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STANDARD [CLARKSVILLE, TX], July 18, 1863, p. 1, c. 1-3
Head Qrs. 29th Tex. Cavalry, }
Camp 1st Brig. Indian Territory, }
Prairie Springs C. N., }
June 21st 1863. }
Brig. Gen'l D. H. Cooper com'dg
In conformity to your order of Saturday night the 13th inst., I started on Sunday morning the 14th, with 8 companies of my regiment and 8 companies of the 1st Chicasaw [sic] Choctaw REgt's ordered by you to report to me and moved to Hildebrands ford on the Arkansas. There, after examining the crossing and sending for the flat above, I commenced at about 12 o'clock to cross the force, numbering 1st Choctaw and Chickasaws 427, the 29th T. C. 325, making 752. To these were added a few guides under Capt. Jno. Vann, and a few under Lieut. Brewer, 1st Cherokee Regt. The strength of my own companies was much reduced by distempered horses. At Hildebrands Ford Col. Parks at my request joined me to render the service I had expected to receive from Capt. Brewer, who was directed to report to me, but was too unwell for service. That evening about 120 men got across, and Captain Brown with Co. H, was pushed northward to the edge of Greenlief prairie, and Capt. Vann with 12 men, was directed to scout in accordance with his judgement. By Monday night nearly the entire force was across the Arkansas, and crossing myself, I took up the line of march, and camped half a mile beyond the Chalybeate springs about five and one half miles north west of Hildebrands in some timber near the edge of a small prairie adjacent to Greenlief Prairie. At dawn of day moved to hill sides in the west of Greenlief prairie, and hearing that a few Federals had been seen on the main road from Hildebrands, from which we had diverged to the left the evening previous, Lt. Heiston with some 30 men went on a reconoisance [sic], and reported the enemy not exceeding a company. Upon this information ordered Major Carroll, with two squadrons Capt. Hook's companies D. & K. Capt. Olivers companies F. & E., to proceed to the locality, and capture the enemy. I then posted Company B, commanded by Lt. A. G. Bone, under guidance of Lieut. Brewer to the left of the road to Gibson, and near old man Brewer's place, and sent two other guides with Co. A, Capt. T. W. Daugherty, to the telegraph road. Keeping most of the company in a thicket on the left, The [sic] main body of my force was then moved to the right along the edge of Greenlief Prairie to the south west corner of the prairie a distance of half a mile, and formed on an elevation just within the line of timber, Commanding [sic] a view of the prairie, and convenient to movement or resistance, to approaches from Gibson or Talequah. Here the men were ordered to graze their horses, keeping them within immediate reach, the grass being good and they insufficiently grazed the night previous. The Choctaws were faced to the rear for that purpose. The horses had been released perhaps ten minutes, and Lieut. Col. Parks had gone out to post a piquet; I was myself sitting at the root of a tree, and pacing to the front preparing to answer a dispatch just received from you; when the firing became audible, was frequently repeated, soon approached rapidly, and heavy, just then I received a note from Maj. Carroll, stating that the enemy was in strong position, and more numerous than had been supposed, probably 1000 Cavalry, and suggesting an advance. I sent an order to Capt. Harmon who was formed on the left, to advance instanter, put my writing implements in my pocket, and my saddle equipments on horse, to lead the main body. Just then the greater portion of the detachments, under Maj. Carroll, fell back to us, under orders from him and the enemy pressing on in superior numbers came in sight of the Choctaws with their reversed line forcing them. The Choctaws seeing them in the rear, and through the timber [which I had not] without waiting an order commenced firing, and running forward in large numbers with great alacrity, forced them back to their original position and then commenced charging on their six pound howitzer in conjunction with Capt. Harmon's men under Major Carroll, which seemed to have failed through misapprehension; and before I could get to the front, and see the enemy's main position, most of my force had fallen back, and I was compelled to attend to its reformation; having not a single assistant: Lt. Col. Parks, Major Carroll, the Adjutant, Capt. J. D. Young (of Martin's Reg't) upon whom I relied as an aid and even the Sgt. Major being all absent. Capt. Harmon and company were all missing, Capt. Brown, whose company had been cut up into small piquet forces, and who had been assisting in leading the Choctaws, and Surgeon Reed, were also missing. A rear piquet of 15 men (Capt. Harmon) came in at this time and I sent it with Lts. Derickson and Pearce to examine the battle field, and search for the officers; and Capt. Harmon's company, I could get no word from the front, and after waiting an hour and a half, Lt. Heiston saw a force at a distance in the prairie, going before us toward Gibson, which I believed to be the enemy retreating. Lt. Brewer of the guides just then coming down from the piquet station on the road to Gibson. I ordered an immediate movement with a view to cut them off—Lt. Brewer let us by a defile, which shortened the route; and struck into the main road not far from the Bayou mountain. We were too late. The enemy had preceded us, and the track of his returning cannon was apparent. I crossed the road, and taking up the mountain to within half a mile of lookout point, preceded with the advance guard, under a guide, to that point, and for an hour watched the movement of the enemy. I saw their retreating column just below us, going in, jaded, and some of it on foot, successive detachments coming out, the first with wagons, and the last being the fourth or fifth, the largest constituting in all, a force rather larger than I wished to attack. I proceeded across to the Fort Smith route, with the intention of going over the mountain, north of Gibson, toward 14 mile creek. As we neared the Fort Smith road, I was notified that the Federals were within three hundred yards. The Choctaws were advancing and at my order rode forward and formed very promptly and upon my suggesting to keep silence, made not a single outcry. I rode back as rapidly as possible and brought up my own regiment, on the right, and about the time they were formed, learned that the force of the enemy was only about thirty (30) men. I then ordered an immediate pursuit by capt. Oliver's squadron, and five were taken prisoners and one killed. The others retreated toward Gibson, and escaped. The men taken were in advance.
The rear probably got sight of our force in good time. They were a scout from the Kansas 6th, going upon Greenlief prairie. At this point Lieut. Brewer advised me that neither my horses, nor his own, would hold out for the trip toward Grand river, and I reluctantly ordered a movement down the Ft. Smith road, to take in a piquet of 30 men, said to be at Flakes or Lacy Milsom's. We found none at either place, though usually kept their [sic] heretofore; and we hurried through a defile in the mountains towards Mackey's Saline, and encamped at night within a quarter of a mile of the Illinois river. Our horses were much jaded, and foot sore, from the rocky route through the mountains. In the morning we started for Webber's falls; there being no road to Hildebrands, where I desired to go. At Webber's falls, found the river swimming, and learned from one of Col. Waties men on the opposite side, that he had crossed at the mouth of the Canadian river the day previous. This explained the presence of the enemy's force where we found it.
Finding that the route to Hildebrand's was narrow, bushy, and very rocky for 15 miles and that the road to the mouth of the Canadian was better, and only the distance of nine miles I moved to the mouth of the Canadian, and crossed. Commenced crossing at ½ past 12, and got over the last of the command at 11 o'clock next morning. Just as I had crossed the rear guard, all our missing officers, and Capt. Harmons company came in. Thence (stopping and resting my wearied horses, and killing beef for my hungry men,) I came to brigade camps, at 12 m, on Friday the 19th.
Had we known at the outset; the true position and strength of the enemy, we should easily have killed or captured their entire force, but being deceived as to their strength, and mistaken as to their position, and after its ascertainment and the falling back on both sides, all my guides being cut off, and time lost before others came in, I missed a capture which I feel that my force would have commanded. I have to speak in commendation of most of the officers and men of my command; Lieut. Col. Parks, Major Carroll, Capt. J. D. Young (Martin's Regt.) Capt. Oliver, Daugherty, Harmon, Brown and Hook's and Lts. Guinn and Derrickson, and Lt. R. P. duty, who had brought out six men from company I, seem especially to have distinguished themselves; in the embarrassing contest, with a concealed enemy, far out numbering them. The companies of Capt. Oliver, Daugherty, and Harmon, acted gallantly. The Choctaws were notably prompt and gallant not merely in the portion of the action, which they sustained, but subsequently, when other actions were expected, showed promptness and alacrity.
I cannot particularize their officers, as I do not know many of them, but I learned during our short conjunction to recognize as reliable Capt. Loring who commanded them in chief, Capt. Kribbs, Capt. Pitchlyn, Capt. Benton and Lieut. Winship. Lieut. Heiston, of your staff, who assisted Capt. Loring in the field management, was always quick and watchful. Of Lt. Col. Parks it is sufficient to say, that he tried to get up a charge on the enemy's artillery and did rally and lead a body of the Choctaws, while himself without a single weapon for assault or defence.
I trust we may have an opportunity soon again, to accomplish more, aided by better luck, or greater knowledge of localities, which were all new to me.
Our loss in killed is ten, including whites and Choctaws and eight wounded, two of them slightly. The enemy undoubtedly murdered one of our men after he had surrendered; a party of perhaps 20 whites and Indians riding up and riddling him with balls when his gun was thrown down, and his hands raised for quarter. Had I known it in time, I might not have troubled you with the Cherokee and the five white men sent in.
The enemy must have lost about 20 or 30. They packed away the bodies in their ambulances, except three (3) negroes and one Indian.
Their force was seven good looking companies; probably 525 men. Against these, under cover, and flanking us on two sides, the contest in which most of our men were killed was made by 120 of our men, much exposed.—By his courage, and presence of mind, Serg't Hooker of company F, when dismounted and nearly surrounded by the band which killed Robertson (the man who had surrendered) preserved his own life. Killing one enemy by the discharge of one barrel of his gun, he reserved the other, and challenged the pursuers. They would not come near him, but kept shooting at long range; perforating his clothes, and shooting way the breech of his gun. Concealing this mishap by keeping the gun in a position that they could not see its unavailableness, he finally got away. Another dismounted man of the same company, John Turner, was killed, after certainly killing two of the enemy, perhaps more as he discharged his gun several times. Reference is made to the accompanying report of Maj. J. A. Carroll, for a full comprehension of the action of his detachment, and to the report of Capt. Loring, commanding the Choctaws, relative to their action, while not under my immediate observation.
Very Respectfully
Charles DeMorse,
Comd'g. 29th Tex. Cav.
P.S.—Tuesday morning 23d June, 1863.
I have withheld the delivery of this report to wait the return of Maj. Carroll, field officer of the day, from Niven's point, having heard that the federals were communicating with our pickets. Yesterday Lt. Williams, federal field officer of the day, informed Lt. Mosely, company "G" 29th Tex. cavalry, stationed at Niven's point, that they had at the fort two prisoners of the 29th Tex. Cavalry, taken at the action on Greenlief one of them seriously wounded; and acknowledged a belief that one of our men had been murdered after being taken prisoner, but charged it upon the Pins, and as contrary to orders. Lt. Williams states the federal loss in the action as killed 10 whites, 15 Pins, 3 negroes, 29 wounded, states also that they have two Choctaw prisoners.
This makes the comparative result as follows:
Federal Loss. Confederate Loss.
Killed 28. Killed 8.
Wounded 29. Wounded 8.
Prisoners 6. Prisoners 4.
Total 63. Total 20.
Lt. Williams states that they had 1200 men and one howitzer on Greenlief. One division of this force we engaged. The other division was fast encircling Capt. T. W. Daugherty, with Co. "A" stationed near the Telegraph road, when he discovered the situation, was led out by his guides, and recrossed at Hildebrands that evening.
Very Respectfully
Charles DeMorse.
Col Comdg 29th T. C.