I'll eventually get all these (Cooper to Hindman letters from the Hindman Papers which Terry has transcribed) uploaded to the internet and post the link on the message board. In the meantime, I'll post them as I wade through them.
The following was written soon after Cherokee Chief John Ross was escorted from his plantation home at Park Hill (Rose Cottage) to Kansas. Ross took with him his family, the Murrell family, and the Cherokee treasury.
The date Ross left Park Hill is often reported erroneously as occurring in mid-July 1862. This is a common error, even in my favorite book, Edward's "The Prairie Was On Fire". This apparently comes from a report stating "Col. Ross" was arrested and accompanyed Greeno to the Federal camp but this refers to Chief Ross' brother Lt Col William Ross of Drew's Regt. The Pins of Drew's Regt were camped around Ross' house to protect him from Watie's Regt who hated Ross and the Pins. Drew's Regt had already defected and was quickly filling up the 2nd and 3rd IHG -- Drew's Regt had less than 100 men left. Chief Ross et al did not leave Park Hill until early August, escorted north by Col. Cloud and some Pins who had just joined the IHG.
On August 6th, there was a skirmish at the Murrell House ("Hunter's Home") with Pins (defectors from Drew's Regt). The Union troops were already abandoning their expedition and the newly formed IHG which, no doubt, gave urgency to Chief Ross leaving. I must assume the Pins around Park Hill after this were those who chose not to enroll in the IHG.
As Cooper comments, the state of his command was such that pursuing the Union Indian Expedition and the IHG northward toward Kansas was certainly not prudent had it even been possible.
In the action on the 6th, Cooper mentions Captains Brown and Butler. Are these Capt William A. Brown, Co. H, 29th TX Cavalry and Capt James L. Butler, 1st Cherokee Mtd Vols (Watie's)?
Ken
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Head Quarters Dept. Ind. Territory
Cantonment Davis, Aug. 18, 1862
General:
I have to enclose Fort Smith Bulletin in which is republished Genl. Pike address to the Indians in violation of the Confederate States Laws prohibiting publications relative to the army without the consent of the President. I have not the law at hand, but from recollection think the editor has violated the law and subject himself to prosecution which I hope you will order your provost Marshal to attend to.
I mark two paragraphs containing flings at myself. Before the publication of the paper viz in the 5th Aug. I sent a detachment of troops to Park Hill, who dispersed the “Pins” on the 6th, killing several and taking a few prisoners. The whole would have been killed or captured but for want of proper concerted action between the troops under Capt. Brown & butler and those under Col. Folsom. Again on the 10th of Aug, I sent Colonel Alexander with a detachment to break up the Pin camp at Park Hill where the disaffected Indians had again assembled after the Confederate troops had returned to this place. The troops were sent to Park Hill as soon as it was considered proper to withdraw them from the west side of Grand River, an inroad by the enemy upon the Creek Country here of this place would have been disastrous to the southern cause and probably would have brought about a similar state of affairs there. To that existing among the Cherokees could effect were near by the enemy to draw me off eastward. It is easy for people to sit on their editorial tripods and criticize at once without knowing anything of the condition of the country, its geography or the condition of the troops, nearly all of them under my command have had to be reorganized since my arrival here. Colonel Waties Regiment had served out their time and had to be paid and mustered into the service before much use could be made of them. We were also some ten days here without any breadstuff - living on green corn and beef exclusively - and with but little communication of course under this state of affairs no forward movement could be made; and yet I doubt not thee are croakers and grumblers who complain that I did not follow the Feds up to Kansas.
I shall cheerfully undertake to place the Indian country and northeast Arkansas in a state of defense, but anticipate the Ft. Smith clique will throw every obstacle possible in my way.
As a matter of course I should not use my resent position to punish or persecute Col. Carroll for past acts, I have no disposition ever to prepare charges and have him cashiered for violation of the Rules and articles of War as I could do. I merely wished him to understand that he could not be permitted to interfere with my command.
I am General Your Obdt Svt.
Douglas H. Cooper
Col. Comd’g Ind. Dept.