The American Indian as Participant in the Civil War

by Annie Heloise Abel

support.[⁸²³] Bankhead had not the slightest idea of doing anything that would put Texas in jeopardy. In northern Texas sympathy for the Federal cause, or "rottenness" as the Confederates described it, was rife.[⁸²⁴] It would be suicidal to take the home force too far away. Moreover, it was Bankhead's firm conviction that Steele would never be able to maintain himself so near to Fort Gibson, so he would continue where he was and decide what to do when time for real action came.[⁸²⁵] It would be hazarding a good deal to amalgamate his command,[⁸²⁶] half of which would soon be well disciplined, with Steele's, which, in some of its parts, was known not to be.

As a matter of fact, Steele's command was worse than undisciplined. It was permeated through and through with defection in its most virulent form, a predicament not wholly unforeseen. The Choctaws had pretty well dispersed, the Creeks were sullen, and Cabell's brigade of Arkansans was actually disintegrating. The prospect of fighting indefinitely in the Indian country had no attractions for men who were not in the Confederate service for pure love of the cause. Day by day desertions[⁸²⁷] took place until the number became alarming and, what was worse, in some cases, the officers were in collusion with the men in delinquency. Cabell himself was not above suspicion.[⁸²⁸] To prevent the spread of

Footnote 823: [(return)]

By August third, Bankhead had not been heard from at all [Steele to Blair, August 3, 1863, Official Records, vol. xxii, part ii, 953]. The following communications throw some light upon Bankhead's movements [ibid., 948, 956, 963].

Footnote 824: [(return)]

Crosby to G.M. Bryan, August 30, 1863, ibid., 984.

Footnote 825: [(return)]

Bankhead to E.P. Turner, August 13, 1863, ibid., 965-966.

Footnote 826: [(return)]

Bankhead to Boggs, August 10, 1863, ibid., 966.

Footnote 827: [(return)]

There is an abundance of material in the Confederate Records on the subject of desertions in the West. Note particularly pp. 167, 168, 173-174, 192-193, 198, 204-205 of chap. 2, no. 268. Note, also, Official Records, vol. xxii, part ii, 956.

Footnote 828: [(return)]

Duval to Cabell, August 17, 1863, Official Records, vol. xxii, part ii 969-970.

contagion among the Indians, his troops were moved to more and more isolated camps[⁸²⁹] across the Canadian[⁸³⁰] and, finally, back in the direction of Fort Smith. Ostensibly they were moved to the Arkansas line to protect Fort Smith; for Steele knew well that his present hold upon that place was of the frailest. It might be threatened at any moment from the direction of Cassville and Morgan had been instructed, in the event of an attack in prospect, to cross the boundary line and proceed along the Boggy road towards Riddle's station.[⁸³¹] Steele was evidently not going to make any desperate effort to hold the place that for so long had been the seat of the Confederate control over the Southern Indians.