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

The below is excerpts from the Supplement to the ORs, Records of Events, Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry, starting at Vol. 21, page 432. Unfortunately, nothing was found for companies B or M. It appears the companies under Moonlight/Brown were on detached service and gathered in Ft Smith on February 4th to began the expedition into Indian Territory.

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Field & Staff

November 12 [1863] -- Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Moonlight, Eleventh Kansas Volunteers assumed command of the regiment at Fort Scott, Kansas per Special Orders No. 95, dated Headquarters of the Frontier, Fort Scott, Kansas, October 21, 1863.

Squadrons B, L, and M absent at Fort Blunt [Ft. Gibson], Indian Territory in command of Major Willetts. Lieutenant-Colonel Moonlight relieved from command at his own request per Special Orders No. 43, District Headquarters, February 4.

February 7-17.-- The regiment, under command of [J.] G. Brown, having been ordered to join Colonel Phillips in his expedition against Stand Watie, started with fifteen days' rations and three days' forage for animals. It was found a few days after starting that no more forage could be procured. Arriving within fifteen miles of North Fork, Indian Territory, a scout sent forward to ascertain Colonel Phillips' whereabouts. He returned with the information that no command has been there.

Being entirely destitute of forage and the animals suffering much from the want of it, mules and horses daily giving out, the commanding officer deemed it advisable to return to Fort Scott, Kansas [sic -- Ft. Smith, Arkansas], at which place he arrived with his command February 17. The whole country through which the cammand passed is entirely desolate and destitute of forage.

Company A
February 4.-- Company A was detached from the regiment as escort to Paymaster [Hiram S.] Sleeper, in compliance to Special Orders No. 39, Headquarters, Post Fort Smith, Arkansas, January 9. It rejoined the regiment February 4.
February 7-17.-- The squadron started from Fort Smith, Arkansas with the regiment for the purpose of joining Colonel Phillips in his expeditiona against Stand Watie. After a march through a country entirely desolate and completely destitute of forage, the command returned February 17 to Fort Smith without being able to meet with Colonel Phillips.

Company E
February 7-17.-- Left Fort Smith with the regiment for the field. Marched to the North Fork of the Canadian River to form junction with Colonel Phillips from Fort Gibson. The colonel failed to meet us and the command returned to Fort Smith February 17. Lost two horses on the route. The country was destitute of forage and meat. Saw no enemy while gone. Distance marched 350 miles. [Mileage may include scouting for Col. Phillips.]

Company F
January 10. -- Left camp near Fort Smith, Arkansas for Fort Gibson in Indian Territory, marching the distance of 160 miles [roundtrip] in nine days, almost without forage, many of the horses dying for want of it.
February 7.-- This squadron also left camp at Fort Smith for North Fork in the Indian Territory, marching the distance of 200 miles [roundtrip], almost without forage and rations and doing without either for as long as three days at a time.

Company G
February 7-17.-- Started into Indian Territory. Marched 100 miles and returned. Found no savage. Lost six United States horses from exhaustion en route. Arrived at Fort Smith February 17.

Company H
February 7.-- Left Fort Smith for North Fork, Indian Territory. Marched a distance of seventy-five miles through a country deserted by inhabitants and destitute of forage.
February 17.-- Failed to meet Colonel Phillips at North Fork and returned to Fort Smith. Horses suffered much, and had to abandon a number.

Company I
January 7.-- My company, in connection with the rest of the regiment, was ordered to march, under the command of Colonel Moonlight, Eleventh Kansas Cavalry, acting colonel, Fourteenth, commanding, south into Petit Jean and Sugar Creek Valleys, a distance of 120 miles. Owing to the excessive cold weather both men and horses underwent much hardship.
January 20-Februrary 4.-- After returning to Fort Smith, Arkansas we remained in camp until February 4, when we were ordered under the command of Major J.G. Brown to march to North Fork Town in the Indian Territory, a distance of seventy-five miles, through a barren and desolate region, where neither forage or rations could be procured.
Februrary 17-23.-- Receiving not forage on the trip, we returned.

Company K
February 4.-- Arrived at Fort Smith, Arkansas after a march of seventy-five miles. The bearing of the soldiers was good under many trying circumstances occasioned by the scarcity of rations and forage, marching seventy-five miles with one ration of forage and one ration of provisions on two occassions.
February 7.-- This squadron left Fort Smith, Arkansas with the regiment for North Fork Town, Indian Territory, being a distance of ninety miles through a country entirely destitute of forage or grass and returned on February 18, being absent eleven days, traveling 180 miles with three days' forage. The horses were dropping all the time. Many died of disease and starvation whilst others were necessarily abandoned. It was with the greatest difficulty that the command succeeded in returning to Fort Smith. Subsistence was all consumed two days before we arrived at the Fort. The behavior of the soldiers was good under all the trying circumstances of the march.

Company L
Janaury 26th-February 1.-- Marched from Fort Gibson, Indian Territory to Hilorby [Square], a distance of sixty-five miles. Arrived at Hilorby February 1. [The Broadfoot edition adds the annotation "Hilorby Square". Hillorby Square is shown on some maps on the Deep Fork, roughly halfway between Fort Gibson and Edward's/Little Rivertown.]
February 9-13,-- Struck up march for Little River, the distance of sixty miles. Arrived on February 11. Marched from Little River to Boggy [Depot] sic - apparently Middle Boggy Creek or Clear Boggy Creek. Arrived on February 12 and had an engagement with the enemy February 13.

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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