The Battle of Honey Springs was an important victory for Union forces in their efforts to gain control of the Indian Territory. The battle was also unique in the fact that white soldiers were the minority in both forces. Native Americans and blacks made up significant portions of each of the opposing armies. Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert Edward Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar). ... Muskogee County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... McIntosh County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  Ranked 20th  - Total 69,960 sq mi (181,196 km²)  - Width 230 miles (370 km)  - Length 298 miles (fBlack Mesa Mountain]][2] km)  - % water 1. ... Indian Territory in 1836 Indian Territory in 1891 Indian Country redirects here. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (April 3–April 10, 1865) Largest city New Orleans... James Gillpatrick Blunt (July 21, 1826 – July 27, 1881) was a sailor, physician and Union general during the American Civil War. ... Douglas Hancock Cooper (November 1, 1815 - April 29, 1879) was an Indian Agent in what is now Oklahoma, and later a Confederate general during the American Civil War. ... Indian Territory in 1836 Indian Territory in 1891 Indian Country redirects here. ... Combatants United States of America (Union Army) Confederate States of America (Confederate States Army) Commanders William F. Cloud William L. Cabell Strength 2nd Kansas Cavalry 6th Missouri Cavalry two sections of Rabb’s 2nd Indiana Battery Cabell’s Brigade Casualties 16 men 65 men The Battle of Devils Backbone... Indian Territory in 1836 Indian Territory in 1891 Indian Country redirects here. ... An Aani (Atsina) named Assiniboin Boy. ...

Background

At the start of the American Civil War, for cultural and economic reasons, all of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory opted to side with the Confederate States of America, raising native troops under the leadership of General Douglas H. Cooper, and driving out pro-Union forces after a short campaign culminating in the Battle of Chustenahlah. By 1863 Confederate fortunes in the region had sunk low, however, a Union campaign launched from Kansas led by General Blunt having driven the Confederacy from the north of the region, and the Cherokee having switched sides to support the Union. Confident in their numerical superiority, the Confederates plotted a counteroffensive against Union forces at Fort Gibson, to be launched by Cooper's Indians and some attached Texan troops, and the soldiers of Gen. William Cabell's brigade, camped in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Cooper moved his army forward to Honey Springs, Indian Territory, an important Confederate supply depot, to rest and equip, while awaiting Cabell's brigade, marching to link up with Cooper. Union forces under General Blunt got wind of Cooper's plan however, and opted to attack him first, before Cabell arrived, which would've given the Confederates overwhelming numerical superiority. Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert Edward Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... The Five Civilized Tribes is the term applied to five Aboriginal American nations which lived in the Southeastern United States before their removal to other parts of country, especially the future Oklahoma. ... Indian Territory in 1836 Indian Territory in 1891 Indian Country redirects here. ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (April 3–April 10, 1865) Largest city New Orleans... Douglas Hancock Cooper (November 1, 1815 - April 29, 1879) was an Indian Agent in what is now Oklahoma, and later a Confederate general during the American Civil War. ... The Battle of Chustenahlah was fought in Osage County, Oklahoma, (then Indian Territory) on December 26, 1861, during the American Civil War. ... 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar). ...

The Battle

Blunt's attack began on July 17th, after desultory morning skirmishing, which revealed that many of the Confederate soldiers had wet gunpowder, causing numerous misfires and accidents. The Union attack began at mid-afternoon, and the beginning of a rain squall intensified the Confederate's ammunition problems. After repulsing the first Union attack, Cooper pulled his men back towards the depot to obtain new ammunition, but the Federals continued to press his army closely, driving them back further and gradually beginning to turn Cooper's left, causing a general Confederate retreat. Cooper attempted to fight a rearguard action, but despite a notable half-hour stand by the Choctaw and Chickasaw regiment, most of the badly-organized, disheartened, and in many cases due to their poor powder, unarmed Indians and Texans simply continued to flee. Victorious Union forces took possession of the Honey Springs depot, burning what couldn't be immediately used, and occupying the field. Blunt trumpeted the battle as a major victory, claiming Union losses of only 76, with enemy casualties in excess of 500, although Cooper reported only 181 Confederate casualties.

Reasons for Union Victory

The terrible equipment of the Confederates and the rain squall which ruined their powder, played a large part in the Confederate defeat, although some eyewitness sources, notably future Creek Indian chief George Washington Grayson, claimed Cooper's poor generalship was responsible for the defeat, arguing that about half the Confederate army was never even engaged.

Aftermath

The battle was the largest ever fought in the Indian Territory, and would indeed prove to be decisive. Despite the efforts of notable Confederate officers like Stand Watie Confederate forces in the region would never regain the initiative or engage the Union army in an open, head-on battle again, instead relying almost entirely on guerilla warfare and small-scale cavalry actions to fight the Federal Army. The loss of the supplies at Honey Springs depot would likewise prove disastrous, Confederate forces, already operating on a shoe-string budget and with bad equipment, would become to increasingly rely on captured Union war material to keep up the fight. Stand Watie Stand Watie (12 December 1806-9 September 1871) (also known as Degataga standing together as one, or stand firm and Isaac S. Watie) was a leader of the Cherokee Nation and a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. ...

Sources

• National Park Battle Summary