December 31 [1862]
Very cold. We moved early down the road toward Briartown. Leaving , above Hildebrand’s [above Webbers Falls on the Arkansas], we took a right hand road or trail and struck the Dirdy [Dirty Creek] road near the Louis Keyes place, ponies began giving out and we began to duck paddle it. Encamped under the mountain, 6 miles, above Tom Starr’s . Had very good beef and a warm made a good night of it.
January 1 [1863]
Broke camp bright and early, passed Tom Starr’s and Joe Cribbs’ place, every cabin and home was filled with men begging bread from our command. Met with Captain [Erasmus] Howland near Cribbs’ place and he reported our train just behind him so we moved on to the prairie nearby where we found very good country.
Dispatch from General Cooper by Major J. M. Bryan place General Cooper on Cole [Coal] Creek or Boggy Depot road and ordered Colonel Watie to hold a position at some point in the Cherokee Nation and he will move on to Texas and have plenty of supplies forwarded to Camp Johnson for the Creeks, Cherokees and Seminoles, Osages &c. and place them all under the command of Col. Watie.