Stand Watie’s soldiers were busily engaged in scouting, dodging here and there, annoying and threatening the loyal Indians, while the Federal forces who had retaken Fort Gibson seemed inclined to remain near the fort where a large number of Creek and Cherokee refugees had assembled for protection. On June 30, 1862, a detachment of Stand Watie’s army attacked a provision train of 300 wagons which was on its way from Fort Scott to Fort Gibson with supplies for the soldiers and refugees in that beleaguered fort. The provision train was guarded by an escort of 2,000 soldiers.
Major Foreman, commanding a battalion of 400 Indian home guards advanced and engaged Colonel Watie’s men in a lively skirmish in which several men were killed and more wounded on both sides. Another engagement took place on the next day at Cabin Creek where Watie’s full regiment was lying in wait for the train of provisions. Watie’s plans failed, however, because of the fact that the Confederate General Cabell, who was expected to reinforce Watie with 2,000 soldiers and six cannon, was on the opposite side of Grand River and could not ford the stream on account of high water. In this engagement, while leading his Indian battalion in a charge upon the enemy Major Foreman was twice severely wounded and his horse was shot from under him. Three days later the provision train reached Fort Gibson where about three thousand soldiers and five thousand refugee Indians, Cherokee, Creek, Euchee and Seminole were anxiously awaiting the arrival of fresh supplies.
- Collamore’s Report
- Superintendent Coffin’s Report
- Letter of Chief John Ross
- Coffin Scores The Military
- Stand Watie’s Activities
Source: Benedict, John D. Muskogee and northeastern Oklahoma, including the counties of Muskogee, McIntosh, Wagoner, Cherokee, Sequoyah, Adair, Delaware, Mayes, Rogers, Washington, Nowata, Craig, and Ottawa. 3 v. illus., ports., facsims. 28 cm. Chicago, S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1922.