The Honey Springs Battlefield, Oklahoma (Indian Territory)

Buckeye Bill

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The Honey Springs Battlefield site is approximately 1,000 acres. Visitors can enjoy hiking and wildlife while exploring the history of the American Civil War in Indian Territory. Six Tour Stops contain walking trails with 55 interpretive signs. The Tour Stops take visitors through the Union bivouac area, the Union line of battle, the Confederate line of battle (includes 1/8-mile of the original Texas Road), the Battle at the Bridge (Elk Creek), the Last Engagement and the Honey Springs Depot with Monuments. A new visitor center features exhibits about the battle (artifacts, graphics, and narratives). The Honey Springs Battlefield is located east of US Highway 69 between Oktaha and Rentiesville, Oklahoma. The visitor center is located 1.5 miles east of US Highway 69 off of Gertrude Avenue.

* Welcome to the State of Oklahoma Marker.

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* The Honey Springs Battlefield Tour Stop Map : Courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

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* The Honey Springs Battlefield Entrance Marker.

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* Tour Stop 1 : The Federal Bivouac Site.

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* The 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment Marker.

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* Tour Stop 2 : The Federal Artillery Line.

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* The Honey Springs Battlefield (Looking South Towards the Confederate Line).

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* Tour Stop 3 : The Confederate Line.

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* The Texas Road.

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* Tour Stop 4 : Battle at the Bridge (Elk Creek Toll Bridge).

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* The Elk Creek (Modern Dirty Creek).

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* Tour Stop 5 : The Last Engagement - Pumpkin Ridge.

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* The Honey Springs Depot (Confederate Headquarters).

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* The United States Army Monument.

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* The Native Indian and 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment Monuments.

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* The State of Texas Monument.

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* The Confederate Army Monument.

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* The Honey Springs Battlefield Visitor Center (Closed on Sunday and Monday).

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* The Visitor Center (Texas Road Marker).

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* Sunrise over the Honey Springs Battlefield.

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They have a reenactment there if I remember right.

The battle is very interesting to study, and General Cooper's report is a pain to transcribe onto paper for a program at SCV Camps teaching about it, when your printer is out of ink.

Plus it looks like you had similar weather to what it was during the battle.
 
They have a reenactment there if I remember right.

The battle is very interesting to study, and General Cooper's report is a pain to transcribe onto paper for a program at SCV Camps teaching about it, when your printer is out of ink.

Plus it looks like you had similar weather to what it was during the battle.

Affirmative on the reenactment!

This battle occurred in the afternoon under a stormy sky. I was hoping for a sunny, cloudy day for photos. But any day on a battlefield is an awesome experience!

I was told the gate to the main battlefield would be open while the visitor center was closed. This was incorrect information. The gate on Monday was closed. I slipped through the posts and walked/photographed the venue. I traveled way too far to be denied. During my walk at Tour Stop 3, the skies opened up with thunder and heavy rain. Thank God I brought my big towel to cover my Nikon!

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The visitor center is closed on Sunday and Monday. The gate is locked on Sunday and Monday. Information for future visitors.

Bill
 
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Thanks for the photo tour. I am not much of a walker anymore, so i do appreciate all of the photos, and the interpretation. I have never been to Oklahoma. It looks like an interesting battlefield and I like the markers they use. It helps gives me a clear picture of the battlefield.
 
The Battle of Honey Springs (Elk Creek) occurred on this day in 1863. This was an important victory for U.S. Army forces in their efforts to gain control of the Indian Territory. It was the largest confrontation between Federal and Confederate forces in the area that would eventually become Oklahoma.

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