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- Oct 10, 2012
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September 16, 1864 - Battle on the Prairie.
While guarding a hay party on the praire 15 miles west of Fort Gibson, Indian Territory (modern Oklahoma) Capt. Edgar A. Barker (USA), with 125 men from the 2nd Kansas Cavalry and 79th USCT, received word of the advance of a Confederate force in the direction of his camp. Drawing his infantry up in line of battle, he moved out with a squad of cavalry and came up with the enemy about 2 miles away. He immediately fell back, thwarting several attempts of the Confederates to cut him off from his main column. The enemy then surrounded the camp and attacked from all sides, their cavalry charging three times, but each time being repulsed. Finding himself about to be overwhelmed, Barker with his cavalry made a dash for liberty, leaving the infantry to fight it out. The Confederates immediately closed in, captured all the white soldiers and killed all the colored troops. Only 15 men in the cavalry division succeeded in getting through, as the Confederates numbered 1,500. The total Federal loss was 40 killed and 66 wounded, missing or captured. The enemy's loss was not reported. All of the equipment of the hay party was taken or destroyed by the enemy.
posted on Facebook by the Regimental Quartermaster
While guarding a hay party on the praire 15 miles west of Fort Gibson, Indian Territory (modern Oklahoma) Capt. Edgar A. Barker (USA), with 125 men from the 2nd Kansas Cavalry and 79th USCT, received word of the advance of a Confederate force in the direction of his camp. Drawing his infantry up in line of battle, he moved out with a squad of cavalry and came up with the enemy about 2 miles away. He immediately fell back, thwarting several attempts of the Confederates to cut him off from his main column. The enemy then surrounded the camp and attacked from all sides, their cavalry charging three times, but each time being repulsed. Finding himself about to be overwhelmed, Barker with his cavalry made a dash for liberty, leaving the infantry to fight it out. The Confederates immediately closed in, captured all the white soldiers and killed all the colored troops. Only 15 men in the cavalry division succeeded in getting through, as the Confederates numbered 1,500. The total Federal loss was 40 killed and 66 wounded, missing or captured. The enemy's loss was not reported. All of the equipment of the hay party was taken or destroyed by the enemy.
posted on Facebook by the Regimental Quartermaster
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