what role did oklahoma play in the civil war if any?

Oklahoma was then known as Indian Territory. The Union forces abandoned the area in May, 1861 because it was too far from supply points. Col. Wm. Emory amassed his territorial forces east of Fort Arbuckle, sending a messenger to Ft.Cobb to meet him on the California Road. Emory then started a march to Kansas. Texas forces immediately came in and "captured" Ft. Washita and Ft. Arbuckle. Near present Paoli, just north of present Pauls Valley, advance forces of Texas Calvary were ambushed by Emory, disarmed and dis-mounted and sent packing. The Five Civilized Tribes, and tribes resident the Wichita Agency were approached early in the war by Confederate General Albert Pike. Treaties were signed and the tribal leaders pledged for the South. The Kickapoo refused to join the Rebs and left. Some of the Creeks, Cherokee, Seminole, and a few Choctaw and Chickasaw also refused. A battle was fought at Round Mountain. Forces from the Five tribes were at Pea Ridge, Honey Grove, and other battles, but much of their effort was as raiders. In the west, Ft. Cobb and the Wichita Agency were attacked and burned. Stand Watie was probably the most famous Indian in the Civil War. Little known is the Caddo Battalion led by George Washington which did its part to hold the Comanche at bay. There are a lot of good books out there on this but you can also read about it online by going to the Chronicles of Oklahoma website. http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v020/v020p360.html

I have a question about the battle of Pea Ridge. In the aftermath, there was considerable press coverage (mainly in Northern newspapers) that some of the Cherokee Confederate soldiers scalped their opponents, and not always after they were dead. I believe this allegation is repeated in one of Dr. Moody's books. Does anybody know if these reports were reliably verified, or were they just sensationalism and Union propaganda?

--meursault

thanks for the great info. that is what i was looking for.

John, I've seen the same allegation re the scalping. I don't know if it's true or not but a lot of historians have treated it seriously. Lately, others have been hesitant, not because of a need for accuracy, but out of political correctness. It would be an interesting search. For what it's worth, my great grandfather was at Pea Ridge and none of his stories ever mentioned scalping--and, after his later stay in the infamous Andersonville prison, he hated Confederates. If he had heard of it, or had personal knowlege, I'm sure he would have harrangued on it.

For an idea of the Civil War in Indian Territory take the destrction of Georgia in Sherman's march to the sea and stretch it over all four years, especially in the Cherokee nation with guerrilla activity from both sides. The Chronicles are a very good place to start. Another source of information is the Indian Pioneer History papers at the OHS Archives in Oklahoma City, these provide individual insight into the conflict and its ferocity. As to scalping at Pea Ridge, look at the Chronicles V. 25 # 4 1947; the article Indians in the Battle of Pea Ridge, by Roy Clifford addresses this topic on p. 320-'21.

Hi,

I would like to suggest a new book concerning the scalping of solders at Pea Ridge, which is "Scattered Graves" by Retired Col. Roy Sullivan, published by Authorhouse. Go to the Authorhouse book site, which has a short part of the book, which tells of scalping of solders.

Mike Koch

White Federal Soldiers were reported as scalped at the battle of Poison Springs, Arkansas in April of 1864. The scalpings were mentioned in "Steele's Retreat From Camden and The Battle of Jenkins Ferry" by Edwin C. Bearss, published by the Arkansas Civil War Centennial Commission and Pioneer Press, Little Rock, Arkansas. The battle took place during the Red River Campaign in April l864. General Steel had sent out a foraging party of about 200 wagons and 1.000 plus soldiers. The foraging party was attacked by Confederate Task force Maxey commanded by Brigadier General Samuel Maxey. Part of the Task Force were the 2nd Indian Brigade commanded by Col Tandy Walker which consisted of the 1st and 2nd Choctaw Regiments. Also in the Task Force was the 29th Texas Cavalry. The Federal foraging party had among other units the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry. The 29th Texas Cav and the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry had previously fought aganinst one another in July of 1863 at Honey Springs, IT where the Texas Cavalry was forced to retreat from the battle field. The Confederate troops routed the Federals at Poison Springs and captured 170 wagons, several artillery pieces, small arms, 125 prisoners, and the Federals suffered 301 killed. The 1st Kansas Colored Infantry lost 117 killed. Bearss quoted Captain Rowland of the 18th Iowa Infantry "three days afterwards a burial detail was sent from the 18th to the field, under command of Major J.K. Morey.... The Major buried six white officers and eighty men of the 1st Kansas...The white dead were scalped and all stripped of clothing, which were worn by the rebels". The quote was attributed to "History of the 1st Iowa Cavalry", pg 182 by Lothrop. bearss doesn't say who did the scalping. It could have been the Choctaw Regiments or it may have been the 29th Texas Cavalry getting revenge for Honey Springs.

wow, great info, thanks for that.

I just came across this while editing some endnotes: According to the History of Boone County, Missouri by William F. Switzler, Page 720-721... “Philip S. Hocker enlisted in 1861, in Col. Stone's regiment of Texas volunteers, and gave his services to the cause of the Confederacy. In the winter of 1862 he returned home and assisted in recruiting a company for Col. Alexander's regiment. Hocker was commissioned second lieutenant, and was the officer sent by Gen. Pike from Ft. Gibson, soon after the battle of Pea Ridge, under a flag of truce, to Gen. Curtis, to adjust the difficulties concerning the "scalping" done by the Indian allies of BOTH Federals and Confederates.

For a scholarly response to your inquiry - "What role did Oklahoma play in the Civil War, if any?" IF ANY!?! - one need only read:

"The Civil War Era in Indian Territory", edited and introduction by LeRoy H. Fischer, with Foreword by Odie B. Faulk. Published in 1974 by Lorrin L. Morrison, Los Angeles, Calif.

Chapters Include:

"Chickasaw-Choctaw Financial Relations with the United States, 1830-1880" by Henry M. Winsor;

"Cherokee Nation - United States Financial Relations, 1830-1870" by Alvin O. Turner;

"The Choctaw Nation on the Eve of the Civil War" by Paul Bonnifield;

"Wichita Indian Agents, 1857-1869" by John C. Paige;

"Chief John Ross and William P. Dole: A Case Study of Lincoln's Indian Policy" by Gary E. Moulton;

"Samuel Bell Maxey as Confederate Commander in Indian Territory" by Nancy Hobson;

"The Breakdown of Confederate - Five Civilized Tribes Relations" by Kenny A. Franks;

"Confederate Surrenders in Indian Territory" by Gayle Ann Brown;

"The Choctaw-Chickasaw Reconstruction Treaty of 1866" by Marion Ray McCullar;

"The Cherokee Reconstruction Treaty of 1866" by Paul F. Lambert;

"Socioeconomic Reconstruction in the Seminole Nation, 1865-1870" by May Trees.

However, if one is more interested in the places and activites that took place between the Blue & Gray on-the-ground in the Oklahoma and Indian Territories, which make-up the great State of Oklahoma, one should read:

"Civil War Sites in Oklahoma" by E. H. "Gene" Brewington (Treasure World Apr-May 1975).

Mr. Brewington has identified nearly 100 sites where Civil War activities happened in the state. He lists them by County and provides Section-Township-Range descriptions . . . everything from Battles, such as Honey Springs and Round Mountain, Skirmishes & Engagements, including Cowskin Prairie & Iron Bridge & San Bois Creek & Skullyville & Locust Grove & Cabin Creek & Fort Wayne & Pryor Creek & Bayou Menard & Chustenahlah & Chusto-Talasah; also locations of encampments, Staging Areas, Salt Works, Hay Camps, Commissary Depots, Hospitals, Military Prison, Forts, etc.

These events happened in present Counties of: Atoka, Bryan, Caddo, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cimarron, Creek, Delaware, Garvin, Haskell, Johnston, LeFlore, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Pittsburg, Sequoyah, Tulsa and Wagoner.

So, was Oklahoma (Indian Territory) in Civil War - - ABSOLUTELY!

In fact, at the onset of the hostilities (from the Northern Aggressors), the Union forces completely pulled-out of the region, leaving (for a short period) the Confederate flag as the ONLY FLAG flying over the Territory. This is the "historical reason" why the Confederate flag should be represented in the array of flags flown over the State of Oklahoma.