(extracted from Seminole Nation, I.T.):

"The first Seminole mission school founded in the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma) was Oak Ridge, a manual labor school established in 1848. The Oak Ridge site was about three miles southeast of present Holdenville in the former Creek Nation, where the Seminole dwelled until 1856. The Presbyterian Mission Board built and ran the school. Rev. John Lilley and his wife, Mary Anne, were in charge. The Lilleys were assisted by John Bemo, a Seminole. In 1853 they had twenty-six students, nineteen of whom were Seminole. Creek and Cherokee students paid room and board, while Seminole attended for free. The Lilley's children were also enrolled. Oak Ridge closed in 1855 when the Lilleys returned to the East. They returned and reopened Oak Ridge in 1856 and were assisted by Rev. James Ross Ramsey, who later organized the Wewoka Mission, a boarding school for Seminole girls, just north of Wewoka. Oak Ridge was abandoned and destroyed during the Civil War.
"

As Phillips Expedition both passed by Oak Ridge Mission (about February 11, 1864) on the Federal invasion of the Indian (Creek, Seminole, Choctaw & Chickasaw) Nations, and marched northward past the mission (about February 17, 1864) on Phillips return to Ft. Gibson (via the Dragoon Trail thru Barnett's, near present Wetumka), having camped around old Ft. Holmes (Little River Town, only two miles from the mission) both coming and going to Cochran's), it seems likely that Phillips' cavalry burned Oak Ridge Mission. It seems more likely that they burned the mission after the Battle of Middle Boggy and the near total destruction of similar facilities around Cochran, particularly Colbert Institute on February 15, 1864. However, it is known that it rained heavily on the 15th and 16th, so Phillips rear guard may not have destroyed (burned) it until the 18th.

What collective guidance could we provide the Seminole Nation on this point, so important to their history?