The Battle of Chusto-Talasah, also known as Bird Creek, Caving Banks, and High Shoal, was fought December 9, 1861, in what is now Tulsa County, Oklahoma (then Indian Territory) during the American Civil War. It was the second of three battles in the Trail of Blood on Ice campaign for the control of Indian Territory during the American Civil War.
A series of battles were fought in December in bad weather between the Confederate Cherokee and Choctaw Indians and the Union Creek and Seminole Indians (led by the Muscogee Creek chief Opothleyahola) who supported the Federal government. Following Opothleyahola and his Union force’s defeat at Round Mountain, he retreated northeastward in search of safety. On December 9, 1861, the force was at Chusto-Talasah (Caving Banks) on the Horseshoe Bend of Bird Creek when Col. Douglas H. Cooper’s 1,300 Confederates attacked about 2:00 p.m. Chief Opothleyahola knew Cooper was coming and had placed his troops in a strong position in heavy timber at Horseshoe Bend.
For almost four hours, Cooper attacked and attempted to outflank the Federals, finally driving them across Bird Creek just before dark. Cooper camped there overnight but did not pursue the Federals because he was short of ammunition. The Confederates claimed victory, although some sources credit Opothleyahola's forces with driving off the attackers.Oklahoma Historical Society granite marker on the east side of Sperry says: "Battle of Chusto-Talasah This battle site is 9 miles N.E.S.E., at the “Caving Banks” bend on Bird Creek. Here-Dec. 9, 1861- Opothleyahola’s Union Indians forced the retreat of Col. D.H. Cooper’s Confederate troops. Marker sponsored by the Tulsa County Historical Society. Oklahoma Historical Society.” In any event, Chief Opothleyahola and his band moved on in search of security elsewhere. Their loss was estimated by Cooper as 500 (some accounts suggest 412). Confederate casualties were 15 killed and 37 wounded.
Regardless of whether the Confederates had gained a minor tactical victory here, they would win a resounding one later in the month at Chustenahlah.
The Chusto-Talasah battle site is on privately owned land near 86th Street North and Delaware Avenue, 5 miles northwest of modern Tulsa.THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES IN INDIAN TERRITORY. "Battle of Chusto-Talasah December 9, 1861." Accessed August 23, 2012. A granite marker on the east side of Sperry, Oklahoma places the battlesite 9 miles N.E.S.E. of that point.
Order of battle Cooper's Brigade - Col. Douglas H. Cooper 6 companies, 1st Choctaw-Chickasaw Mounted Rifles - Maj. Mitchell Laflore Detachment, Choctaw Battalion - Capt. Alfred Wade Detachment, 1st Creek Regiment - Col. Daniel N. McIntosh Detachment, Creek Indians - Capt. James M. C. Smith 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifle Regiment - Col. John Drew 4th Texas Cavalry Regiment - Col. William B. Sims Detachment, 9th Texas Cavalry - Lt. Col. William Quayle Whitfield’s Battalion - Capt. John W. Whitfield
Creek and Seminole Indians - Chief Opothleyahola Lockapoka Creeks Muscogee Creeks Seminoles - Halleck Tustenuggee, Sonuk Mikko
See also
List of battles fought in Oklahoma Battle of Chustenahlah Trail of Blood on Ice
References
National Park Service Battle Summary 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 8–10. 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. .
External links Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - "Chusto Talasa, Battle of"
Battle of Chusto-Talasah December 9, 1861