Honey Springs Battlefield - Checotah, Oklahoma - Battlefields on Waymarking.com

The area around the Honey Springs Battlefield was a Confederate depot. Located on the Texas Road, the Confederate depot was strategically located. In command of the area was General Douglas H. Cooper over 5,600 troops. Having control over this area gave the Confederate Army free rein across the northern portion of the Indian Territory to Fort Smith, Arkansas.

In the autumn of 1862, Colonel William A. Phillips challenged the Confederate authority in the Indian Territory, surging forward into the Indian Territory. This was the first attempt of the Union to regain control of the region.

Getting word of an impending attack on Fort Gibson, Confederate troops abandoned the fort. This allowed Federal troops to take Fort Gibson without force.

As spring of 1863 arrived, Colonel Phillips received word of Confederate plans in the area. First, Confederate troops under the command of Brigadier General William L. Cabell from Fort Smith, Arkansas, were on the move to join the troops at Honey Springs Depot. Second, Confederate troops wanted to drive the Federal troops away from Indian Territory. That meant expelling the troops at Fort Gibson. Third, the combined force from Arkansas and Honey Springs would join and take on the Federal forces in the area. Rather than allow this, Colonel Phillips made the decision to go on the offensive and attack Honey Springs.

In July, General Blunt, now reinforced by troops from Kansas and Colorado, went on the attack. General Blunt's troops had the best equipment, well armed, good uniforms, and generally had good rations, as they were supplied from Fort Scott. His troops numbered about 3000 and were now emboldened by word of victories at both Gettysburg and Vicksburg. In comparison, the troops under the command of General Douglas were poorly armed and ill equipped.

The battle of Honey Springs commenced on July 17, 1863. The battlefield was a densely wooded area, split by the Texas Road. Splitting the forces from each other was a deep creek, with a single bridge crossing the creek. The Union forces decidedly took victory in the battle, dispersing the Confederate forces from the field, allowing the depot to be burned to the ground.

This was the single largest battle in Indian Territory, and determined the future for the area. With all major Confederate troops dispersed from the northern portion of Indian Territory, Union forces could now focus their attention on northwest Arkansas, and particularly on Fort Smith.

Only one other engagement would endanger Union troops. The Second Battle at Cabin Creek, with troops under the command of Brigadier General Stand Watie, overtook a supply train worth $1.5 million. The supplies were en route to Fort Gibson; however, the supplies were soon replaced and this battle had little impact to operations.

Name of Battle: Battle of Honey Springs Name of War: American Civil War Entrance Fee: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Date(s) of Battle (Beginning): 07/17/1863 Date of Battle (End): 07/17/1863 Parking: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
Post a photo of you in front of a sign or marker posted at the site of the battle (or some other way to indicate you have personally visited the site.

In addition it is encouraged to take a few photos of the surrounding area and interesting features at the site.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/08/2017 gramakitty visited it