Confederate losses in Missouri and Arkansas brought Union troops into the Indian Nations, and war came home to the Indian People. On July 17, 1863, 3,000 Union troops under Major General James G. Blunt met a larger force of mostly Choctaws and Cherokees commanded by Brig. General Douglas Cooper along Elk Creek at a site called Honey Springs.

Suffering from poor quality gunpowder, then drenched by a hot summer rain, the luckless Confederates became confused and the battle was a major Union victory. Still, the Choctaws fought bravely in a rear-guard action to slow Blunts pursuit.

It was the largest battle to be fought in the Indian Nations, and never again would the Confederates and their Indian Allies be capable of fielding an army against the Union invasion.

On August 22, General Blunt led a well-fed and rested force of 4,500 men south from Fort Gibson along the Texas Road. His intent was to clear a path through the Choctaw Nation al the way down to the Red River.

Perhaps 9,000 half starved Native Americans under Confederate Generals Cooper, William Steele, and Indian leaders, Cabell, McIntosh, and the famous Stand Watie, could not face such an enemy. Half or more men were without weapons or ammunition. There was not even enough to feed them if they concentrated to make a fight. Despairingly, they divided into three groups and fell back in three different directions on their nearest supply lines.

Generals Cooper and Steele with 5,000 men retreated along the Texas Road towards Perryville, hoping to save the precious food, clothing, and ammunition stored there. But the Union forces advanced swiftly and, late in the day of August 26, 1863, their Cavalry reached the outskirts of the town.

There had not been enough time to move the stores kept in almost every building in Perryville. Generals Cooper and Steele ordered Lt. Col. James M. Bell and Captain Joseph L. Martin to fight a delaying action with about 1000 Choctaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees, some no doubt defending their own homes. The rest of the Confederates continued retreating south towards Boggy Depot.

Supported by a pair of howitzers from Howells Texas Battery, the detachment of troops fired from behind barricades on advancing 2nd Kansas Cavalry, wounding four. The cavalry halted and dispersed to either side of the Texas Road as more troops arrived. Union General Blunt ordered the 6th Kansas Cavalry to dismount and, advancing on both sides of the road, they threatened to outflank the Confederates position. The Union sown pair of howitzers dropped a dozen shells on their enemies and, as darkness fell, the warriors gave up the fight and retreated south to join their comrades.

If the Union soldiers and their exhausted horses were looking forward to a deep drink of cool water after the hot days march and fight, they were to be disappointed. As the town was abandoned, the inhabitants made a last defiant gesture, pouring salt down the towns three wells.

Blunts men found supplies stored everywhere. But the soldiers had been marching fast and skirmishing for four days. Now their energy was spent and the Union General seemed to have cooled on his plan to reach the Red River.

Citing his armys exhaustion, and the enemys ability to fall back on more supplies at Boggy Depot, he changed his mind. He decided to fan out, to harass McIntosh and his Creeks to the west, and Caballs command towards Fort Smith.

But that night, Blunt told his men to help themselves to whatever they wanted in Perryville. Then he ordered the town be put to the torch.

Was there something in the way the Native American soldiers fought when he invaded the Choctaw Nation that made General Blunt reconsider his bold plan to take the war to the very borders of Texas? A small battle in the 10,000 of the War Between The States, but after that night of combat, loot, and flame, there was no further effort to go south, though the way seemed clear.

The Battle of Perryville was over. The end of the war, and its consequences for the Native Peoples, was still over two years away.

Choctaw Confederate Flag

1st Cherokee Mounted Rfiles, Regmental Adjutant, Lt. Col. Robert Monger. One of the Confederate Indian Cavalry.

"The Battle of Perryville"

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