Half of the 1st Cherokee Mtd Vols were encamped on the south side of the Arkansas near Webbers Falls. Watie with about a battalion had gone up the Arkansas line and had not yet returned. Lt Col R.C. Parks was commanding those encamped who had few arms or servicable mounts and poor ammunition. The two Creek regiments under the McIntoshes were encamped near the Creek Agency (north west side of present Muskogee) though they may have had only a couple of companies in camp, the balance being furloughed or AWOL. The Choctaw and Chickasaw were encamped at Buck Creek, southwest of Scullyville, pending furlough for the winter. Cooper addressed his letter from his headquarters at Scullyville.
Cooper ordered the McIntoshes to round up all the cattle they could that were free ranging on the prairies between the Grand and Bird Creek. (Tulsey Town is, of course, current Tulsa). Watie is to go to the Grand Saline (just south of present Saline under Hudson Lake), Bryan's (at the old Union Mission near present Mazie on the west side of the Grand), and Alberty's (which I believe to be the old West and then Markham salt works southwest of Locust Grove on the east side of the Grand) -- no clue where the kettles sunk in the Grand at Ft Gibson came from. I can't find any reports or correspondence that either goal was accomplished. Their livestock was in such poor condition, they probably couldn't have pulled wagons with the big iron kettles on them.
Anyone have info on Capt. Lennox? Lt Col Parks called him the "inspector of salt wells, & c."
Ken