Second Battle of Cabin Creek

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Second Battle of Cabin Creek

Date and place
- September 19, 1864
- Cabin Creek, Cherokee Nation (present-day Mayes County, Oklahoma)

Outcome
- Confederate victory

Belligerents
- Confederate States
- United States (Union)

Commanders
- Confederates: Stand Watie and Richard M. Gano
- Union: Major Henry Hopkins

Forces
- Confederates: about 2,000 cavalry and 6 guns; Indian Brigade (about 800) led by Watie and Texas cavalry/ artillery (about 1,200) led by Gano
- Union: about 150 mounted and 470 dismounted cavalry, plus wagon train escort

Casualties
- Confederates: 9 dead, 38 wounded
- Union: 35 dead, wounded or missing

What happened
- Stand Watie planned to strike central Kansas from Indian Territory, raid Union facilities, and attract western Kansas tribes to attack eastern Kansas.
- Watie and Gano met at Camp Pike on September 13, 1864, and planned the expedition. Gano agreed to co-lead; Watie kept command of the Indian Brigade.
- The raid targeted a wagon train leaving Fort Scott with supplies for Native Americans near Fort Gibson. The train was escorted by Kansas cavalry and Cherokee regiments; additional Cherokee troops were on the way.
- Earlier, on September 16, Confederates attacked a group of black Union soldiers at Flat Rock, resulting in heavy losses for the Union force and reports of killings of Black troops.
- The battle began around 1:00 a.m. on September 19. The Confederates attacked with Texans on the left and the Indian Brigade on the right. The Union wagon train was driven back and many wagons fell into Cabin Creek as mules panicked.
- By sunrise, Confederate artillery had been repositioned to crossfire the wagon train. Cherokee regiments crossed the creek to seize escaped wagons; Texans under Gano pushed the Union flank back.
- By 9:00 a.m., Union resistance collapsed. Hopkins escaped to Fort Gibson to seek help but no relief force arrived.
- The Confederates captured the wagon train, worth about $1 million, including 740 mules and 130 wagons.
- The victory was praised by Confederate leaders, but it did not have a major impact on the war in Indian Territory.