When the troops of the Indian expedition, including the recently organized Indian regiments, fell back to Baxter Springs, in Southern Kansas, in August, 1862, nearly all the families of the loyal Indians left their homes and followed the army to that point; for no sooner had the Federal forces commenced to retreat than the Southern forces under General Cooper and Colonel Stand Watie crossed to the north side of the Arkansas River and advanced north through the Cherokee Nation until they came in contact with Colonel Phillips' scouting parties.  There was soon a large camp of refugee Indian families at Baxter Springs.  In the fall of 1862, when the Federal forces advanced into Northwest Arkansas, the families of the Indian soldiers moved to Neosho, in Newton County, where they went into camp and into such houses as could be obtained.  A battalion of Indian soldiers was sent to Neosho under Major John A. Foreman, Third Indian Regiment, to afford protection to these Indian families against the raids of guerilla [sic] bands and to relieve them from the suffering and hardships of their situation as much as possible.  There was a good deal of suffering among them during the winter, in spite of the efforts of those whose duty it was to look after them.  There was probably no suffering for want of food, for there was a fair supply of corn, wheat, cattle, and hogs in that section that fall, and there were several good water-power mills near Neosho to make flour and meal.  Such suffering as existed came from exposure incident to the changed conditions these people were required to meet.  Considering their hard situation, it is to their credit that very few complaints were made against them for depredations against property.  Whatever was taken for their benefit, was taken by direction of proper officers of the army.  As supplies for the Southern army had been drawn mainly from the Unionists when it was in that section, it was regarded as no more than right that the secessionists of the country should contribute some of the supplies for subsisting the troops and Indian families at Neosho during the winter.  [The Civil War on the Border, Volume II, pages 7-8.]

On the morning of April 9th [1863] the refugee train, a train of wagons perhaps more than a mile long, with an escort of three hundred Indian soldiers under Captain A. C. Spillman, arrived at Park Hill from Neosho, Missouri, bringing all the Indian families who had spent the winter at that place.  Many of the Indian women and children were riding their ponies, their effects and the old and the invalids being hauled in the wagons.  This meeting of the Indian soldiers with their families near the capital of their country, after a separation of nearly a year in some instances, was the occasion for much rejoicing, for it was an event the consummation of which they had been earnestly wishing for through the long weary months of hardship and exile.  But while all these people were gratified and even thankful to be able to come together under the bright skies of their own beautiful country, all the greetings of husbands and wives and members of families and friends did not present scenes of rejoicing.  Many of these families had been exposed to the epidemic of measles at Neosho during the past winter, and the mortality from the resulting sequelae of the disease had been very great, particularly among the children, on account of the inadequate facilities for taking proper care of the patients.  There was very little correspondence by writing between the Indian soldiers and their families, and at the greetings of parents, reference was soon made to a child or member of the family who had fallen a victim to disease and had been left behind to be mourned by loving hearts.  Thus were hearts torn by trials and severe afflictions, so that there was weeping as well as rejoicing when the Indian soldiers met their families returning from exile.  [The Civil War on the Border, Volume II, pages 34-35.]

The Indian soldiers now stationed here [Neosho, late January 1863], are quartered in the Court House, and have made a number of port holes for their rifles, to be used in the event of an attack.  Throughout the State the Militia are using the Court Houses for quarters and for means of defense.  [Memoirs of the Rebellion on the Border 1863, page 112. This book is written in the form of a chronological diary.]

To-day, February 2d [1863], Major Foreman had erected on the Court House Square, Neosho, a high flagstaff, and run up our National Flag, and its folds floated to the breeze for the first time since a detachment of General Sigel's men were captured in the Court House here on the 3d [5th] July, 1861.  Expressions from some of the rebel families in town show that they regard it scornfully, and would, if they dared, trail it in the dust.  But as we are just beginning to develop our strength, while the enemy is unquestionably beginning to show signs of weakness, we will hardly withdraw our troops from this section again.  Those who don't like the sight of our National Flag, should therefore move south, and join their friends who carry the Confederate Flag . . . .  [Memoirs of the Rebellion on the Border 1863, pages 119-120.]

Parties coming from Neosho [in mid-February, 1863] report that there is a great deal of sickness among the Indian soldiers and their families at that place.  Taking into account the number of Indians there, and the number sick, the mortality amongst them is considered very high.  The prevailing type of disease which is now taking off so many of them, I understand is typhoid fever.  The hardships incident to leaving their homes in the Nation, and innutritious food and insufficient quantities of food, together with the poorly clad condition of many, are probably among the causes of this high mortality in some of the families.  But of course the remark in regard to food and clothing cannot apply to tho Indian soldiers, for they are as well fed and clothed as we are, that is, they have had their regular allowances during the winter.  But the families and each member thereof have not perhaps had full rations during the winter.  Though great care and interest have been manifested by Colonel Phillips in looking after them, yet it has been impossible to make them as comfortable as at their homes.  The want of proper sheltering has also probably in many cases contributed to their discomforts and sickness.  Home sickness, from being exiles, also doubtless has a depressing influence amongst some of them.  [Memoirs of the Rebellion on the Border 1863, pages 131-132.]

SOURCES:  Wiley Britton, The Civil War on the Border.  A Narrative of Military Observations in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory, During the Years 1863-65, Based Upon Official Reports and Observations of the Author (Volume II, 1899).

Wiley Britton, Memoirs of the Rebellion on the Border 1863 (1882).

HDQRS. 3D BRIG., 1ST DIV., ARMY OF THE FRONTIER,
Camp Curtis, Ark., January 19, 1863.

Major General CURTIS,
Commanding Department of the Missouri:

SIR:  As my orders direct me to "subsist, as far as possible, destitute Indians in the Nation," I desire to state its condition.  Some time ago Major Foreman, and a battalion of the Third Indian Regiment, was ordered by General Blunt to Neosho.  It was on the route of supply from Fort Scott, which was then partially guarded.  Major Foreman is still there with his force (see reports).  He moved down a number of Cherokee families from the Drywood, and Neosho, which had been partially abandoned, is densely peopled.  The bulk of the Cherokee people are still in the Nation.  Since our recent movements, and since the rebels were driven toward the Canadian River, many rebel families have fled with them and after them, to escape starvation.

There is not to-day half enough food to do the people now in the Nation.  I am running Hildebrand�s Mill, and when I get some flour and meal shall send it to Tahlequah, Park Hill, and Fort Gibson, to prevent the people now in want from starving.  I shall send 400 men with the party the moment I can spare them, and this party, besides escorting and delivering the breadstuffs, can keep the enemy over the river.  The opening season comes early in the Indian Nation.  To escape drought, planting should begin in March.  The Nation is nearly destitute of seed; the Government or the charitable should supply it early, or all this people will be dependent on us another year.  I beg leave to submit my own plan, and it may be of service should I be superseded by another.  It is to have at least 200 or 300 wagons with supplies ready at Fort Scott at the close of February, so that the command, refugees and all, should move forward rapidly in a few days to Fort Gibson.  Besides seed for the people, the train should carry commissaries� [stores] and ammunition for the whole command for at least forty days, with some surplus rations to issue to the destitute and to the soldiers to be brought over from the rebel ranks, the Choctaws and Creeks, under McIntosh.  With such supplies and a rapid movement, the country could be occupied in early spring.  There are plenty of beef cattle in the valley of the Arkansas.  The train could bring supplies, and in the mean time enough could be done to thoroughly redeem the Nation.

I disapprove of covering more country than we can hold, or of inviting people to show their devotion to the Government until we can protect them from the consequences of such manifestation.

I am ordered to draw my supplies from Fort Scott.  The line can be maintained, but will require some force to sustain it.  Besides the Cherokee Nation, the Creek Nation is destitute of seed; seeds of all kind will be needed.  The families at Neosho and the Creek families in Kansas will need transportation to move them into the Nation.  Unless the Government makes up its mind to subsist them another year, they ought to be sent home early.

All of which I submit, with profound respect.

WM. A. PHILLIPS,
Colonel, Commanding Third Brigade, Army of the Frontier.

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 22 (Part II), pages 60-61.

On February 2, 1863, Maj. Foreman put up a high flag-pole in the square at Neosho, and ran up the Stars and Stripes, the first time it appeared here since the capture of Capt. Conrad's men on July 3 [5], 1861.  P.R. Smith states that Richardson and Maj. Montgomery raised flags in 1862.  During Maj. Foreman's occupation of Neosho he ordered a number of citizens executed.  Yank Richardson, who was a respectable man prior to the war, but during the war a bushwhacker, was taken in by Foreman's Indians, and was shot at Herms' Corner.  Munroe Moore was shot, while running, at the same time.  A desperado named Ragain killed a man in Jennings' store.  Foreman had Ragain arrested, but he swore that he was not the guilty party, and so was turned loose.

Joseph Finney was captured by Foreman's scout for being with others engaged in killing one man of the Federal force in the bottoms near Job Ratliff's house, on a Sunday morning.  Finney was brought before Foreman, who ordered him to be shot near the spot where the Federal soldier was killed.  This order was carried out, and Finney was buried there, the grave diggers leaving the victim's hair standing above the ground.  Miss Parnell called on Foreman to ask permission to bury the body.  He told her she might do so, but he would not guarantee her safety.

SOURCE: Goodspeed's History of Newton County, Missouri (1888), pages 259-260.

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