Oklahoma in the Civil War

"Nowhere was America's Civil War more intense or its impact more severe than in Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma. Every able-bodied male in the area fought either with the Confederacy or the United States, and many fought with both. Death and destruction prevailed for four years." LeRoy H.Fischer Professor of History Emeritus at OSU

The People, The Battles





Albert Pike


·         Appointed Confederate commissioner of Indian affairs in March 1861

·         Negotiated treaties of alliance among the Creek, the Choctaw and Chickasaw, the Seminole, the Osage, and the Seneca and Shawnee to join the Confederacy.







Col. Douglas H. Cooper

·         Confederate Civil War General

o    Choctaw and Chickasaw agent- representative to make sure the tribes follow obligations of removal treaties.

o    When the Confederate cause was lost, he surrendered his troops in Indian Territory in June 1865. He swore allegiance to the United States, and his pardon application was approved in April 1866





Opothleyaholo

·         Creek Nation’s Chief

o    Became leader of the Upper Creeks after he lead the resistance against the Lower Creeks.

o    Upper Creek resistance executed William McIntosh, leader of the Lower Creeks, after signing a treaty in 1825 that would have given up all Creek-owned land in Georgia.


·          Neutral Indians

o    Eventually joined the Union in hopes of finding refuge in the North. 

o    Gathered Union sympathizers from the Comanche, Delaware, Kickapoo, Seminole, Wichita, and Shawnee tribes.

o    African slaves and freedmen also joined.

o    Led to Kansas




John Ross

·         Principal Chief of the Cherokee


·         Wanted to main neutral in the war

·         Reluctantly signed with the Confederacy when Stand Waite was rallying troops from different tribes to join the Confederacy.


·         Abandoned Cherokee Nation all together when the Federals invaded Indian Territory







Battle of Round Mountain (November 19, 1861)


·         First major battle of the Civil War in Indian Territory


·         Gen. Douglas Cooper and Opothleyaholo were not able to settle their differences.


·         Cooper, 1400 troops of Tribes. Opothleyaholo 1700 troops.


·         Cooper learned of Opothleyaholo’s camp site.


·         Confederates forced to retreat 


·         Opothleyaholo relocated





Battle of Caving Banks (December 9, 1861)


·         Also known as Battle of Chusto-Talasa


·         Cooper , along with Col John Drew, found Opothleyholo’s campsite


·         Opothleyaholo fought but then retreated and fled north


·         Cooper, short of ammunition, did not attack refugees while retreating to Kansas


·         Confederates claimed victory




Battle of Chustenalah (December 26, 1861)


·         Opothleyaholo found by Confederate scouts.


·         Confederate attack led by Douglas Cooper and James McIntosh. 


·         Opothleyaholo ran out of ammo and ran into the woods.


·         Suffering in cold weather, until Confederate troops retreated, Opothleyaholo then moved into Kansas


·         Considered a Confederate victory.


·         End of year one.



Battle of Fort Wayne (October 22, 1862)


·         Union leader Blunt learned of Cooper’s disband of Confederate march to Arkansas


·         Overwhelming Unionist troops outnumbered Confederate troops, leading to Union Victory.


Battle of Honey Springs (July 17, 1863)



·         Largest military clash to have occurred in Indian Territory.


·         Confederate Depot


·         Federals wanted to reestablish control.


·         Federals led by Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt. Confederates led by Col. Douglas Cooper.


·         Cooper awaited for Col. James Cabell and his troops at Honey Springs

o    Accumulated an estimated 6000 Confederate Soldiers


·         Blunt occupied and held his brigades at Fort Gibson


o    Accumulated an estimated 2800 troops

o    Fought alongside with Col. William Phillips and Col. William Judson

o    Col. William A. Phillips occupied Fort Gibson during the battle as Blunt went forward to meet Cabell. 


·         Blunt, correctly assuming Confederate generals were grouping together, led an attack at Honey Springs against Cooper as he was on his way to attack Fort Gibson.

o    Union victory due to Confederates having inadequate battle supplies and wet gun powder

§Noted that Cooper’s leadership might have also led the Confederacy to defeat.


·         As a result of the battle the Confederates no longer controlled Indian Territory north of the Arkansas River.

Battle of Middle Boggy Depot(February, 1864)


·         Maj. Charles Willette led an expedition sent by Col. John F. Phillips in Indian Territory that surprised Lt. Col. John Jumper’s Confederate forces.


·         Rebels had a small army, leading to their defeat


·         Federals retired to Fort Gibson 


Battles of Cabin Creek 

·         First Battle (July 1 and 2, 1863)

o    Stand Waite, along with Gen. William L. Cabell, attempted to capture Col. James M. William’s wagon train to supply Fort Gibson

o    Williams pushed back Waite with artillery, infantry, and cavalry.


·         Second Battle (September 19,1864)

o    Last major Civil War battle in Indian Territory

o    Stand Waite and Richard M. Gano captured supply train of 300 wagons under Maj. Henry M. Hopkins

o    Col. James M. Williams hear word and sent a brigade to relieve train

o    Under cover of night, Gano escaped with wagons to the northeast