Archive for the ‘The Indians’ Category

In making the final disposition of his troops General Schofield directed Colonel W. A. Phillips to take command of the Indian Brigade, consisting of the First, Second and Third Indian Regiments.

The battle of Prairie Grove was one of the three big battles between the Union and Southern forces in Western Arkansas and Missouri during the war in that region, and the success of the Union arms had far-reaching effects in maintaining the confidence in the Government of those who had espoused its cause early in the war, and it gave many of the people an opportunity of coming in and showing their devotion to the Union, and the men of military age a chance to enlist in one of several loyal Arkansas regiments then being organized

When the action at Cane Hill closed, General Blunt knew that the struggle for the possession of western Arkansas and southwest Missouri by the Confederate forces was not ended, for he had accurate information through his scouts and spies that General Hindman had collected and concentrated all the available Southern forces of Arkansas and the Indian Territory in the vicinity of Fort Smith and Van Buren, estimated at 25,000 men, to carry the campaign into Missouri.

In fear of the mounting Southern forces threatening to advance into central Missouri, Federal Generals Schofield and Blunt arranged the plan of operations to commence on the morning of October 4th, that would compel General Cooper to fight at Newtonia or evacuate the place.

On the return of the troops of the expedition under General Blunt from Fort Scott to Lone Jack, and the pursuit of the enemy from that place into Southwest Missouri, there was some reorganization at Fort Scott of the Kansas forces before moving south again about the first of September, down through the western counties of Missouri, and the new organization of the Kansas forces was called the First Division Army of the Frontier

The withdrawal of the Federal white troops from the Indian country for operations against the enemy in the western border counties of Missouri and Arkansas left the Indian regiments in possession of all that part of their country west of Grand River with the east side debatable ground which they could hold when the regular Federal forces were within supporting distance, and which they would be obliged to evacuate when they could not have such support. It was becoming more and more evident to the Federal military authorities that the Indian country could be best defended by the Federal occupation of western Missouri and western Arkansas, and that the Indians who had espoused the Confederate cause would become aggressive only when sup ported by white troops, who, up to this time had been thrown into the Indian country from Texas.

Organization of three Indian regiments
Return of large Confederate forces to Missouri through Arkansas
This exposed the left flank of the Indian Expedition Troops of the Indian Expedition under
General Blunt to Lone Jack
Pursuit of Confederates from Lone Jack to Southwest Missouri

The Indian Expedition
Organization of Federal forces for action at Locust Grove
Capture of Colonel Clarkson’s Confederate force
The expedition moves to Flat Rock
Return of the Indian Expedition to Baxter Springs
Brings out Chief John Ross and the archives of the Cherokee Nation

Army of Van Dorn and Price ordered east of the Mississippi River
Returning secessionists cause trouble in Missouri
Organization of Union Militia

The battle of Pea Ridge
Southern armies overwhelmingly defeated and driven from the field
General Pike’s Choctaw Indian Brigade participated in the battle