University of Virginia Library

8. Some Creek History Of The Civil War

The commencement of the great civil war of 1861-62 had progressed some months in the states before any effect of it was felt in the Indian Territory. It was thought by some that the proper course of the Five Civilized Tribes in the war should be to take a neutral position, while among others, partisan zeal was manifest. Unfortunately, a difference of opinions finally led to open rupture in the Creek Nation, the Neutral and the Union parties combining against the Secessionists. These last were reinforced by Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee and Simm's regiment and Lee's battalions of Texas Rangers of the Confederate army, under the command of Gen. Douglas Cooper, undertook to subdue these combined Union Creeks, who then concentrated in armed bodies for defense on the north fork of the Canadian River. One body of these Union Creeks was camped on the Arkansas River near the old Skiatook place, (then in the Cherokee Nation, but not in the Osage Nation) and the other on the North Fork River above mentioned. Gen. Cooper proceeded with his forces to attack the Creek camp on the North Fork River. The Union Creeks under the command of Chief Opothlayahola marched in one-fourth circle around the right flank of Cooper's army to the northeast, attempting to form a junction with the Union Creeks on the Arkansas River. Before the junction was effected, Gen. Cooper's army overtook this faction of the Union Creek, crossing the Cimmaron River just at dusk in the evening. A battle ensued which was fought after darkness had set in. After stopping the advance of the Confederates, the Union Creeks proceeded on the same night to form the junction they had in contemplation in the out set, which they accomplished the following day. Gen. Cooper did not follow the Creeks the next day, but retired toward Choska to await re-inforcement. While the army was crossing the Arkansas River at the base of the Concharty Mountains, at the old John West ferry, the writer, whose home was one mile south of where the town of Bristow now stands on Little Deep Fork river, had been as far as John Alberty's place on Pryor Creek, Cherokee Nation, helping some Cherokee boys drive some cattle there, and was returning home, expecting to meet with father at Bider's Field place at Concharty and with him to go on home, was arrested by some Creek Confederates to gratify personal grudges. They also had my father under arrest. He was 66 years of age at that time, and never again saw his home, for he soon afterwards died from excessive exposure to cold without a home or any comforts that his age should have had. We had not taken sides but we were trying to take care of our property. Every act of concession to gain the good will of our captors being unavailing, the results were that the writer now has a splendid and glorious military record in the Adjutant-General's office at Topeka, Kansas and the war department at Washington City, for services rendered in the 9th Kansas Cavalry during the war (note this, old company G !)

After Gen. Cooper got his reinforcement, he advanced against the Union Creeks upon Bird Creek a few miles north of where Tulsa now stands. Six hundred full blood Cherokees of Col. Drew's Confederate Regiment deserted and went over to the Union Creeks and 400 run off east of Grand River, which so discouraged Gen. Cooper that he started early in the morning to retreat back to Choska. The Union Creeks followed the Confederate Army and forced them into a battle, which was fought near where Hominy Creek flows into Bird Creek. The Cherokees, who had the night before joined the Union Creeks, forced the fighting at short range, they were met as fiercely by the Choctaws and Chickasaws. The Union Creeks and Southern Creeks fought each other with the fury of tigers. The Texas Rangers made repeated charges and were as often driven back. The battle thus raged all day until dark. A small band of Creeks had taught Gen. Cooper what they could do in a night fight previously on the Cimmaron River and Cooper withdrew from the field after dark. The next day he continued his march toward Choska, after burying his dead. The Union Indians were advancing to attack that morning, when they found their antagonists retiring from the field of the contest. Both sides claimed the victory of this very bloody battle.

From Choska, Gen. Cooper called for a reinforcement of 10,000 men. In the meantime, Chief Opothlayahola concluded that a movement by his people to Kansas to be absolutely necessary to save his people from the cold winter weather in a war campaign. He himself, with several hundred of his people, had left their camps on Hominy Creek and had gone to Elk River, then in the Osage Nation, but now in southern Kansas. A remnant of his people remained in the old camps and some had actually gone back to their old homes on the Deep Fork and North Fork Rivers. So confident were they in their successful fights against their enemies they seemed to fear nothing from them. This is especially true of the Nu-ya-ka bands of Union Creeks.

At that time, reinforcements for Cooper were sent, being Col. Young's famous Texas Ranger regiment and Col. Stan Watie's1 half-breed Cherokee regiment. But these reinforcements did not report to Gen. Cooper, but proceeded of their own accord to fight their own battle. They went upon Hominy creek before Cooper could reach them and attacked the remnant of the Union Creeks in the old camps. Then the battle of Chustanaulla Mountain was fought. The Union Indian force was not strong enough for this new force and were badly routed and cut up and driven off. They retreated to Opothlayahola's camp on Elk River. It was here that Conchateematha and 25 of the Creeks of the Wewoka band made a stand until all but one fell. Their rifle balls being exhausted, they fought with clubbed guns to the last. The one escaping when surrounded by the Texas, shot Lieut. McQuirk, Col. Young's Regiment, off his horse, and seizing the bridle of the Lieutenant's horse, sprang into the saddle, which carried a pair of revolver pistols, with which he fought his way out and got away.

Indian Journal, March 8, 1901.