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The Civil War Battles of Cabin Creek in Oklahoma Territory

The Civil War Battles of Cabin Creek in Oklahoma Territory

by Roy Dickson

 

           Those who attended the 2001 Fulbright Family reunion in Paris, TX, will recall attending a ceremony at the Turner Cemetery in Fulbright, Red River Co, TX where the Daughters of the Confederacy dedicated Civil War grave markers at the graves of 3 of the Missouri/Red River Co, TX Fulbrights and one Fulbright son-in-law. The youngest of these was Alfred N. Fulbright (1849-1876) who was only 12 years old when he enlisted along with his father Henry S. (1819-1870), an uncle Peter (1829-1880), and uncle Robert Houston Hooker (1837-1891). They were all in the 29th Texas Cavalry. Alfred N. was wounded at the second battle of Cabin Creek in Oklahoma Territory. Another Texas Fulbright, Julius Leonidus (1847-1929) also served in the 29th Texas Cavalry.

This became of additional interest when I noticed a sign just a few miles from our home here in northeastern Oklahoma pointing to the Cabin Creek Battle site! I went to the site which is owned & maintained by the Daughters of the Confederacy chapter in Vinita, Oklahoma. There are a number of markers describing the second battle of Cabin Creek & marking the locations of the various Confederate & Union outfits who participated in the battle. One marker shows the location of the 29th Texas Cavalry in the battle.

The first battle of Cabin Creek occurred on July 1 - 2, 1863. Col. James M. Williams of the First Kansas Colored Infantry led a Union supply train from Fort Scott, KS to Fort Gibson, OK (then Indian Territory). As he approached the crossing of Cabin Creek, he learned that Confederate Col. Stand Watie with about 1600 to 1800 men, about half of whom were Texans & the remainder Indians, intended to assault him there. Watie was waiting for about 1500 reinforcements under the command of Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell to join him before attacking the supply train. Cabell, however, was detained due to high water on the Grand River. Cabin Creek also had high water, preventing a crossing at first, but when it had receded, Williams drove the Confederates off with artillery fire and two cavalry charges. The wagon train continued to Fort Gibson and delivered the supplies, making it possible for the Union forces to maintain their presence in Indian Territory and take the offensive that resulted in a victory at Honey Springs and the fall of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

           The second battle of Cabin Creek on September 19, 1864 occurred as part of a desperate effort by the Confederacy to wrest control of Indian Territory from the Federals by cutting their supply line. A Confederate force led again by General Stand Watie attacked a Union wagon supply train consisting of 205 wagons, 91 sutler (supply) wagons and four ambulances, at the Cabin Creek stage station. The train was escorted by 300 troops and there were 170 Union Cherokees garrisoned at Cabin Creek Station, sent from Fort Gibson for escort. There were at least 250 teamsters, armed for the occasion. At 1:00 AM, September 19, 1864, the Second Battle of Cabin Creek began. By dawn the Union defenses were crushed and Yanks were scattered in the woods, retreating to Fort Gibson. For the first time in years, food was plentiful and badly needed supplies were available. About 300 wagons, 720 mules and goods valued at $1,500,000 (in 1864 dollars, about $75 million in today’s dollars) were captured. Confederate President Jefferson Davis termed the (second) Battle of Cabin Creek “the most complete battle” of the Civil War. It is known to Union historians as the “Disaster at Cabin Creek”. Of the 88 battles and skirmishes that took place in Indian Territory, the second Battle of Cabin Creek was the most significant.

           Stand Watie (1806-1871) who became the highest ranking Indian in the Civil War, was born at Oothcaloga, GA in Cherokee Nation (near present day Rome, GA) on 12 December 1806. He attended Moravian Mission School at Springplace, GA, and served as a clerk of the Cherokee Supreme Court and Speaker of the Cherokee National Council prior to removal.

           As a member of the Ridge-Watie-Boundinot faction of the Cherokee Nation, Watie supported removal to the Cherokee Nation, West, and signed the Treaty of New Echota in 1835, in defiance of the Principal Chief John Ross and the majority of the Cherokees. Watie moved to Cherokee Nation, West (present day Oklahoma) in 1837 and settled at Honey Creek. Following the murders of his uncle Major Ridge, cousin John Ridge, and brother Elias Boundinot (Buck Watie) in 1839 and his brother Thomas Watie in 1845, Stand Watie assumed the leadership of the Ridge-Watie-Boundinot faction and was involved in a long-running blood feud with the followers of John Ross. He also was a leader of the Knights of the Golden Circle, which bitterly opposed abolitionism.

           At the outbreak of the Civil War, Watie quickly joined the Southern cause. He was commissioned a colonel on July 12, 1861, and raised a regiment of Cherokees for service with the Confederate Army. Later, when Chief John Ross signed an alliance with the South, Watie’s men were organized as the Cherokee Regiment of Mounted Rifles. After Ross fled Indian Territory, Watie was elected principal Chief of the Confederate Cherokees in August 1862.

           A portion of Watie’s command saw action at Oak Hills 10 Aug 1861 in a battle that assured the South’s hold on Indian Territory and made Watie a Confederate military hero. Afterward, Watie helped drive the pro-Northern Indians out of Indian Territory, and following the Battle of Chustenahlah 26 Dec 1861 he commanded the pursuit of the fleeing Federals, led by Opothleyahola, and drove them into exile in Kansas.

Watie’s two greatest victories were the capture of the federal steam boat J. R. Williams on 15 June 1864, and the second Battle of Cabin Creek. He was promoted to Brigadier General on 6 May 1864 and given command of the First Indian Brigade. He was the only Indian to achieve the rank of general in the Civil War. Watie surrendered on 23 June 1865, the last Confederate General to lay down his arms.

           After the war, Watie served as a member of the Southern Cherokee delegation during the negotiation of the Cherokee Reconstruction Treaty of 1866. He then abandoned public life and returned to his old home along Honey Creek. He died on 9 September 1871.

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