I was wondering if anyone could tell me the why Col. Watie was at Webbers Falls during the Battle of Honey Springs?

I noticed that both Frank Cunningham's "General Stand Watie's Confederate Indians" (pp.101-102) and Wilfred Knight's "Red Fox" (p 166) use the term 'detached service' to explain his absence.

It appears both were quoting a letter from General Douglas Cooper to Lt. Colonel James Bell that was reproduced in Edward Everett Dale's and Gaston Litton's "Cherokee Cavaliers".

My question (finally!) is what was the specific nature of his "detached service"?

Thanks so much for any answers.

Manny