The American Indian as Participant in the Civil War

by Annie Heloise Abel

Footnote 716: [(return)]

On the subject of the reduction of Schofield's command, see ibid., 40.

Footnote 717: [(return)]

Curtis to Phillips, February 17, 1863, ibid., 113-114.

practically abandoned to the jayhawker. Scouting parties of both armies, as well as guerrillas, had preyed upon it like vultures. Indians, outside of the ranks, were tragic figures in their utter helplessness. They dared trust nobody. It was time the Home Guard was being made to justify its name. Indeed, as Ellithorpe reported, "to divert them to any other operations" than those within their own gates "will tend to demoralize them to dissolution."[⁷¹⁸]

The winter of 1862-1863 was a severe one. Its coming had been long deferred; but, by the middle of January, the cold weather had set in in real earnest. Sleet and snow and a constantly descending thermometer made campaigning quite out of the question. Colonel Phillips, no more than did his adversary, General Steele, gave any thought to an immediate offensive. Like Steele his one idea was to replenish resources and to secure an outfit for his men. They had been provided with the half worn-out baggage train of Blunt's old division. It was their all and would be so until their commander could supplement it by contrivances and careful management. Incidentally, Phillips expected to hold the line of the Arkansas River; but not to attempt to cross it until spring should come. It behooved him to look out for Marmaduke whose expeditions into Missouri[⁷¹⁹] were cause for anxiety, especially as their range might at any moment be extended.

The Indian regiments of Phillips's brigade were soon reported[⁷²⁰] upon by him and declared to be in a sad state. The first regiment was still, to all intents and purposes, a Creek force, notwithstanding that its fortunes had been varied, its desertions, incomparable.

Footnote 718: [(return)]

Official Records, vol. xxii, part ii, 49.

Footnote 719: [(return)]

Confederate Military History, vol. x, 161, 162.

Footnote 720: [(return)]

Official Records, vol. xxii, part ii, 56-58.