Battle of Honey Springs

Union cavalry charge at Honey Springs, 1863. Engraving based on sketch by James R. O'Neill

Date	July 17, 1863 (1863-07-17)
Location	Muskogee County, Oklahoma and McIntosh County, Oklahoma
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

United States (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders and leaders

James G. Blunt

Douglas H. Cooper, William Lewis Cabell

Units involved

District of the Frontier

1st Brigade, Native American troops

Strength

3,000

6,000

Casualties and losses

disputed: 79 - over 200

disputed: 180 - over 500

The Battle of Honey Springs (also known as the Affair at Elk Creek) on July 17, 1863, was an American Civil War engagement. an important victory for Union forces in their efforts to gain control of the Indian Territory. It was the largest confrontation between Union and Confederate forces in the area that would eventually become Oklahoma. The engagement was also unique in the fact that white soldiers were the minority in both fighting forces. African and Native Americans made up significant portions of each of the opposing armies.

The battleground is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northeast of what is now Checotah, Oklahoma and 15 miles (24 km) south of Muskogee. It was also about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Fort Gibson.

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 Creek Indian 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 Major General James G. Blunt having driven the Confederacy from the north of the region, many of the Cherokee switched sides to support the Union. Union forces led by Colonel William A. Phillips reoccupied Fort Gibson in Indian Territory during April, threatening Confederate forces at Fort Smith. However, Phillips' supply line stretched from Fort Gibson to Fort Scott, Kansas, 175 miles (282 km) to the north. Confederate cavalry, operating from Cooper's encampment at Honey Springs, frequently harassed Fort Gibson and attacked its supply trains.

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Wikipedia