Courtesy of Bryce Suderow.
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The National Tribune
Washington, DC.
November 1, 1883
Page 7, Col. 2-3
Spirited Actions Not in History
To the Editor National Tribune:
On looking over your Chronology of the War, I have failed to find any account of a sharp skirmish which occurred near Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, in May 1863, between seven companies of the Third Wisconsin cavalry, who were in charge of a supply train of about 400 wagons, sent to supply the Union troops at Fort Gibson, then under Colonel Philips, and a small force of Confederates belonging to General Cooper's command, whose object was to capture the train by charging the rearguard (consisting of about 150 men) just at daybreak, and after the advance had arrived at the fort. We had marched all night to our train from a superior force, and were asleep in our saddles when the rebel yell broke on our ears, but as quick as possible we formed and gave them the contents of our carbines, which sent them back across a small prairie until their guns could reach us no more, though our little carbines kept picking them off until the troops came out from the fort, when the Johnnies made a rush for the Verdigris River, the Union Indians following and killing thirteen of them while they were crossing. We buried thirty-two rebels, which made their loss forty-five. We had two killed out of company H, Third Wisconsin cavalry, and one badly wounded of company B, same regiment, and saved the train.
Then, on the 1st day of July, 1863, while escorting a train of 600 wagons over the same route, we were attacked at Cabin Creek at about 2 o'clock on the 1st, and did not succeed in clearing the timber of Johnnies until 10 o'clock on the 2d, and here we picked up twenty-two of the dead rebels and several wounded. We lost in killed and wounded fifteen, as near as I can recollect. We were commanded by Colonel Williams, of the First Kansas colored volunteers, who was as brave a man as the Western army had. The small loss on both sides was due to the fact that the most of our force was held in reserve to guard the train against General Cabel, who was but a few miles away from us with what he supposed to be force enough to take the train, which was loaded with rations, clothing, and army ammunition, of all which the rebels stood in great need. The small force which opposed our crossing at the creek was to hold us there by digging down the bank so that we could not cross with our wagons, and then hiding behind trees and logs on the opposite side and doing the best shooting they could to keep us from repairing the road, but, as luck would have it, Grand River was too full for Cabel to cross, and our cavalry made a charge which put the opposing force to rout. After burying the dead we went on our way and arrived with our train in safety.
Then about August 19, 1863 [July 17, 1863], the Union forces under General Blunt had a sharp battle with General Cooper's force, at Honey Springs, about twenty miles south of Fort Gibson, Indian Territory. We had about 2,500 men, mostly Kansas and Indian troops, with seven companies of the Third Wisconsin cavalry and two companies of the Second Colorado infantry. The most of the Confeds were Texans and Indians. The fight commenced about 10 o'clock a.m. and ended about 2 p.m. We camped on the field that night, being too fatigued to give chase. The Union loss was thirty-five killed and wounded. We buried the next day 180 rebels, and captured seventy-five or eighty so badly wounded that we could not take them with us, but left a surgeon and three nurses with them until they were sent for under a flag of truce. Such of our prisoners as were not wounded we took back with us, eighty-five in all, I think. We had marched all night to get to the rebel camp, and as the weather was very warm and our horses were badly jaded when the fight was over, we were not able to follow and capture their train, which was not far off. Our coming had been a surprise to them. I belong to Benton Post, No. 61, Department of Kansas.
G.S. Killgore
Co. H, 3d Wis. Cav.
Anthony, Kan.