Patti, prochette@Juno.com here.

Please help me help Lucy Miller Jacobson locate her ancestor, Mr. Mallory, who was killed during the Civil War. .. Mr. "Mallory" may be the same as the "H. H. Molloy" found in the Aug. 1863 letter below, but I cannot find anything about "H. H. Molloy's," such as in which regiment was he enrolled. .. Was he in Col. Bass' Regt?

Lucy Jacobson sent: "Seeking information on a gent named MALLORY, who may have served in Bourland's Regiment. During the Civil War, John Kimsey Miller (of Co. B of Bourlnd's Regt) took in a widow named Mrs. Mallory and her two children – Ben and Lucy Mandy Mallory. The mother died shortly thereafter. .. In 1869 Lucy Mandy married J.K. Miller’s oldest son, John Rickman Miller. They are my great grand parents."
**********************

"H. H. Molloy" is found in the following pargraph (paragraph number 15) from Col. Douglas H. Cooper's letter to Gen. Wm. Steele. The OR reference had the "[H. H.]" bracketed. .. per ORsIv22/1[S#32]p457.

Among the officers who were distinguished for gallantry and good conduct, Col. Bass and Capt. [R.W.] Lee were particularly conspicuous. Col. DeMorse's conduct, though suffering under a severe wound, has been represented to me as all that should characterize a brave man. Col. [L.M.] Martin, for his coolness and good management of his command, deceiving the enemy as to his real strength, and preventing our left from being turned, deserves great credit. Capt. [L.E.] Gillett behaved with his usual gallantry. Maj. [J.A.] Carroll was active and prompt in bringing his men into line to cover the retreat. Col. [Tandy] Walker and his Choctaws behaved bravely, as they always do. Capt. [F.M.] Hanks, of Bass' regiment, was also distinguished for his gallantry, being dangerously wounded while carrying orders which I had sent to Col. Bass to draw the right wing to his support. And the lamented [H.H.] Molloy, of the same regiment, fell, mortally wounded, soon after having delivered my order to his colonel to move DeMorse's and Martin's regiments up on the right flank of the enemy, who were advancing upon the battery at the center.
***********************

CSA Hdqrs, 1st Brigade, Indian Troops
Emachaya Creek, near the Canadian River [Choctaw Nation, now Haskell Co OK]
Aug. 12, 1863
CSA Brig. Gen. William Steele
Commanding Department of Indian Territory

GENERAL:

My official report of the affair at Elk Creek [now Muskogee-McIntosh Co OK], on the 17th ultimo, has been delayed in consequence of the movements of the troops under your command and the difficulty of getting correct reports from subordinate officers of the killed and wounded. Referring to my notes of the 18th ultimo, I now have the honor to submit the following:

On July 15, reports were sent to me from the officer in charge of the pickets on Arkansas River that it had become fordable above mouth of Verdigris [River]; that Federal officers were seen examining the fords; that the two spies, Clark and [Union Gen J.H.] Lane, formerly employed in the quartermaster's department at Forts Arbuckle and Cobb, who imposed themselves upon you, and thereby obtained permission to enlist in this brigade, had reached [Ft] Gibson; that they had been at the agency examining that ford, &c. delieving there was a probability that the attack might be made upon me before [CSA] Gen. [W.L.] Cabell arrived, whose movements were known to these spies, or at all events that a heavy scout might be sent across to capture the pickets on the Arkansas, I directed their concentration on Coody's Creek [now Muskogee Co OK], with instructions to send vedettes to the different fords.

Early on the 16th ultimo, information reached me that the Federals were crossing in force at the Creek Agency. [CSA] Col. Tandy Walker, commanding 1st Cherokee and Choctaw Regt, and Capt. [L.E.] Gillett, commanding squadron Texas cavalry, with their commands, accompanied by Lt. [T.B.] Heiston, aide-de-camp and acting assistant adjutant-general, were ordered out in the direction of the Chimney Mountain, where the roads to Creek Agency [now Muskogee Co OK] and to [Ft.] Gibson intersect, with orders to send out small parties of observation on both roads and to withdraw the pickets from Coody's Creek. Up to this time I had been unable to determine whether the force which crossed at the Creek Agency was merely a heavy scout or the advance of the main body of the enemy. About 200 or 300 had been reported moving from the Creek Agency down the river toward Nevins’ and Rabbit Fords, near Frozen Rock [Cherokee Nation, now Muskogee Co OK], to capture or drive off our pickets, who were supposed, no doubt, still to be there.

About daylight on the morning of the 17th, the advance of the enemy came in sight of the position occupied by the Choctaws and Texans; commenced a brisk fire upon them, which was returned and followed by a charge, which drove the enemy back upon the main column. Lt. Heiston reported the morning cloudy and damp, many of the guns failing to fire in consequence of the very inferior quality of the powder, the cartridges becoming worthless even upon exposure to damp atmosphere. Soon after the Federals had been driven back, it commenced raining heavily, which rendered their arms wholly
useless.

These troops then fell back slowly and in good order to camp, for the purpose of obtaining a fresh supply of ammunition and preparing for the impending fight. A few remained with Lt. [T.B.] Heiston at Prairie Mountain, about 3 miles north of camp on the [Ft.] Gibson road, and were so disposed as to create the impression on the enemy that a large force was there awaiting them. Accordingly, their advance halted until the main body came up and formed in line of battle, thus affording my aide opportunity to form an estimate of their strength. He reported their force to be probably 4,000, which I found nearly correct, though some 500 under the mark. After ascertaining that the enemy were advancing in force, orders were issued to the officers commanding corps to prepare for immediate action and take their positions, all which had been, in anticipation of an attack, previously defined by General Orders, No. 25, to copy of which, marked A, herewith, reference is made.

Capt. [R.W.] Lee's Light Battery had been moved up on the [Ft.] Gibson road the evening previous, intending it to go with the scout under Col. [T.] Walker, but, owing to some misunderstanding or neglect in delivering the order, the scout left without it. Col. [T.C.] Bass, with his regiment, was ordered forward to support [R.W.] Lee's battery. [J.] Scanland's squadron and Gillett's squadron were directed to support the creeks at the upper crossing of Elk Creek, and Col. Walker to hold his regiment in reserve at their camp near Honey Springs [Creek Nation, I.T., now McIntosh Co OK], sending pickets out on the road across the mountain in the direction of Prairie Springs [Cherokee Nation (now Wagoner Co OK)]. Having made these arrangements, I rode forward to the position north of Elk Creek, where Capt. Lee's light howitzer battery had been posted, and found it supported by Col. Bass' regiment (20th Texas dismounted cavalry), by a portion of the 2nd Cherokee Regt., and a body of skirmishers on the right, under command of Capt. Hugh Tinnin, of the 1st Cherokee Regt, the remainder of the Cherokee regiments being near the creek.

A movement on my right was discovered, and Captain [H.] Tinnin reported that the skirmishers would soon be engaged. One-half of Col. [T.C.] Bass' regiment, under Capt. [J.R.] Johnson, was then ordered to the right to support Capt. Tinnin, and I rode over to their position and found, by movements of officers, that there was a body of troops on my extreme right. A part of 2nd Cherokee Regt, just returned from a scout to Prairie Springs, who were getting breakfast at camp, were then ordered up and conducted by myself to the right, and a messenger sent for half of the Choctaw regiment, which soon arrived and were placed also on the right along the edge of the prairie.

Upon reconnoitering the enemy from the high prairie, where I had a full view of them, then advancing upon the [Ft.] Gibson road, I found their force larger than reported by Lt. Heiston, and larger than I supposed they would bring from [Ft] Gibson; and, seeing a heavy force wheeling off to their right and taking the road up the creek to the second crossing above the bridge -- our weakest point, and from which the road continues up to the third crossing, where the Creeks were posted -- I rode back to the main road, sent orders to the Creeks to move down and support Colonels [C.L.] DeMorse and [L.M.] Martin, who were directed to support Col. Bass, and, if possible, flank the enemy on our left. I then rode to where I expected to find the Choctaws, in order to bring them to the support of Col. Bass' command and the battery, which was engaged with that of the enemy. Col. Walker, mistaking the order, had moved off on the mountain several miles with his whole force, instead of sending a picket. Messengers were sent after him and he returned promptly, but too late for the defense of the bridge. Riding back near the creek, I discovered our men in small parties giving way. These increased until the retreat became general. Col. Bass' regiment and Capt. [R.W.] Lee's battery, after a most gallant defense of their positions, were compelled to fall back; Col. DeMorse's regiment and Col. [L.M.] Martin's, on the left, also retiring, except a few who were cut off from the main body.

We have to mourn the loss of many brave officers and men who fell here, sacrificing their lives in opposition to an overwhelming force to save our little battery, all of which was brought off, except one howitzer, dismounted by the heavy ordnance of the enemy.

[CSA] Col. Martin, who retired in good order across the creek when the line along the prairie near the battery gave way, was directed to hold the ford above the bridge; but seeing the whole right wing falling back from the bridge and below it, Col. Martin was withdrawn and ordered to fall back to Honey Springs. Our forces were now in full retreat and the enemy pressing them closely. The Texans, under Scanland's and Gillett's command, were ordered to join me at Honey Springs, and the Creeks to withdraw from the extreme left and also concentrate at the same place. Col. Bass' and Col. DeMorse's regiments, a part of which (under Maj. [J.A.] Carroll) had reached their horses, were directed also to rally at the same place. The remainder of this regiment, under Lt-Col [O.G.] Welch, who bravely maintained his position on the north side of the creek too long to rejoin his [regiment], were cut off and compelled to make a circuit via North Fork [Town, now Okfuskee Co OK] to this camp. Capt. Gillett's squadron, arriving promptly, was formed on the road, and for a short time held the advance of the enemy in check.

The Choctaws, under [CSA] Col. Walker, opportunely arrived at this time, and under my personal direction charged the enemy, who had now planted a battery upon the timbered ridge about 1,000 yards north of Honey Springs. With their usual intrepidity the Choctaws went at them, giving the war-whoop, and succeeded in checking the advance of the enemy until their force could be concentrated and all brought up. The, Choctaws, discouraged on account of the worthless ammunition, then gave way, and were ordered to fall back with the others in rear of the train, which had moved off in an easterly direction, covered by our troops, who remained formed for hours in full view of the enemy, thus giving the train time to gain some 6 or 8 miles on the road to Briartown [Cherokee Nation, now Muskogee Co OK], which had been indicated by yourself as the route by which re-enforcements would be sent.

Too much praise cannot be awarded the troops for the accomplishment of the most difficult of all military movements --- an orderly and successful retreat, with little loss of life or property, in the face of superior numbers, flushed with victory. The retreat of the forces under my command eastward instead of south completely deceived the enemy, and created, as I anticipated, the impression that re-enforcements from Ft Smith were close at hand, and that by a detour in rear of the mountain east of Honey Springs our forces might march upon [Ft.] Gibson and destroy it while [Union] Gen. [J.G.] Blunt was away with almost the whole Federal force. Under the influence of this reasonable fear, [Union] Gen Blunt withdrew his forces and commenced a hurried march for [Ft.] Gibson. North Fork, where we had a large amount of commissary stores, was then saved, as well as the whole of the train, except one ambulance purposely thrown in the way of the enemy by the driver. A quantity of flour, some salt, and sugar were necessarily burned at Honey Springs, there being no transportation
for it.

Our loss was 134 killed and wounded and 47 taken prisoners, while that of the enemy exceeded 200, as I learned from one of our surgeons who was at [Ft.] Gibson when [Union] Gen. Blunt's forces returned.

I feel confident we could have made good the defense of the position at Elk Creek but for the worthlessness of our ammunition. The Choctaws, who had skirmished with the enemy on the morning of the 17th, returned wet and disheartened by finding their guns almost useless, and there was a general feeling among the troops that with such ammunition it was useless to contend with a foe doubly superior in numbers, arms, and munitions, with artillery ten times superior to ours, weight of metal considered. Notwithstanding all these untoward circumstances, the men of Col. [T.C.] Bass' regiment stood calmly and fearlessly to their posts in support of [R.W.] Lee's battery until the conflict became a hand-to-hand one, even clubbing their muskets and never giving way until the battery had been withdrawn; and, even when defeated and in full retreat, the officers and men of different commands readily obeyed orders, formed, falling back and reforming at several different positions, as ordered, deliberately and coolly. Their steady conduct under these circumstances evidently intimidated the foe, and alone enabled us to save the train and many valuable lives. The Creeks, under Col. D.N. McIntosh, at this juncture behaved admirably, moving off in good order slowly and steadily across the North Fork road in full view of the enemy. They contributed greatly to the safe retreat of the train and brigade.

Among the officers who were distinguished for gallantry and good conduct, Col. Bass and Capt. [R.W.] Lee were particularly conspicuous. Col. DeMorse's conduct, though suffering under a severe wound, has been represented to me as all that should characterize a brave man. Col. [L.M.] Martin, for his coolness and good management of his command, deceiving the enemy as to his real strength, and preventing our left from being turned, deserves great credit. Capt. [L.E.] Gillett behaved with his usual gallantry. Maj. [J.A.] Carroll was active and prompt in bringing his men into line to cover the retreat. Col. [Tandy] Walker and his Choctaws behaved bravely, as they always do. Capt. [F.M.] Hanks, of Bass' regiment, was also distinguished for his gallantry, being dangerously wounded while carrying orders which I had sent to Col. Bass to draw the right wing to his support. And the lamented [H.H.] Molloy, of the same regiment, fell, mortally wounded, soon after having delivered my order to his colonel to move DeMorse's and Martin's regiments up on the right flank of the enemy, who were advancing upon the battery at the center.

Capt. Johnson, who commanded a detachment from Col. Bass' regiment, came under my immediate notice. His
conduct was, at the most trying time, cool and collected -- that of a brave man and good officer. The nature of the ground precluded the possibility of personally observing all the movements of our troops and the conduct of the men and officers. Among those who were mentioned with praise by their immediate commanding officers are Capts. Hugh Tinnin, James L. Butler, and James Stewart, 1st Cherokee Regt; Adjt-Insp C. DeMorse, 29th Texas Cavalry; Lt. Henry Forrester and Sgt. J. Riley Baker, Lee's light battery; Lt. A.G. Ballenger, 2nd Cherokee Regt (killed), and Acting Sgt. Maj. J.H. Reierson, of Bass' regiment, and Sgt. Henry Campbell, of same regiment, were particularly distinguished, &c.

Mr. P.N. Blackstone was particularly distinguished for his courage on the field. After being severely wounded, he succeeded in repulsing three of the enemy who attacked him, killing one of them and taking his gun, which he brought off with him, together with his own, closely pursued by the enemy, after the greater portion of our troops had left the field.

Of my personal staff, Lt. T.B. Heiston, aide-de-camp and acting assistant adjutant-general, all speak in the highest terms. He was on this, as on all former occasions, wherever duty called him, conspicuous for his gallant bearing.

My son, Douglas H. Cooper, jr., additional aide-de-camp, is mentioned favorably by Col. [T.C.] Bass in his report for his good conduct while conveying my orders amid the thickest of the fray.

I am also indebted to Mr. S.A. Robinson for valuable assistance in conveying orders.

Referring to accompanying reports for further details, and to list of killed and wounded, I am, General,

Respectfully,
Douglas H. Cooper
Brig-General, Indian Territory per ORsIv22/1[S#32]p457.