Battle of Honey Springs
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Honey Springs was an American Civil War
battle, an important victory for Union forces in their efforts to gain control of the Indian Territory
. The battle was also unique in the fact that white soldiers were the minority in both forces. African and Native Americans
made up significant portions of each of the opposing armies.
in Indian Territory opted to side with the Confederate States of America
, raising native troops under the leadership of General Douglas H. Cooper
, and driving out pro-Union Creek Indian forces after a short campaign culminating in the Battle of Chustenahlah
. By 1863 Confederate fortunes in the region had sunk low, however. A Union campaign launched from Kansas led by General Blunt having driven the Confederacy from the north of the region, many of the Cherokee switched sides to support the Union. Confident in their numerical superiority, the Confederates plotted a counteroffensive against Union forces at Fort Gibson, to be launched by Cooper's Indians and some attached Texan troops, and the soldiers of Gen. William Cabell's brigade, camped in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Cooper moved his army forward to Honey Springs, Indian Territory, an important Confederate supply depot, to rest and equip, while awaiting Cabell's brigade, marching to link up with Cooper. Union forces under General Blunt got wind of Cooper's plan however, and opted to attack him first, before Cabell arrived, which would've given the Confederates overwhelming numerical superiority. Blunt's command included three federal Indian Home Guard Regiments recruited from all the Five Nations and the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry
, with two white cavalry battalions (6th Kansas
and 3rd Wisconsin), one white infantry battalion consisting of six companies of the 2nd Colorado Infantry, and two Kansas artillery batteries making the remainder.
, fighting for the Union, accidentally strayed into no man's land
between the Confederate and Union lines. The Federal commanders gave the order for the Home Guards to fall back, the Confederates assumed it was an order to retreat and attacked. The Confederates charged into an established defensive line held by the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, which repulsed the charge.
Cooper pulled his men back towards the depot to obtain new ammunition, but the Federals continued to press his army closely. Heavy fighting occurred when Cooper's men made a stand at a bridge over Elk Creek, roughly 1/4 of a mile south of the original position. Union forces continued driving them back further and gradually beginning to turn Cooper's left, causing a general Confederate retreat. Cooper attempted to fight a rearguard action, making a last stand another 1/2 mile south near Honey Springs Depot. Despite a notable half-hour stand by the Choctaw and Chickasaw regiment, most of the badly-organized, disheartened, and in many cases due to their poor powder, unarmed Indians and Texans simply continued to flee. Victorious Union forces took possession of the Honey Springs depot, burning what couldn't be immediately used, and occupying the field. Blunt trumpeted the battle as a major victory, claiming Union losses of only 76, with enemy casualties in excess of 500, although Cooper reported only 181 Confederate casualties.
, claimed Cooper's poor generalship was responsible for the defeat, arguing that about half the Confederate army was never even engaged.
. Despite the efforts of notable Confederate officers like Stand Watie
Confederate forces in the region would never regain the initiative or engage the Union army in an open, head-on battle again, instead relying almost entirely on guerilla warfare and small-scale cavalry actions to fight the Federal Army. The loss of the supplies at Honey Springs depot would likewise prove disastrous. Confederate forces, already operating on a shoe-string budget and with bad equipment, would come to increasingly rely on captured Union war material to keep up the fight.
- Major General James G. Blunt
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
battle, an important victory for Union forces in their efforts to gain control of the Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. The battle was also unique in the fact that white soldiers were the minority in both forces. African and Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
made up significant portions of each of the opposing armies.
Background
At the start of the American Civil War, for cultural and economic reasons, all of the Five Civilized TribesFive Civilized Tribes
The Five Civilized Tribes were the five Native American nations—the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole—that were considered civilized by Anglo-European settlers during the colonial and early federal period because they adopted many of the colonists' customs and had generally good...
in Indian Territory opted to side with the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, raising native troops under the leadership of General Douglas H. Cooper
Douglas H. Cooper
Douglas Hancock Cooper was a politician, a soldier, an Indian Agent in what is now Oklahoma, and a Confederate general during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
, and driving out pro-Union Creek Indian forces after a short campaign culminating in the Battle of Chustenahlah
Battle of Chustenahlah
The Battle of Chustenahlah was fought in Osage County, Oklahoma, on December 26, 1861, during the American Civil War. A band of 9,000 pro-Union Native Americans was forced to flee to Kansas in bitter cold and snow in what became known as the Trail of Blood on the Ice.Confederate troops had...
. By 1863 Confederate fortunes in the region had sunk low, however. A Union campaign launched from Kansas led by General Blunt having driven the Confederacy from the north of the region, many of the Cherokee switched sides to support the Union. Confident in their numerical superiority, the Confederates plotted a counteroffensive against Union forces at Fort Gibson, to be launched by Cooper's Indians and some attached Texan troops, and the soldiers of Gen. William Cabell's brigade, camped in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Cooper moved his army forward to Honey Springs, Indian Territory, an important Confederate supply depot, to rest and equip, while awaiting Cabell's brigade, marching to link up with Cooper. Union forces under General Blunt got wind of Cooper's plan however, and opted to attack him first, before Cabell arrived, which would've given the Confederates overwhelming numerical superiority. Blunt's command included three federal Indian Home Guard Regiments recruited from all the Five Nations and the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry
1st Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry (African Descent)
The 1st Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
, with two white cavalry battalions (6th Kansas
6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
The 6th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 6th Kansas Cavalry was organized at Fort Scott, Kansas in July 1861. The regiment began as three companies of home guard infantry, followed quickly by five...
and 3rd Wisconsin), one white infantry battalion consisting of six companies of the 2nd Colorado Infantry, and two Kansas artillery batteries making the remainder.
The battle
His attack began on July 17, with desultory morning skirmishing that revealed many of the Confederate soldiers had wet gunpowder, causing numerous misfires and accidents. The main Union attack began at mid-afternoon, and the beginning of a rain squall intensified the Confederate's ammunition problems. Opposing artillerymen each eliminated one gun on the opposing side during an early artillery duel. Then Blunt saw an opportunity, and ordered the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry to attack. Colonel James M. Williams led the Colored infantry forward, but the Confederates held their ground. Williams was wounded but the Colored troops conducted a disciplined withdrawal and sporadic firing continued. During this period the 2nd Indian Home GuardsIndian Home Guard (American Civil War)
The Indian Home Guard were volunteer infantry regiments recruited from the Five Civilized Tribes of Indian Territory to support the Union during the American Civil War....
, fighting for the Union, accidentally strayed into no man's land
No man's land
No man's land is a term for land that is unoccupied or is under dispute between parties that leave it unoccupied due to fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dumping ground for refuse between fiefdoms...
between the Confederate and Union lines. The Federal commanders gave the order for the Home Guards to fall back, the Confederates assumed it was an order to retreat and attacked. The Confederates charged into an established defensive line held by the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, which repulsed the charge.
Cooper pulled his men back towards the depot to obtain new ammunition, but the Federals continued to press his army closely. Heavy fighting occurred when Cooper's men made a stand at a bridge over Elk Creek, roughly 1/4 of a mile south of the original position. Union forces continued driving them back further and gradually beginning to turn Cooper's left, causing a general Confederate retreat. Cooper attempted to fight a rearguard action, making a last stand another 1/2 mile south near Honey Springs Depot. Despite a notable half-hour stand by the Choctaw and Chickasaw regiment, most of the badly-organized, disheartened, and in many cases due to their poor powder, unarmed Indians and Texans simply continued to flee. Victorious Union forces took possession of the Honey Springs depot, burning what couldn't be immediately used, and occupying the field. Blunt trumpeted the battle as a major victory, claiming Union losses of only 76, with enemy casualties in excess of 500, although Cooper reported only 181 Confederate casualties.
Reasons for Union Victory
The terrible equipment of the Confederates and the rain squall which ruined their powder, played a large part in the Confederate defeat, although some eyewitness sources, notably future Creek Indian chief George Washington GraysonGeorge Washington Grayson
George Washington Grayson was a Creek scholar, writer, merchant, rancher, newspaper publisher of the Indian Journal, and nationalist. During the American Civil War, he served as a Confederate captain, leading a company of the Second Creek Mounted Volunteers. He was also one of the founders of...
, claimed Cooper's poor generalship was responsible for the defeat, arguing that about half the Confederate army was never even engaged.
Aftermath
The battle was the largest ever fought in the Indian Territory, and would indeed prove to be decisive. The victory paved the way for Blunt's forces to capture Fort SmithFort Smith National Historic Site
Fort Smith National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located primarily in Fort Smith, Arkansas along the Arkansas River, and also along the opposite bank of the river near Moffett, Oklahoma....
. Despite the efforts of notable Confederate officers like Stand Watie
Stand Watie
Stand Watie , also known as Standhope Uwatie, Degataga , meaning “stand firm”), and Isaac S. Watie, was a leader of the Cherokee Nation and a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
Confederate forces in the region would never regain the initiative or engage the Union army in an open, head-on battle again, instead relying almost entirely on guerilla warfare and small-scale cavalry actions to fight the Federal Army. The loss of the supplies at Honey Springs depot would likewise prove disastrous. Confederate forces, already operating on a shoe-string budget and with bad equipment, would come to increasingly rely on captured Union war material to keep up the fight.
Union
District of the FrontierArmy of the Frontier
The Army of the Frontier was a Union army that served in the Trans-Mississippi Theater during the Civil War. It fought in several minor engagements in Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Kansas...
- Major General James G. Blunt
James G. Blunt
James Gillpatrick Blunt was a physician and abolitionist who rose to Union major general during the American Civil War.-Early life & career:...
- 1st Brigade - Colonel William R. Judson
- 2nd Indian Home Guard --- Lieutenant Colonel Fred W. Schaurte
- 1st Kansas Colored Infantry--- Colonel James M. Williams (w), Lieutenant Colonel John Bowles
- 6 Companies, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry --- Captain Edward R. Stevens
- 2nd Brigade - Colonel William A. PhillipsWilliam A. PhillipsWilliam Addison Phillips was a U.S. Representative from Kansas.Born in Paisley, Scotland, Phillips attended the common schools of Paisley....
- 6 Companies, 2nd Colorado Infantry --- Colonel Theodore H. Dodd
- 1st Indian Home Guard --- Colonel Stephen H. Wattles
- Detachments of 6th Kansas Cavalry* --- Colonel William F. Campbell
- Artillery
- 2nd Kansas Light Artillery
- 1st Section --- Captain Edward Smith
- 2nd Section --- Lieutenant John P. Grassberger
- 3rd Kansas Light Artillery* --- Captain Henry Hopkins
Confederate
1st Brigade, Indian Troops - Brigadier General Douglas H. Cooper- Texas Brigade - Colonel Thomas C. Bass
- 20th Texas Cavalry (Dismounted) --- Colonel Thomas Coker Bass
- 29th Texas Cavalry - Colonel Charles DeMorse (W)
- 5th Texas Partisan Rangers--- Colonel Leonidas M. Martin
- Indian Brigade - Brigadier General Douglas Cooper
- 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles* --- Major Joseph F. Thompson
- 2nd Cherokee Mounted Rifles# --- Lieutenant Colonel James M. Bell
- 1st Choctaw---Chickasaw Mounted Rifles --- Colonel Tandy Walker
- 1st Creek --- Colonel Daniel N. McIntosh
- 2nd Creek--- Colonel Chilly McIntosh
- Artillery & Cavalry
- Lee's Battery--- Captain Roswell W. Lee
- Scanland's Squadron Texas Cavalry --- Captain John Scanland
- Gillett's Squadron Texas Cavalry --- Captain L. E. Gillett
Battlefield Today
The battlefield is located in McIntosh County, Oklahoma near Rentiesville, and is managed by the Oklahoma Historical Society. On Aug. 21, 2011 the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced a $1.9 million public-private partnership that includes the Oklahoma Historical Society, McIntosh County and an area nonprofit organization to build a 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) visitor's center to replace the existing facility consisting of a small trailer. A November 2011 story in the Tulsa World newspaper cites the U.S. Department of the Interior report as giving consideration of designating the Honey Springs Battlefield as a U.S. National Battlefield Park.Sources
- National Park Battle Summary
- War in the Indian Nations 1861-1863 - extensive bibliography
- The Battle of Honey Springs: The Civil War Comes to the Indian Territory, a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan
- CWSAC Report Update and Resurvey: Individual Battlefield Profiles