The math says that the largest military operation that occurred in Indian Territory (IT) during the Civil War occurred on November 6, 1864, a time when most historians probably would have said "Nothing Happened" in IT after Cabin Creek II on Sept. 19, 1864. (See "Civil War in the Indian Territory" by Steve Cottrell, pp. 106-111). In fact, almost nothing has been written about this large operation, perhaps because no battle actually occurred. Neither the hunters nor the hunted had much fight left in their armies, but had any Confederate force (either commanded by Price or Cooper) turned on the pursuing Federals, a big, bloody fight could have occurred around Sallisaw.

"That being said," why was so little actually published about this event? One reason appears clear. Here in Indian Territory, almost all prior battles and other military operations during the war had been conducted by Confederate and Federal forces with "roots" in Indian Territory. Victory news stories written to promote local morale would be important press. Typical reported operations included those of BG Cooper and BG Waite for the Confederates and those of BG Blunt and Col. Phillips for Federal troops (including the three Indian Home Guard regiments posted at Fort Gibson). However, in this major operation (occurring during Price's Retreat on 11-6-1864), NO troops posted in Indian Territory for either side were involved, NOT ONE of the over 13,200 or so! All were from units "out-of-state" mostly from Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. When Price got safely across the Arkansas, they all simply left the field and returned to their distant commands. The local IT Confederate commanders of MG Maxey and BG Cooper had done little to aide Price's retreat, and they had even less to say about it.

On the Federal side, no (bad) news was good news! On November 8, 1864, President Lincoln got re-elected, and eight years later, so did LG Grant.