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THE WAR AMONG THE INDIANS.

their immediate neighbor, and of which the conservation and perpetuity of slaveholding was the most cherished idea. Some of those Chiefs have since insisted that they were deceived by the Confederate emissaries, and especially by Gen. Albert Pike, chief Commissioner for Indian Affairs of the Confederacy, who had led them to confound that concern with the Union. What is certain is, that, directly after tidings reached them of the battles of Bull Run and Wilson's creek-the latter reported to them from that side as a complete discomfiture of the North, which view the undoubted death of Lyon and abandonment of Springfield tended strongly to corroborate-the Chiefs of most of the tribes very generally entered into a close offensive and defensive alliance with the Confederacy; even so cautious and politic a diplomatist as John Ross throwing his weight into that scale. It is said that, after the death of Lyon, Ben McCulloch's brigade of Texans was marched back to the Indian border, and that the Creeks and Cherokees were impressively required to decide quickly between the North and the South; else, betwixt Texas on the one side and Arkansas on the other, a force of 20,000 Confederates would speedily ravage and lay waste their country. They decided accordingly. Yet a very large minority of both Creeks and Cherokees rallied around the Chief Opothleyolo, made head against the current, and stood firm for the Union. Assembling near the Creek Agency, they tore down the Rebel flag there flying and replanted the Stars and Stripes; and a letter" from Col. McIntosh to the True Dem

Oct. 17, 1861.
VOL. IL- -3

33

ocrat" called loudly for reenforcements to the Rebel array in the Indian Territory, and expressed apprehension that the Northern party might prove the stronger. A battle between the antagonistic Indian forces took place Dec. 9th, 1861, on Bushy creek, near the Verdigris river, 180 miles west of Fort Smith, the Confederates being led by Col. Cooper, the Unionists by Opothleyolo. The result was not decisive, but the advantage appears to have been with the Rebel party, the Unionists being constrained soon after to make their way northward to Kansas, where they received the supplies they so much needed, and where a treaty of close alliance was negotiated" between Opothleyolo and his followers on one side, and Col. Dole, U. S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, on the other.

The Rebels were thus left in undisputed possession of the Indian Territory, from which they collected the four or five thousand warriors who appeared at Pea Ridge; but, though the ground was mainly broken and wooded, affording every facility for irregular warfare, they do not seem to have proved of much account, save in the consumption of rations and massacre of the Union wounded, of whom at least a score fell victims to their barbarities.

Their war-whoop was overborne by the roar of our heavy guns; they were displeased with the frequent falling on their heads of great branches and tops of the trees behind which they had sought shelter; and, in fact, the whole conduct of the battle on our part was, to their apprehension, disgusting. The amount of effort and of profanity expended

18 Little Rock, Arkansas.

19 At Leavenworth, Feb. 1, 1862.

by their White officers in trying to keep them in line at the front, probably overbalanced the total value of their services; so that, if they chose to depart for their homes soon after the close of the battle, it is not probable that any strenuous efforts were made to detain them."

generally swampy, wooded, and thinly settled country, where none but negroes made any professions of Unionism, and, being joined at Jacksonport" by Gen. C. C. Washburne, with the 3d Wisconsin cavalry, which had come through from Springfield alone and unassailed, proceeded to Augusta, where he took leave" of the White, and, assuming a generally S. W. direction, took his way across the cypress swamps and canebrakes of the Cache, where his advance (the 33d Illinois, Col. Hovey), which had been struggling over roads heavily obstructed by fallen trees, was attacked" by some 1,500 Rebel cavalry, mainly Texans, led by Gen. Albert

Gen. Curtis, after resting and refitting his army, finding no enemy in its vicinity, again put his column in motion, proceeding S. S. E. through north-western Arkansas to Batesville," on White river, near which point he had expected to meet gunboats with supplies from below. He found the river, however, at an unusually low stage for the season-Rust, who held him in check for an barely four feet; while the gunboats required six or seven; beside which, the Mound City, which attempted the ascent, had been resisted and blown up in a fight with the Rebel battery at St. Charles some days before. Being compelled, therefore, to depend for all his supplies on wagontrains from Rolla, Mo., now several hundred miles distant, he did not feel strong enough to advance on Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, nearly 100 miles S. S. W. from his present position. Having halted seven weeks, wholly unmolested, at Batesville, he again set forth," crossing the Big Black by a pontoon-bridge, and pursuing a southerly course through a

20 Pollard says:

The Indian regiments, under Gen. Pike, had not come up in time to take any important part

in the battle. Some of the red men behaved well, and a portion of them assisted in taking a battery; but they were difficult to manage in the deafening roar of artillery, to which they were unaccustomed, and were naturally amazed at the sight of guns that ran on wheels. They knew what to do with the rifle; they were accustomed to the sounds of battle as loud as their own war-whoop; and the amazement of these

hour, until he was joined by the 1st Indiana cavalry, Lt.-Col. Wood, with two howitzers, when an impetuous charge was made by the Indianians, whereby the enemy were routed and put to flight. The bodies of 110 dead Rebels were buried by our soldiers, whose loss was but 8 killed and 45 wounded, including Maj. Glendennin, who led the charge, receiving a shot in the breast, which proved mortal. The Rebels were satisfied with this experiment, and gave no further trouble.

Gen. Curtis again struck" White river at Clarendon, just below the mouth of the Cache, only to learn, with intense chagrin, that Col. Fitch,

simple children of the forest may be imagined at the sight of such roaring, deafening, crashing wheels. Gen. Van Dorn, in his official report monsters as 12-pounders running around on of the battle, does not mention that any assistance was derived from the Indians-an ally that had, perhaps, cost us much more trouble, expense, and annoyance than their services in modern warfare could, under any circumstances,

be worth."

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SCHOFIELD AND MONEIL HOLD MISSOURI.

35

with the expected gunboats and field persisted in enrolling and organtransports, had gone down the river izing militia until he had 50,900 men riverizing barely 24 hours previous. Being on his lists, of whom about 30,000 short of provisions, in a thoroughly were armed. Upon full considerainhospitable country, he had no choice tion, he decided to enroll only loyal but to make his way to the most ac- men, since passive were often concessible point on the Mississippi. verted into active Rebels by a reThis was Helena, 65 miles S. E., quirement to serve in the Union which was made" by Gen. Wash- forces. He had 20,000 men ready burne, with 2,500 cavalry and 5 how- for service, when, late in July, 1862, itzers, in a march of 24 hours, the the tidings of McClellan's disastrous infantry coming through during the failure before Richmond combined two following days, bringing about with other influences to fill the half a regiment of white Arkansas interior of the State with formidvolunteers, with a large number of able bands of Rebel partisans. Of negroes, who, having been employed these, Col. Porter's, two or three to block the roads in our front by thousand strong, was attacked" at felling trees across them, were entitled Kirksville, Adair County, by Col. to liberty and protection under the John McNeil, with 1,000 cavalry regnant military policy. A single and a battery of 6 guns, and, after a train of 40 wagons, laden with sup- desperate fight of four hours, utterly plies, being wholly unguarded, was defeated, with a loss of 180 killed captured by Rebel guerrillas in Mis- and 500 wounded. Several wagonsouri, within 30 miles of Rolla, its loads of arms were among the spoils starting-point. of victory, and Porter's force was by this defeat practically destroyed. McNeil's loss was reported at 28 killed and 60 wounded.

Gen. John M. Schofield had at an early day" been placed by Gen. Halleck in command of all the Missouri militia a force then visible only to the eye of faith. By the middle of April following, he had an array of 13,800 men in the field, mainly cavalry; to which was intrusted the defense of the State, while our other troops were drawn away to Arkansas and the Tennessee. Gen. Curtis's movements eastward toward the Mississippi opened the State to incursions from the Rebels, still in force in western Arkansas; while considerble numbers of Price's men were clandestinely sent home to enlist recruits and organize guerrilla bands for activity during the summer. July 11

28 Nov. 27, 1861.

Four days thereafter, Col. Poindexter's band of about 1,200 Rebels was attacked, while crossing the Chariton river, by Col. Odin Guitar, 9th militia cavalry, 600 men, with 2 guns, and thoroughly routed; many of the Rebels being driven into the river and drowned. "Many horses and arms, and all their spare ammunition and other supplies, were captured."" Poindexter, with what remained of his force, fled northward to join Porter; but was intercepted and driven back by another Union force under Gen. Ben. Loan, and again struck by Guitar; who, in a Scho- running fight of nearly 48 hours, Aug 6, 1862. 30 Gen. Schofield's official report.

20

killed, captured, or dispersed his entire command. Poindexter, after wandering alone through the woods for several days, was made a prisoner; and Porter, driven back upon McNeil by the same movement of Gen. Loan, was compelled to disperse his band to save it from destruction. This was the last appearance of the Rebels in formidable force northward of the Missouri river; though small bands of guerrillas continued to plunder and murder there, as elsewhere, for more than a year.

Independence, on the western border of the State, was about this time attacked" by a Rebel band of 500 to 800, under Col. Hughes; and its garrison, 312 men of the 7th Missouri cavalry, was surrendered by Lt.-Col. Buel, after a short resistance. Gen. Coffey, with 1,500 Rebel cavalry from Arkansas, early in August, invaded south-western Missouri, and, avoiding Springfield, moved rapidly northward. Col. Clark Wright, 6th Missouri cavalry, was sent with 1,200 men in pursuit; Gen. Totten being directed by Schofield to strike the band which had just captured Independence, before it could be joined by Coffey; while Gen. Blunt, commanding in Arkansas, was requested to send a force from Fort Scott, to cöoperate in cutting off Coffey's retreat; and Col. Fitz-Henry Warren, 1st Iowa cavalry, was dispatched from Clinton with 1,500 men to effect a junction with Maj. Foster; who, with the 7th militia cavalry, 800 strong, had been pushed out from Lexington by Totten, in quest of Hughes.

These combinations upon our side failed most signally. Coffey and Hughes united their forces and fought Sept. 24.

31

Aug. 11.

32

Maj. Foster at Lone Jack, Jackson county, wounded and defeated him, with the loss of his two guns, and compelled him to fall back to Lexington, upon which place Coffey was advancing with an army now augmented to 4,500 men; when, finding that Gen. Blunt was in strong force, threatening his line of retreat, while Loan's and Wright's and other commands were concentrating upon him from every direction, he relinquished the hope of capturing Lexington and relieving the Rebels north of the river, and turned to fly. Eluding Gen. Blunt in the night, he was hotly pursued to the Arkansas line, but escaped without serious disaster.

Gen. Schofield was soon after" superseded in the command of the department, by Gen. Curtis, but immediately placed at the head of the forces confronting the enemy in the south-west, where the Rebels, now led by Gen. T. C. Hindman," were threatening a fresh invasion. Setting forward from Springfield" to Sarcoxie to reconnoiter the enemy's position, Gen. Salomon's advance had been overwhelmed at Newtonia by a large body of Rebel cavalry. Salomon had thereupon moved forward to their support, and renewed the battle at noon; fighting until sunset without serious loss,ultimately retiring in good order from the field. He estimated his strength at 4,500, and the enemy's in his front at 7,000. Gen. Schofield, being rëenforced by Gen. Blunt from Arkansas, found himself at the head of 10,000 men; while the Rebels at Newtonia were estimated at 13,000 to 20,000. He resolved to advance that night and attack at daylight next morning; Gen. Blunt approach

33 Late M. C. from Arkansas.

34 Oct. 1.

GEN. SCHOFIELD ADVANCES INTO ARKANSAS.

37

ing Newtonia from the north and | to Ozark, resolved not to fight until west, and Gen. Totten from the east. rëenforcements should arrive, and He found, on coming up, that the that further pursuit would be useless; enemy had sent their baggage to the so he retraced his steps, via Bentonrear, and were preparing to retreat. ville, to Cross Hollows and Osage Immediately charging with cavalry Springs, sending Gen. Herron, with and artillery, the Rebels fled without the 1st Iowa and 7th militia cavalry, resistance, and were chased 30 miles about 1,000 in all, to attack in the into Arkansas. It appeared that, rear some 3,000 or 4,000 Rebel cavthough in great numbers, they were alry who were encamped on White badly armed, many of them not at river, 8 miles from Fayetteville; while all; having been sorely disappointed Gen. Totten, advancing via Fayetteby the capture of a vessel laden with ville, was to assail them in front. arms for their use on the Mississippi Gen. Herron reached their camp at some time previously. Schofield early dawn," and immediately atpressed on" to the old battle-ground tacked with such vigor that the of Pea Ridge, only to find the ene- Rebels, though in superior numbers, my's forces divided: a part, under fled rapidly into the mountains, with Cooper, having moved westward to the loss of their camp equipage. Gen. ward Maysville, with intent to oper- Totten did not arrive till after they ate on our communications with Fort had vanished. Gen. Schofield found Scott, while the main body had re- no further enemies within striking treated south-westerly toward Hunts- distance, until compelled by sickness ville, leaving two or three thousand to resign his command," leaving Miscavalry in our front to screen these souri substantially pacified. movements. Gen. Blunt was thereupon sent after Cooper; and, after a hard night's march, found him in camp near Maysville, and at once attacked, capturing his 4 guns and completely routing his command. The Rebels fled in disorder across the Arkansas to Fort Gibson. Their loss in material would have been greater had they had more to lose.

Gen. Schofield, with the residue of his army, made a forced march over White River Mountains, to a point 8 miles west of Huntsville, where Rains had encamped the day before. His advance was next morning pushed forward into Huntsville, whence a few Rebel cavalry fled at his approach. He here learned that Rains was retreating across the mountains

Oct. 17.

But Gen. Hindman, commanding the Confederate forces in Arkansas, was not disposed to rest satisfied with such a conclusion of the campaign. Having collected, by concentration and conscription, a force estimated by our officers in his front at 25,000 to 30,000 men-while he officially reports that, for want of stores, etc., he was able to take on this expedition but 9,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and his artillery-he crossed the Arkansas river at or near Van Buren, and advanced upon our scattered and numerically far inferior division, which was watching him from the neighborhood of the last conflict. It was now December; but the weather was clear and dry, and the days bright and warm, though the nights were

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