Does anyone know the location of Prairie Springs? I had read sometime in the past that it was later known as Brushy Springs at Brushy Mountain -- southwest of Muskogee where the toll gate is located. However, Brushy Mountain would only be 10-12 miles from Ft Gibson, which may be too far north to fit the descriptions in the ORs.

In June 1863, are two letters addressed to Pres Jefferson Davis from "Prairie Springs, Cherokee Nation". The first is from the Cherokee Nation (signed by actg asst principal chief Samuel Taylor) on the 21st and the second from Col. Tandy Walker et al on the 24th. ORs Series 1, Vol 22, Part 2, Pg 1120.

At the beginning of the battle of Honey Springs, after the 1st Choctaw & Chickasaw falls back from Chimney Mtn (west of Summit OK), Cooper tells him to send "pickets out on the road across the mountain in the direction of Prairie Springs". I assume the "mountain" Cooper is refering to is what are known as the Rattlesnake Mtns directly east of Honey Springs, not Chimney Mtn which is north. ORs Series 1, Vol 22, Part 1, Pg 458

On July 26, 1863, Brig Gen William Steele writes from Prairie Springs, "This place is 15 miles from Fort Gibson". ORs Series 1, Vol 22, Part 2, Pg 948. This is repeated in his report of operations for 1863. ORs Series 1, Vol 22, Part 1, Pg 33. Steele writes to Brig Gen Bankhead the following day, July 27th, from "Camp Prairie Springs". ibid.

Brig Gen William Cabell reports, regarding the same event as Steele, that he moved his brigade from Camp Pike (northeast of Whitefield OK on the Canadian) "to Prairie Springs, within 20 miles of Fort Gibson. From there we went to Honey Springs; remained a short time, and fell back to Soda Springs". (Soda Springs was straight east of Checotah OK, three miles east of US Hwy 69). ORs Series 1, Vol 22, Part 1, Pg 604

Beginning the campaign leading to the 2nd Battle of Cabin Creek, Brig Gen Stand Watie writes that on Sept 14, 1864 they marched from Camp Pike to Prairie Springs. On the 15th, they marched from Prairie Springs to "Camp Pleasant on Blue [Creek], four miles below Chosky". ORs Series 1, Vol 41, Part 1, Pg 785. Camp Pleasant would be about 4 miles south or southwest of the little town of Porter OK and I presume Camp Pleasant is named after Pleasant Porter who lived in the vicinity. Gano's report says essentially the same. ORs Series 1, Vol 41, Part 1, Pg 788.

Ken