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Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864

We are in complete agreement that "it doesn't make much sense either way". ;-) The info below from Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kansas doesn't acknowledge that Willett's battalion was already with Phillips at Ft Gibson in Dec. 1863 and moved with Phillips in February, completely separate from the other two battalions under Moonlight/Brown.

It is still uncertain to me whether Phillips' route to Little River Town was via North Fork Town. There were apparently other routes to get to Hillabee and Wewoka Creek though the route via North Fork Town seems reasonable. (Note that during the war and before, references to "Wewoka" refer to a location near the mouth of Wewoka Creek and/or Barnett's -- the vicinity of present Wetumpka OK. The present town of Wewoka wasn't established until after the war and the new Seminole Treaty which moved their official boundary east. From 1856 to 1866, their eastern boundary was a line from about present Tecumseh OK to the mouth of Pond Creek on Canadian. The agency on Green Head Prairie was a couple of miles north of present Wanette OK.)

In Feb 1864, North Fork Town was likely uninhabited and the 'town' was only a handful of buildings. If Phillips' squad and the corn cribs were not right in the little town, seems Brown's scout could have easily missed them. There were probably no citizens in the vicinity to guide them.

The below is online at http://www.kansasguardmuseum.org/dispunit.php?id=24

The 14th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
In the spring of 1863, Maj. Gen. Blunt received authority from the War Department to recruit a battalion of cavalry as his personal escort.

This was intended to be composed of four companies of picked men. They were speedily obtained; so speedily, indeed, that inasmuch as the necessity was at that time urgent for more troops, Gen. Blunt had the order so extended and altered as to authorize the enlistment of a full regiment of cavalry for the current wants of the service.

Under this authority Gen. Blunt, through his recruiting commissioner, Maj. Anderson, (afterwards Adjutant General of the State), aided by the efforts of Gov. Carney, soon had the requisite number of men recruited, and in November, 1863, the 14th Kansas Cavalry was in effect organized and placed in the field.

On the 20th of this month, (November), by order of General Blunt, the regiment moved from Fort Scott (which was its place of rendezvous) en route for Fort Smith, Ark., under command of Lieut. Col. Thomas Moonlight, 11th Kansas Volunteers. It arrived at Fort Smith December 3d, 1863, and was at once placed under active duty by Gen. John McNeil, who then commanded at that place. The regiment (being well mounted, and cavalry being much need at the post) at once entered upon an active career of scouting, foraging, picket and other duties. This was kept up during the winter, or until the 23d of February.

Just before this time, Col. Moonlight was relieved from the command of the regiment, Maj. J. G. Brown succeeding him. Under this officer the 14th Kansas marched during the month of February on an expedition into the beautiful but almost deserted Choctaw country. The line of its march was that of Lieutenant Whipple's survey for the Southern Pacific Railway via Sherman, Texas. Many of the iron bridges built by that pioneer of the Pacific Railroad, the Overland Mail Company, yet remained. The expedition was intended to penetrate to Boggy Depot, C. N., and was to co-operate with a force from Fort Gibson, C. N., under command of Col. Wm. A. Phillips. On account of orders received from Headquarters District of the Frontier, the entire regiment did not proceed further than North Fork Town, on the Canadian river, eight companies of the regiment returned to Fort Smith under Maj. Brown, and cos. B, K, L and M accompanied Col. Phillips. As the only cavalry with the force it acted as the advance of the command while penetrating the enemy's country, and when within twenty miles of Boggy Depot, it was found necessary to retreat to avoid a largely superior force, this battalion of cavalry acted as the rear guard of Col. Phillips' little army, doing signal service throughout...

(Source: Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kansas, 1861-’65. Reprint Edition. Topeka, Kansas: Kansas State Printing Plant (1896). Transcription courtesy of Bryce Benedict, Civil War Round Table of Eastern Kansas.)

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Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864
Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864
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Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864
Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864
Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864
Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864
Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864
Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864
Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864
Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864
Re: Camp of 14th KS Cav - Feb. 11, 1864