Ah yes, my old friend Patrick Minges. He also published the Indian Slave Narratives which everyone should read.

Thanks for posting this Patrick. This reinforces the impossibility of being neutral in the Indian Territory. If the Creeks abandoned the Confederacy, they had no choice but join the IHG. Perhaps Phillips had learned something from the experience of Cherokee Chief John Ross who defected long before the Union forces could establish a foothold in the Cherokee Nation. Phillips most likely didn't want the burden of trying to protect and feed Creek civilians which was a major problem in the Cherokee Nation. Sounds like he wanted to make sure the Creek could defend themselves so he wasn't beseiged by refugees around Ft Gibson.

Of course, the McIntoshes and the two Creek regiments did not defect to the Union. It would seem the Creek regiments were often furloughed or AWOL or protecting their refugee camps in the Chickasaw Nation. There were apparently many defections to the Union but apparently not the majority.