Hi Steve. I'm assuming your question "Did this happen?" relates to McIntosh and the Creeks being "desirous of laying down their arms". Some Creeks defected to the Indian Home Guard but McIntosh remained with the Confederates and his regiment remained relatively intact (though relatively ineffective) to the end of the war, as you know.

Blunt's statement that the Confederates were "driven and pursed" must be related more generally to Phillips entering and scouting through the Cherokee Nation, moving through Tahlequah and Park Hill, and occupying Ft Gibson. There are no reports that any engagements occurred during Phillips' two "expeditions" from Ft Gibson across the Arkansas looking for D.N. McIntosh.

Phillips crossed the Arkansas unopposed at the Rabbit Ford (incorrectly called Rapid Ford by Wiley Britton). Rabbit Ford is about where the big OG&E Plant sits on the east side of the Arkansas about 4 miles southwest of Ft Gibson. Phillips crossed what is now Muskogee (there was no town there at the time) on his way to the Creek Agency at Fern Mountain (west of the Castle of Muskogee on US Hwy 69) looking for Col. D.N. McIntosh, whom he had been informed wanted to "turn over". McIntosh was nowhere to be found.

On Phillips' return to Ft Gibson, he went to the unoccupied Ft Davis (north of Bacone College in northeast Muskogee) and burned all the buildings. The wording of Blunts' report has led to exaggeration by many authors who embellish the story with booming artillery as Phillips drives the rebels from the fort. There are no reports by Phillips or Confederates, that I have found, that describe any fighting. Reports to Lt Col R.C. Parks, 1st Cherokee Mtd Vols, say that Phillips crossed the Arkansas twice looking for McIntosh and the second time he burned Ft Davis and that there was no combat on either day.

Ken