Settlers versus Natives: The Trail of Blood on Ice, 1861

This series of three skirmishes during an epic trek of the Seminole and Creek people out of Oklahoma to Kansas during the Civil War doesn't strictly belong in the timeframe of this blog, but it's a testament to the bravery and skill of Muskogean warriors, many of whom were veterans of the Seminole Wars, so we'll include it here.

As the Civil War broke out, tribes who had been removed to Kansas and Oklahoma felt the pressure to choose sides.  Some believed that either the Union or Confederacy would be more accommodating with land concessions, perhaps even giving them their old home territory back or at least the compensation promised.  Others wanted protection from one side or the other, or to be left alone to live their lives without joining in the conflict.  In some cases, these divisions manifested still smoldering tribal rivalries or internal conflicts within tribes.  In 1861, as Confederate troops aided in part by Pro-Confederate Cherokee took over much of Oklahoma, pro-Union Creeks and Seminoles became worried that they would be attacked and dispossessed of what little land and resources they had.  And they were right, a Confederate force under Col. Douglas H. Cooper was on its way to force these Natives to join the Confederacy or face seizure of their property and yet more death and hardship. 

These Creek and Seminole were in dire need of leadership and two veterans stepped forward.  Opothleyahola, was an Upper Creek leader with great experience in crisis leadership.  He'd already worked to undue the damage caused in 1825 when Creek leaders ceded the entirety of Creek land in the Southeast to the United States, and led his people on their own Trail of Tears.  Sunak Micco, a Seminole leader who'd fought in the Second and Third Seminole Wars was another able warrior.  Together, they and other leaders wrote to President Lincoln, outlining the situation they faced and asking guidance from him.  Lincoln responded, telling them they should leave Oklahoma and head for Fort Row in Kansas.  Winter was a terrible season for traveling, but with Cooper's men ready to attack at any time, the Creek and Seminole felt they had no choice but to act immediately on the President's direction.

With women, children and the elderly in tow, they began their trek, which essentially became a rear guard action in the face of the enemy, something only the most able military leaders can pull off.  Their first brush with the Confederates was at the Battle of Round Mountain near what is now Yale, Oklahoma.  On November 19, 1861, at 4:00 in the afternoon, Cooper's Confederates arrived and prepared to attack the Native camp.  Opothleyahola, warned ahead of time by his scouts, had evacuated the camp, leaving it empty.  As Cooper's men looked for the Native forces, they ran smack into Opothleyahola's men, who were ready for them.  The Creek and Seminole attack drove Cooper's lines back.  As Cooper's men reeled and tried to regroup, the Natives set fire to the prairie grass and fled.

The two enemy forces found each other again on December 9, 1861, near Sperry, Oklahoma at the Battle of Chusto-Talahash, also known as the Battle of Caving Banks.  After four hours of back and forth fighting, Cooper's men drove the Native contingent over Bird Creek.  Cooper intended an attack the next day, but was short of ammunition.  This delay gave Opothleyahola and Sanuk Micco time to withdraw their men for a much-needed respite.  The Natives lost almost 500, by Cooper's estimate.  He calculated his own losses as 15 killed and 37 wounded.

But they weren't through with each other yet.  The Battle of Chustenahlah occurred on December 26, 1861.  Cooper wanted to join forces with Col. James M. McIntosh, coming out of Fort Gibson with a larger forces.  McIntosh encountered the Native forces near Skiatook, Oklahoma.  Without waiting for Cooper, he attacked.  Opothleyahola and Sunak Micco had dug their men in a brushy slope of a hill.  McIntosh launched repeated attacks with his cavalry against their positions and eventually Opothleyahola had to pull his men back and head for the Oklahoma-Kansas border.  A force of mounted pro-Confederate Cherokees under then-Col. Stand Watie attacked the retreating Creeks and Seminoles.  Sunak Micco and his men faced them off.  As Watie's force pursued the retreating pro-Union contingent, the Seminoles, many of them veterans of the wars in Florida, showed that the spirit of Osceola, Coacoochee, Bily Bowlegs and John Horse was still alive and well in the men they trained. 

The Creek and Seminole warriors with their families made it to Fort Row, Kansas, and relocated again to Fort Belmont, but there was no shelter and scant rations in the dead of winter.  Illness set it, claiming more casualties.  Opothleyahola, already aging, perished under the harsh conditions in March, 1863.  Sunak Micco would formally enlist himself and his men into the Union Army, fighting several more battles and being mentioned by senior commanders for his bravery.  He would die of smallpox in 1864 having adopted the name of a famous and beloved Seminole leader, Billy Bowlegs.