicated in a report by Col. W. A. Phillips, in command of the Union expedition from

ligence of our approach had gone ahead of us and, fearing that the enemy would retreat, I sent Colonel Cloud (who had come with me in the advance) back to move his brigade forward as rapidly as possible, while with the three com- panies I determined to push ahead, attack the enemy, and endeavor to hold them until re-enforce- ments could arrive. Finding an intelligent contra- band, whose master was in the rebel camp, with the locality of which he was well acquainted, I had no difficulty, by promising him his freedom, in engaging his services as a guide. The route from Maysville to the timber, where the rebels were posted, lay across the prairie, in a south- westerly direction, about 312 miles distant. Dash- ing on rapidly we drove their pickets from the open ground under cover of the timber. The remainder of the Second Kansas, with the two mountain howitzers attached, now came galloping up and the whole regiment was quickly formed into line and, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Bassett, was ordered to skirmish the woods on foot to ascertain the position of the enemy. At this point 5 of my body guard captured 10 armed rebels, who had been out of camp and were endeavoring to get to their command.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Bassett, not being able to ascertain the whereabouts of the rebel forces, was ordered to withdraw his men from the woods and remount them.

"Advancing through an opening in the timber, about a quarter of a mile in width, I discovered the enemy in force, their line extending across the open ground in front and occupying the road. Between the point I occupied (reconnoitering their position and movements) and their line was a pas- ture of open ground, some 200 yards across, and two fences intervening. Believing that the enemy were contemplating a retreat, I determined to lose no time in trying the effect of a few shells upon their ranks from the two little mountain howitzers. The Second Kansas was accordingly moved forward in line to the first fence, and the two howitzers, under the command of Lieut. E. S. Stover, supported by Company A of the Second Kansas, under Lieutenant Johnston, were ordered to advance through the fence to within 200 yards of the enemy's battery, from which position Lieutenant Stover opened upon them with shell and with much animation. The fire was returned by the enemy's guns, and in a few minutes their entire line engaged the small force I had oppos-

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Cane Hill into the Cherokee Nation. This report, dated Christmas morning, states that Watie's regiment was scattered over the nation in parties, the preceding day having been spent in pursuit of these detached bands. Scanland's Texan company was at Scullyville with Cooper, Livingston with some Indian forces was at Webber's, and some Choctaws and Creeks were about Lee's creek. "The scattered condition of the enemy," continues the report, "the rain, swollen condition of streams, and scarcity of forage renders it extremely difficult to carry out the order to clear the enemy out of the country, but I will try. As to mov- ing, families without number wish to leave, but I have no transportation for them. I must move toward Webber's to feel for the enemy, who may concentrate there. Colonel Waite has taken all the horses and wagons out of the country, and the order 'to assist those who want to leave' I find it difficult to do, for want of wagons. I may get some, but deem it hardly expedient to cross the

Arkansas in its present state with little low ferry-boats, until I know what I am doing or hear again from Van Buren."

About January 8, 1863, Brig. Gen. Wil- liam Steele assumed command of the Con- federate forces in Indian Territory, reliev- ing Major General Hindman at Fort Smith.10 He found the country in an ex- hausted condition, and the few troops under his command undisciplined, ill-equipped and demoralized. The continuous occupation of the country by a large Confederate force from the beginning of the war had utterly exhausted its resources, and the withdrawal of the Confederate troops a short time be- fore had left the people despondent and hopeless. Instead of a full regiment, Gen- eral Steele found but 250 men ready for duty, but without provision of clothing or supplies. North of Red river the country was controlled by the Union forces, while jayhawkers overran both sides of the river between Little Rock and Fort Smith. Fort Gibson was held by a force of federals esti-

ing them. I then dismounted the entire regiment (The Second Kansas), formed them on foot, and ordered them to advance through the fence to with- in short range of the enemy's position, which order was obeyed with alacrity, they opening upon the rebel lines a terrific fire with their Harper's Ferry rifles. The enemy, observing our small force upon the field, the main column having not yet come in sight, attempted to overwhelm us by superior numbers, and by flank movements, to ob- tain possession of the projecting woods on my right and left. Fortunately, at this juncture the Sixth Kansas, Colonel Judson, and the Third Cherokee Regiment, Colonel Phillips, came upon the field. The former was ordered to advance upon the right and the latter on the left, which they did by rapid movements, driving back the flanking columns of the enemy. At the same mo- ment Company B, Captain Hopkins; Company D, Lieutenant Moore; Company E, Captain Gardner; Company H, Lieutenant Ballard, and Company K, Captain Russell, of the Second Kansas, all under command of Capt. S. J. Crawford, made a gallant charge, driving in their center, capturing their artillery, and bringing it in triumph from

the field. The battle was now won, and the enemy began fleeing in disorder before our victorious troops. The Second Indiana Battery, Lieutenant Rabb, came up in time to pay its respects to the rear of the fleeing rebels with excellent effect. Colonel Judson, of the Sixth Kansas, and Colonel Phillips, of the Third Cherokee Regiment, pur- sued them in their retreat for a distance of 7 miles, skirmishing with their rear and leaving quite a number of their dead strewn by the way, when, their horses becoming exhausted from the long and wearisome march of the night before, they were obliged to give up farther pursuit. The rebels, I have since learned, did not halt in their retreat until they had reached the Arkansas river, at Fort Gibson, 70 miles from the battle ground, where they arrived within thirty hours after their rout at Old Fort Wayne." (From War of the Rebellion. Official Records of the Union and Con- federate Armies, Series I, Vol. XIII, p. 325.)

10 Report of Brig. Gen. William Steele, C. S. army of operations in Indian Territory during 1863. War of Rebellion, Ser. I, Vol. XXII, Pt. I.

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mated at from 2,500 to 3,500, under Major Gen. James G. Blunt. The Confederate troops co-operating with General Steele were those under command of General Cooper, and the regiments of Stand Watie and McIntosh. Early in the spring General Steele instituted an aggressive movement against Fort Gibson, with the design of clearing that section of the country of the Union forces. But owing to the failure of the different regiments to co-operate ef- fectively, the trains of reinforcements and supplies came safely through from the north, and thus strengthened the federals were able to assume the offensive against the Confederates, who were then encamped at Honey Springs. In the course of the efforts to prevent the Union trains from reaching Fort Gibson, Stand Watie had at- tacked the escort under Colonel Phillips on May 28th, and a skirmish ensued near Fort Gibson, in which 35 rebels were reported killed, and five Union soldiers were killed. After this skirmish a regiment of Kansas colored troops and other reinforcements were sent into the Territory. It was recog- nized that a withdrawal of the Union forces from the Arkansas would be disastrous to the Indian country and greatly demoralize the Indian troops. The reports of the com-

" The report of General Blunt of the Union forces, of this engagement, is as follows: The rebels, under General Cooper (6,000), were posted on Elk Creek, 25 miles south of the Arkansas, on the Texas road, with strong outposts guarding every crossing of the river from behind rifle-pits. General Cabell, with 3,000 men, was expected to join him on the 17th, when they proposed attack- ing this place. I could not muster 3,000 effective men for a fight, but determined, if I could effect a crossing, to give them battle on the other side of the river. At midnight of the 15th, I took 250 cavalry and four pieces of light artillery, and marched up the Arkansas about 13 miles, drove their pickets from the opposite bank, and forded the river, taking the ammunition chests over in a flat-boat. I then passed down on the south side, expecting to get in the rear of their pickets

manding officers from both sides indicate a lack of steady patriotism on the part of the Indians, their service being rather of the nature of a voluntary contribution than an obligation of duty.

On July 17, 1863, was fought the battle of Honey Springs, on Elk creek, not far from Fort Gibson. The Confederates hav- ing failed in their movement against Fort Gibson and in preventing the arrival of re- inforcements at that point, General Cooper was encamped at Honey Springs, awaiting the arrival of Cabell's Arkansas brigade. General Blunt, who had taken command in person at Fort Gibson, now moved out, with a force of about 3,000, and attacked Cooper's force. Cooper, from his own report, knew of the advance of the enemy twenty-four hours before they arrived, and was also in- formed of the approach of Cabell's troops, but decided to give battle upon the ground he occupied, without, as was charged, taking any steps to strengthen his position or try- ing to effect a junction with Cabell. After a short contest he was driven from the field, reporting the loss of one howitzer and about 200 men in killed, wounded and captured.11

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A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume I, Part 15

Author: Hill, L. B. (Luther B.) Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pubishing Company Number of Pages: 645

Author: Hill, L. B. (Luther B.)
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pubishing Company
Number of Pages: 645