Battle of Round Mountain
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the
American Civil War

2017 re-enactment of the Battle of Round Mountain, at the disputed battle site near Yale, Oklahoma
DateNovember 19, 1861 (1861-11-19)
Location
Location disputed, near Keystone, or Yale, Oklahoma
Result Confederate victory
Territorial
changes		 Indian Territory
Belligerents
Loyal Indians  Confederate States of America
Commanders and leaders
Opothleyahola Douglas H. Cooper
Strength
Unknown 1,400 men
Casualties and losses
110 casualties 6 fatalities
4 wounded
1 missing

The Battle of Round Mountain was the first battle in the Trail of Blood on Ice campaign for the control of Indian Territory during the American Civil War that occurred on November 19, 1861.[1] Its main purpose was to prevent Union supporters of the Creek Nation, led by Opothleyahola from fleeing Indian Territory to the protection of Union forces in Kansas. [lower-alpha 1]

The physical location of the battle is in dispute. Some historians believe it to be near Keystone while others contend that it is near Yale, Oklahoma. The event is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Red Fork.[3][4]

Events

Col. Douglas H. Cooper, Confederate commander of the Indian Department, was unable to reconcile differences with Opothleyahola, commander of a band of Unionist Creeks and Seminoles. Opothleyahola" group was estimated to number about seventeen hundred people, and also included some Union supporters from the Comanches, Delawares, Kickapoos, Wichitas, and Shawnees.[5] Cooper set out on November 15, 1861, with about 1,400 men either to compel Opothleyahola 's submission or "drive him and his party from the country."[6] Cooper's force rode up the Deep Fork of the Canadian River to find Opothleyahola's camp deserted. On November 19, Cooper learned from captured prisoners that part of Opothleyahola's band was erecting a fort at the Red Fork of the Arkansas River.[lower-alpha 2]

Cooper's men arrived there around 4:00 p.m. Charging cavalry discovered that Opothleyahola's followers had recently abandoned their camp. The Confederates located and followed stragglers; the 4th Texas blundered into Opothleyahola's warriors on the tree line at the foot of the Round Mountains. The Federal response chased the Confederate cavalry back to Cooper's main force. Darkness prevented Cooper's counterattack until the main enemy force was within 60 yards (55 m). After a short fight, Opothleyahola's men set fire to the prairie grass and retreated.

The following morning, Cooper advanced on Opothleyahola's new camp but found that the Federal forces had fled. The Confederates claimed victory because Opothleyahola had left the area. The Confederates captured abandoned supplies, such as Opothleyahola's carriage, a dozen wagons, food, cattle and ponies. The Confederate loss in the engagement was 1 captain and 5 men killed, 3 severely and 1 slightly wounded, and 1 missing. Opothleyahola lost about 110 killed and wounded.[1]

This was the first of three encounters between Opothleyahola's Union bands and Confederate troops. The Unionists were forced to flee to Kansas after the Battle of Chustenahlah at the end of the year.[5][1]

Opothleyahola as a young man
Opothleyahola as a young man

Battle site controversy

The site of this event has been disputed for many years, with two locations emerging as the leading choices. One is near the present day town of Yale, Oklahoma. The other is close to the former site of Keystone (which is now submerged by the waters of Keystone Lake). Angie Debo, a noted Oklahoma historian, wrote an article describing the evidence for and against each site. She concluded that the evidence pointed more strongly to the Yale site.[3]

Order of battle

Confederate

Cooper's Brigade - Col. Douglas H. Cooper

  • 6 companies, 1st Regiment Choctaw-Chickasaw Mounted Rifles - Maj. Mitchell Laflore
  • Detachment, 1st Creek Mounted Rifles - Col. Daniel N. McIntosh
  • Detachment, 2nd Creek Mounted Rifles - Lt. Col. Chilly McIntosh
  • Detachment, Seminole Indians - Maj. John Jumper
  • Detachment, 9th Texas Cavalry - Lt. Col. William Quayle

Union

Creek and Seminole Indians - Opothleyahola

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Some sources refer to Opothleyahola as Chief. However, one article pointed out that he was not a "...chief, counsellor or head man" in the Creek Nation in 1861. He had been in his younger years, but had resigned the position in 1842. He still retained a good deal of influence with many tribal members, and repeatedly cautioned the Creeks to try to remain neutral in "the white man's war."[2]
  2. ↑ Red Fork probably refers to the confluence of the Cimarron River and the Arkansas River.

References

  • CWSAC Battle Summary
  • Debo, Angie. "The Site of the Battle of Round Mountain, 1861", Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol. XXVII, No. 2 (Summer, 1949), pp. 187–206.
  • DeMoss, Robert W. State of thieves: Detailing the truth of the first battles of the Civil War in Indian Territory. [Cleveland, Okla.] : R.W. DeMoss, 2004.
  • O'Brien, William M. A time of decision: the Indian Territory in the first year of the Civil War, August, 1861 through early 1862. Jenks, OK : The Author, 1997.
  • U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 70 volumes in 4 series. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1880-1901. Series 1, Volume 8, Part 1, pages 5–10.
  • White, Christine Schultz and White, Benton R., Now The Wolf Has Come: The Creek Nation in the Civil War, Texas A & M University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-89096-689-3.
  • Wright, Muriel H. "General Douglas H. Cooper, C.S.A.", Chronicles of Oklahoma, vol. XXXII, No. 2 (Summer, 1954), pp. 142–184.

36°07′48″N 96°17′13″W / 36.13°N 96.286944°W / 36.13; -96.286944

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