Anyone who hasn't read Spark's memiors -- this is a must read. His account of the first months of the war in Indian Territory give a unique view of some of the Indians he saw. (His account would also seem to discredit the theory that the Battle of Round Mountain was out near Yale OK). To my knowledge, it is the only reference to regular Confederate troops carrying bows and arrows. He of course mentions the most novel events he observed but does indicate this wasn't just one or a handful of individuals. The Indians apparently quickly found arrows impractical for this style of "modern warfare" -- arrows are time-consuming to make and not something they would be "re-supplied" or would be able to recover on the battlefield. They're great for ambushes and close range but not so good in battle formation when the enemy has modern rifles. I vaguely recall another account of the same time period, that I'll have to search for, in which a Texas trooper writes that people are wrong in their belief that the "civilized Indians" are just like their white neighbors -- referring to their customs that make them distinctly different such as stripping their clothes, painting their faces and bodies, and dancing all night. Thanks John for posting the link to the online text.

Ken