Ralph, you might recall that the Confederate garrison commander at Fort Smith, Asa Morgan, Col of the 26th Arkansas Infantry, wrote that Cooper had some 2000 men at Honey Springs. While Morgan certainly wasn't present, he was geographically close, and it stands to reason that he could've picked up some correct information. Recall, too, that for the month of June, 1863, Bass's Texas dismounted cavalry regiment served at Fort Smith with Morgan's men; Bass's men fought at Honey Springs, and Morgan described their combat at Honey Springs in a letter home - maybe Bass communicated the strength of Cooper's command to Morgan?