I can almost read the dispatch that BG J. M. Thayer, commanding at Ft. Smith, sent Col. William A. Phillips on 2-3-64. It must have read, "Don't worry, I am sending Moonlight to you today." At the time, Lt. Col. Thomas Moonlight was commanding nine companies of the 14th Kansas Cavalry posted around Ft. Smith, and Phillips was expecting them to join him at North Fork Town between 2-4 and
2-8. To Thayer's surprise, the 14th did not mount up and go as ordered. Either Moonlight ate something very bad that night and took sick leave, or perhaps the following happened:

Kansas historical records show the following two points: At the time, Lt. Col. Thomas Moonlight commanded the 11th (not the 14th) Kansas cavalry regiment, which had been broken up in the Summer of 1863 to better handle bushwacker and Indian raids occuring in Kansas and Colorado, and Majors Charles Willetts and John G. Brown were both majors in the 14th Kansas cavalry. Brown ranked Willetts by one day, and was at Ft. Smith. The core of the 14th Kansas was composed of MG James G. Blunt's newly-formed body guard, they were mad as hell, and they were now "armed to the teeth" following the Baxter Springs Massacre the past October in which Blunt was nearly captured, 18 14th Kansas troopers were killed, and MG S.R. Curtis' son with many others were murdered by Quantrill's large rebel gang dressed in Federal uniforms.

MG Blunt had sent the 2nd, 6th, 12th & 14th Kansas regiments to strengthen the defenses around newly captured Ft. Smith, which reportedly was being threatened by newly arrived (Bankhead) CSA forces in October 1863. I believe that Willetts led Blunt's core body-guard force that was dropped off at Ft. Gibson at Phillips' request, probably with BG John McNeil's (then commanding at Ft. Smith) support. During November1863-February 1864, the Federal command structure of Ft. Smith was in turmoil, as three Major Generals and three Brigidier Generals struggled for control of the post. None were worried about who commanded the 14th Kansas in Ft. Smith that Blunt had created by temporarily assigning his close friend and former staff member (Lt. Col. Thomas Moonlight) to.

For two months the 14th troopers serving at Ft. Smith seem to have tolerated Moonlight, but when Thayer ordered them to head west and join Phillips' Expedition and rejoin the rest of the 14th coming down from Ft. Gibson, and go fight the secesh, they must have rebelled, as many did a few months later. They would only serve under a commander chosen from the 14th, and not a usurper from the 11th! They wanted Major Brown, or Major Willetts. I believe that Brown knew that he outranked Willetts by one day, and this worried Brown. (Within six months Brown would receive a medical disability discharge from the army.) It appears that Brown did not accept the assignment to command until 2-8-64, but he did receive a promotion to Lt. Col. on 3-5-64, with medical discharge from service on 8-5-64 at Little Rock. Thayer took about five days to get Moonlight pacified, Brown and the 14th happy, and out the door to North Fork. By then, Phillip's train had left the station!Moonlight received his service promotion to Colonel at Ft. Leavenworth on 4-25-64. General Alfred Pleasonton would not be impressed with Col. Moonlight a few months later at the Battle of Westport. Yet, Moonlight's political career survived.

Did I miss something big?? I have read that some in the 14th Kansas, maybe Blunt's body-guard that Major Willetts may have commanded at the Battle of Middle Boggy, carried Spencer repeaters like John Wilder's Hoover Gap boys did in June 1863. Many did a few months later in Kansas at the Battle of Mine Creek.