The Indian Territory in the Civil War Message Board - Archive

Re: Honey Springs OOB
In Response To: Honey Springs OOB ()

As far as I know, there isn't a book containing this information; however, the battlefield's "unofficial" web site <http://checotah.lakewebs.net/honeysprings> (sponsored by the Friends group) has a page entitled "Military Units and Commanders at the Battle of Honey Springs" (simply because most young researchers don't know what OOB means).

There the regimental commanders (and subordinates when known) are posted. Those Federal units which are underlined are linked to regimental histories.

The Federal line was comprised of two brigades -- one on either side of the Texas Road. The Federal Right, Judson's Brigade, read from right to left as follows: Battalion of the 3rd Wisonsin Cavalry w/detachment of Smith's Battery; 2nd Indian Home Guards; 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry (colored) in support of Smith's Battery of Kansas Artillery. The Federal Left, Phillips' Brigade, read from right to left, Battalion of the 2nd Colorado Infantry; 1st Indian Home Guards; Battalion of the 6th Kansas Cavalry in support of Hopkins' Battery of Kansas Artillery. Col. Phillips' own 3rd Indian Home Guards were in reserve.

The Confederate line, in the shape of a handlebar moustache stretching one and one-half miles (with breaks in the line) was as follows (left to right):

Confederate Left: 1st & 2nd Regiments of Creek Mounted Volunteers guarding the three fords approx. 3/4 to 1/2 mile above the bridge. (Col. D. N. McIntosh, senior colonel commanding)

Confederate Center: 5th Texas Partisan Rangers (Col. Leonidas Martin), 29th Texas Cavalry (Col. Charls DeMorse), 20th Texas Cavalry-Dismounted (Col. T. C. Bass, senior colonel commanding) with Lee's Light Battery of Texas Artillery (Capt. R. W. Lee) in the center of the Texas Road.

Confederate Right: 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles (-Bn) and 2nd Cherokee Mounted Volunteers guarding two fords approx. 1/2 and 3/4 mile below the bridge. (Col. Stand Watie, senior colonel commanding, had led a battalion toward Webbers' Falls in a feint to draw the Federals away from the bridge and to escort BG Cabell to the site. Col. W. P. Adair, was ill and in hospital at the time of the engagement.)

In spite of MG Blunt's after-action report, current research does not support his claim that BG Cooper had 6,000 CSA troops in the battle. Rather, the combined forces of Cooper and Cabel would have amounted to that figure, but Cabel arrived too late in the day.

I hope this helps some.

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