June 16, 1863, Standard (Clarksville, Texas)
Camp Davis, Coodey’s Creek, }
Cherokee Nation, May 29th, 1863}
Dear Standard:
My last was addressed to you from Butler’s Creek. I do not recollect how long ago.–Since then we have kept so busy, that I have not felt inclined to write. On the 14th our regiment was inspected, and received encomiums from Col. Long, the Asst. Inspector General, attached to Gen. Holmes’ staff. On the 14th a volunteer party of 40 of us went with the Col., who was field officer of the day, to inspect the Pickets on the Arkansas, and made our first interchange of compliments with the Feds at the several crossings. They fired upon us at each exposure of a man’s person on the bank of the river, and we returned the fire with our largest range guns. We tried them at two fords, and made them run back to their covers, at each. Returned to camp just at dark, after a novel and interesting trip to us. From the top of a mountain on our route, we had a fair view of Fort Gibson, and the enemy’s camps. On the 16th, at night, Col. Martin Field Officer of the day, notified the Col. that the enemy were crossing the river, and that he had sent a squadron from his regiment. The Col. ordered Maj. Carroll to start instantly with Capt. Hook’s and Captain Wilson’s companies, for the Rabbit ford, had all the other companies got ready–horses under saddle and waited orders. At midnight the Gen. came over in person, and directed that the remainder of the regiment–should be at the summit of the Grindstone mountain; this side the Rabbit ford, at daylight. Capt. Elliott, Red River and Bowie Co., had got in just before dark from Arbuckle, and their horses were fatigued. They were left as Camp Guard. The remaining companies under the command of the Col., started at 1 o’clock a.m., and at five o’clock were on the crest of the hill. Martin’s regiment was there; Lee’s Battery, and the advance of our regiment. We lay down upon the ground for an hour or half hour’s rest and then rose and returned to camp. The alarm was false, but demonstrated promptitude of movement upon our part. Returning from the mountain, we stopped at a new camp ground on Coodey’s Creek, five miles from the river, a splendid situation–excellent water, in large holls, thoroughly shaded, and most luxuriant grass: Camp Stonewall. Ever since our arrival, we had picketed several stations at the river, and our men were to keep up an interchange of shots. On this day, Capt. Hook’s co. being at the Rabbit ford, Jim Johnston got a ball from the enemy through the pistol holster at his side, which made him feel for a minute as though he had been shot. Some of our men saw one of the enemy fall after one of our shots, and saw him carried off. Our guns are mostly ineffective at long range, but two or three rifles, and some of the largest bore shot guns, loaded with balls, carry over.
On the 26th our force was drawn out for attack, as we supposed. Col. Stand Watie with Cherokee regiments, and Col. McIntosh with Creek regiment had crossed at daylight, and we supposed we would cross to support them. About 10 a.m. the Col. was ordered to lead the regiment to the crossing, at the Rabbit ford, and make a show of crossing. Accordingly we were led to the bank, and passed broadside to the pickets opposite, the col. directing Capt. Oliver’s company, stationed on this side to engage the pickets on the other side. Firing commenced by our pickets as our men came to the bank, and was rapidly answered from the other side. The Col. led us in column by the open space in the timber through which we were exposed fully to the enemy, and continued to march us in a circle until we had passed it three times. As the head of the column came down the 2nd time the boys who did not know the nature of the order, gave a tremendous yell, supposing that they were about to cross. This they continued until Major Carroll took them back 150 yards and formed them in line to wait further orders. In the meantime the enemy had abandoned the opposite bank, and a half hour after when the Col. went down the bank with a guide, to learn the crossing, there was no one opposite to fire a shot.
While we were making our circular movement, however, the shots flew thick and unceasingly. Horses first under fire were hard to manage, and now and then some amiable rider seemed disposed to keep on the safe side of a tree. The instances are few, however. Nearly all the men bore the exposure well, and but for the fact that the enemy’s long range guns carried over us, several must have been hit, it could not have been otherwise. Their departure was probably accelerated by a shot from the howitzer, made without order, the Lt. who was training it receiving a bullet rather close to his head, which initiated him. From the mountain near us a lookout was kept up upon Col. Waties operations. It was seen that he had engaged the enemy, and cut off a lot of their horses and mules, but as it was not apparent that we could unite with him, we were ordered back two hundred yards, to the prairie where we slept with our horses grazing under saddle, ready for quick movement. In the morning, Col. Watie returned bringing some 500 head horses and mules. Col. Waties men killed 40 or 50 of the Feds, and lost two. Our men found a Creek crossing the river, who pretended to be one of McIntosh’s men. Sent him to Gen. Cooper. He was a hostile. How he was disposed of, I do not know. At eleven o’clock we were ordered back to camp, to cook three days rations. At eleven next morning we moved to base of Grindstone Mt., and to Frozen Rock, and encamped; head qurs. at Frozen Rock. The deserted residence at Frozen Rock is a lovely place. The house of six rooms, well fitted up, with furniture–numerous out houses attached, is about 50 yards from the margin of a high bank, over looking the Arkansas; at this point a stately stream, and makes a graceful bend at the right, in full view of the portico of the house. Before the house the surface of the ground is rounding, sloping to the edge of the bank–then a steep descent to the river. Before the house at regular distances, are black Walnut, and black Locusts, natives here, and of large size, some large Catalfias in bloom, cherry trees, and Pear trees. At the left a garden in which are some hollyhawks and other simple flowers, and to the left of that a large orchard of Apples in full bearing, but small yet. In the rear is the handsomest Walnut and Locust Grove, of large tall trees, interspersed with slippery Elm, that I have ever seen; look like a park. On the right are out-buildings and fields, and a lane with a winding path descending to the river, on one side of which is a spring. It is a very beautiful place. At the left of it, a quarter of a mile is another residence. Both were settled by brothers named Coody, one of whom is now here, and lives near Kiamitia. The name Frozen rock is derived from a porous slate bank of the river, between the two houses, from which the water exceedes, and in the winter time presents an unbroken surface of ice.–This is a fertile country. The rains are frequent, and the dews the heaviest I have ever known, except on the Lavaca, and in the West Indies. The grass after dark is wet as with a heavy rain, and saturates one in staking out his horse; and sleep in the prairie with one blanket over you and all your clothes on, and they woollen clothes, you get quite cold toward morning, and your feet inside of heavy boots and with woolen socks on, get cold. These dews and the rains together must nurish vegitation, and the grass is luxuriant. Were it not our horses would go under, and as it is they get some times when keptup a good deal, quite jaded. The enemy after we moved to Frozen rock, we heard heavy and continuous firing and as we knew that Col. McIntosh with his Creeks, and Col. Martin with his Texans, were to cross the river, we thought perhaps the lively work had commenced. At half past 4 next morning, got dispatch from commanding General, ordering us to saddle up and be ready. The order was disseminated instantly, and every body got ready. During the morning two Osage Indians were brought in as prisoners. They were endeavoring to go to the opposite of the river, and as our men knew nothing about them, they brought them in. They were perfectly self possessed and came up and shook hands with the Colonel, and sat down before him. As they came up some one remarked “would not the sight of those devils frighten any body.” They were very large, partially necked, with no covering to the head, but the hair clipped short on each side before and a turft left in the centre two or three inches long, standing upright, and red paint shown upon the scalp, each side of this turf. Behind the head were left some long locks, hanging down the back. Inside of the outer ring of the ear, a long slip was cut out, perhaps a fourth of an inch in width, from top to bottom, except at the centre, where was a narrow connection. One of them had a smiling expression, the other the most villainmous expression I ever notices. I am satisfied that any unprotected woman who should meet the two on a road, out of sight of other persons would go into spasms in brief time. The Col. ordered them to be sent to Gen. Cooper. As they went off, the best looking one said “Cooper my friend.” I understood afterward, that they were in the General’s service. Co. K came in during the morning, from lower fords, with a mule which some of the men had gone across the river and captured.
Capt. Howland of the 1st Cherokee regiment and six of his men to act as guides, reported at about 12 o’clock. The last of our hospital left Arbuckle under Ass’t Surgeon Rockiel, arrived.
Sunday morning came–horses still razing with their saddles on, waiting for orders.–Gunsmiths, and Blacksmiths hard at work, men cooking two days rations, anxiously waiting to hear from the west of grand river, which empties into the Arkansas west of Gibson.
On the day previous opportunely came in Lt. Derrickson, from Pilot Point, with 49 men; all stragglers from the camp, except 15 who were fresh conscript.
Still waiting at 12 o’clock when order was received for five companies to mount and march. Away we went toward the Creek Agency, passing the remains of Cantonment Davis, nearly destroyed by the enemy last year by two camps of Indians, and crossed the Arkansas, a wide stream before the Agency which is a small hamlet, with fields around, with not much in cultivation.
Four hours after we left, the enemy who from some of their lookouts had a sight of our men moving off, and thought our camp deserted–brought down their artillery, a body of Cavalry, and of Infantry, to the Rabbit ford, a half mile above our camp, and attempted a crossing. They commenced shelling, feeling about for the camp, the exact locality of which they did not know and threw two or three shells near it which hastened the departure of the Artizans, the Invalids, etc., with the camp equipage. Capt. Elliott’s Co. (I) was on duty at the ford, and sent down word for reinforcements which they soon got. Maj. Carrol, left in command hurried up Capt. Oliver’s, Capt. Brown’s, and Capt. Waneu’s Companies; the last under Lt. Littlejohn. Capt. Matt Daughterty’s company was detached, and not within call. To our force was added a company or two of Martin’s regiment, and 120 men from Col. Watie. Our men were judiciously stationed by Major Carrol, and a brisk little fight ensued. The enemy soon commenced firing from the bank by the Infantry and under cover of this the Cavalry attempted a passage, and came midway of the stream, but became confused there and turned back. The rattle of grape and musketry was rapid and sharp. Maj. Carroll who has been in three or four actions previous, including that at Elkhorn, says the hail of balls was thicker than he has ever seen before. On our side it was well answered, but from short range weapons. It continued perhaps a quarter of an hour before the cavalry gave back dismayed. The infantry and Artillery withdrew at dark. The bed of the river was so thoroughly enveloped in smoke, that the effect produced by us could not be seen; but some horses without riders were seen to go up the opposite bank. I do not suppose however, that we killed many because they were afraid to come within range and the fire of our men along the bank, except those directly before the advancing party, must have been mostly wasted. I would say that they fired too soon, only that Capt. Oliver, who was right at the ford says he did not fire upon them until they showed an uncertainty about venturing further than the middle of the stream. As they came down the bank on their side they manifested a hesitancy, and their officers never did get them to form in proper order, but were heard coaxing and encouraging them, and telling them there was no danger from our shotguns. This they did not believe evidently. They showed a salutary apprehension of them. They did not harm a single one of our men–partly because they shot above–all their artillery shooting went over; and partly because our men were covered by trees, lying behind logs and others were more or less sheltered. Thus terminated the effort to take the camp and train of the 29th.
Our five companies under the Col. went on that night, got to the Verdigris at dusk, sent a reconnoitering party across, filled the canteens, watered the horses and went back a mile on the road in the prairie to superb grass. Near the river the grass was scant, a farm being near.
Long before day express men came in from the General bringing orders, accompanied by letters from Cols. McIntosh and Martin. A dispatch was immediately forwarded by the Col. toward Col. McIntosh, and an order sent back for Choctaw detachments, authorized by Gen’l Cooper. Before day, all were roused, mounted their horses and started. Day was dawning as we crossed the Verdigris. WE passed over into high rolling prairie country interspersed with high, bald peaks, and made for one of these. The men were concealed in a hollow. The Col. and guides went up the peak, and saw in the distance, by the aid of a glass, five men riding rapidly toward Gibson, and one mounted man standing Picket at a lone tree. Kept the men close to a small creek, out of sight, and pushed on east, with a view to cut off detachments from Gibson, which might be coming out to reinforce a heavy train of 160 wagons from fort Leavenworth with supplies and sutlers stores. Cols. McIntosh and Martin had been sent across to discover and attack the train, and we to cut off reinforcements, or render such assistance as might be needed. We could see no train nor any force, nor hear any firing. Keeping on our course, with our guides ahead, we saw after a while two men coming towards us, then play off again, who finally ventured up to the four guides ahead, and were found to be express riders–one of them the one who started with the Col’s dispatch, for col. McIntosh. He told us Col. McIntosh had gone down toward Gibson, and directly we found twelve single trails side by side, indicating the passage of his force. We took the trail instantly, and followed rapidly, until we came to the continuance with the road from Leavenworth to Niven’s ferry, from which the Gibson road diverges. At the junction Capt. Howland examined the road behind, and expressed the opinion that the train had gone on. We rode for a mile further, sending look outs up on the peaks, until Capt. Howland expressed the opinion that Col. McIntosh must have retired. All was quiet. We saw three men in the distance who ran at the sight of us. We saw where a single wagon had apparently been run on the road toward the Verdigris. Found a horse, saddle, and bridle at a branch near the road side, and near there a soldiers coat, overcoat, cap and spurs. Capt. Howland and the guides becoming more confident that there was a failure in the execution of the plan, we obliqued to the right, to a prong of the Verdigris, six or seven miles from Gibson and sent out Scouts–one party of 15 to investigate whether Col. McIntosh had returned, who soon came back and reported his trail tending to the crossing of Verdigris, and evidences of hasty movement upon it. The other scouts under Lt. Gunn, accompanied by Capt. Howland, had 20 men who were to be kept out of sight as much as practicable; while Capt. Howland kept a lookout from the hills. Soon after they left, the pickets from the hill before us reported as probable a wagon and some men in the distance. He was sent after Capt. Howland to call his attention, and whenever certain, come back and report. In ¾ of an hour he came back and reported a wagon with 60 to 100 men, five miles toward Gibson. Capt. Harmon was ordered to take his squadron (Capt. Tom Daugherty Junior Capt.) and pursue, to be followed at a short distance by Capt. Wilson–all to keep out of sight as long as practicable. The Col. followed with two reserve companies at easy supporting distance, with a view of presenting as much additional force as might be needed to meet reinforcements for the wagon party, or any force out of sight connected with it. The Col. was under the impression that a wagon so escorted had valuable loadings, or might be the wagon run off by McIntosh’s men recaptured. Our men, all, rode rapidly. There was not a great space between the advance and reserve and a lookout from the reserve was kept ahead on hills right and left, to give the earliest notice of need. At about five miles the pursuers came near the pursued, who made some show of forming, but as Harmon gave the order to charge, they whipped and spurred manfully and left without a shot or a blow for the credit of their service. Our squadron came upon the vehicle and found it a superb four mule ambulance; with a white duck cover, which gave it the appearance of a wagon. The driver tumbled out and drew a six shooter which he soon dropped when a shot gun was brought to bear upon him. A fellow inside was the driver says, was Lt. Col. Walter’s of a negro regiment–jumped out and could have been shot, but in attempting to make him prisoner he got away, leaving his coat. We took two horses and saddles which the riders left somewhat hastily.
The vehicle soon came towards us. The driver said he was looking for Capt. Rhodes of Wisconsin who had been captured the day previous by McIntosh’s scouts.
I suppose this was true, as such an escort would not have accompany an Ambulance for legitimated purposes. They thought he might be killed or wounded. The scene of our expected conflict was at Shaw’s Cowpen 2 ½ miles from Gibson, and the enemy say that the escort numbered 100 which was a greater number them they saw of our men, both the scout sent out, being of Harmon’s squadron. Our boys were greatly elated by the running away of the foe, so near their stronghold with its 3000 men, but did not incline to stay a great while longer, lest they might be surrounded; there being a road from Gibson to the creek agency, which would have led the enemy up between them and the crossing. There was no pursuit however. We went to our camp of previous right beyond the Verdigris, grazed our tired horses three hours, and crossed Arkansas that night. As we crossed the broad stream we were hailed–had no countersign; but in answer to the demand “who comes there,” said, “Friends,” and in answer to the demand “What Friends” responded “Col. DeMorse’s command”–to which the reply was “Come on.” As we rose the steep bank, saw a large picket under arms, and were greeted by the other half of the 29th, who, upon the hasty return of the Creeks had been ordered up to support us in an emergency. Some anxiety had been created by our solitary position, and Maj. Carroll had been ordered up to do whatever might be necessary for our rescue. We had not been alarmed, but as our brethren had been on our account it was quite a greeting; and when our booty came up the bank, the picket gave such a shout, that the creeks became excited, and Col. McIntosh came out and stopped our progress to the prairie, until he could send word out through the hills in rear, to prevent them from firing upon us. The solution of the mystery was, that the creeks who had discovered the train 160 wagons the evening before, very brightly guarded and had themselves been discovered by the escort of the train; instead of attacking it at once, put it off till morning the train availed itself of the night and travel so fast and far, that one end of it was at Gibson, when the other end was attacked by perhaps 100 of Martins men. The enemy ran at first but soon seeking the weakness of the attacking force, rallied drove our men, who ran off three or four wagons, and got them to a crossing of the Verdigris, below where we crossed, and there abandoned them. Had we known where McIntosh’s force was in the morning, at daylight we could have got off a part of the train. Had we been with them, or at the point we were striking for, between them and Gibson on the night before, we could have saved all of it, and in that case Gibson would now be ours, because without that trains [sic] they would have been without supplies. Had we been immediately notified of the movement of our main force downward, when it commenced we could have been at the scene of action in time to have materially altered its features! but as it was, we travelled all day and saw where troops had been; and the only force we could see, we chased. We have nothing to regret on our part except the want of opportunity.
The opposite pickets at Niven’s ferry, got amiable yesterday, concluded that they were doing no good, firing at each other at long distance, laid down their arms, and went down to the water’s edge, and had a talk. The Feds asked about the wheat crops in Texas, said they did not have much flour over there, no water except river water, and but little tobacco, but they had Coffee and Whiskey.–Said we did right to take the ambulance–that it had no business with an armed escort, and that the escort were afraid to fight, and were 100 strong. Said they were tired of the war, and wished for peace. Said their Creeks would not fight at all, said we had two or three good long range guns. Asked where Gen’l Cooper’s headquarters were, and how many men we had. Jack Coleman, formally a stage driver, on lines running out of Clarksville, is with them.
In the fight between Martins men and the train, Martin lost two men killed, and think they killed several Feds. Feds shot over them, or would have killed a large number. Capt. Jim Young thinks the pursuers killed several creeks. The ambulance driver said he had carried in two bodies of each, but he is evidently such a liar, there no is reliance to be placed in his statement. He is a broad brogued Irishman; who claims to be British subject.
The Arkansas rose yesterday until it is impossible by fording.
Yours, A
A Soldier of the 29th.