Bushwhackers and Osage Indians

In the summer of 1863, Col. Charles W. Blair, the commanding officer at Fort Scott, was faced with a multitude of problems which required multi-tasking, to use a modern phrase. This was, and is, not unusual for any military commander in any war, multi-tasking is a way of life. Some of Col. Blair's major problems were maintaining a sufficient force to defend Fort Scott, conducting scouts or missions in Missouri, supplying the articles of war to Fort Smith, Ark., and Fort Gibson in the Indian Territory, providing troops to escort and protect the supply trains going south, disposing of contraband or captured Confederate property and maintaining an alliance with the Osage Indians whose huge reservation was located in southern Kansas bordering the Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). The following correspondence indicates the compound difficulty that Col. Blair faced with the Osage Indians, contraband property in the form of cattle, lack of troops to protect Fort Scott and the supply trains going to Fort Smith and Fort Gibson. Both letters are located in Volume 22, Series I of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion on Pages 221, 248 and 249.

Headquarters Detachment,

9th Regt. Kans. Vol. Cavalry,

Humboldt, Kansas, April 16, 1863.

Major General James G. Blunt,

Commanding District of Kansas:

Sir: I have the honor to report that, on the 10th day of April, I sent a detachment of my company to the Cottonwood country in search of contraband property, agreeably to your recent orders. About 40 miles from its' mouth, the detachment came up with a herd of about 1,000 head of cattle in charge of about 40 Delaware and Shawnee Indians. The Indians resisted and the detachment of men was unable to take possession of the cattle, the Indians being armed and mounted. The above information I got today. Under the present circumstances, it is impossible for me to send a sufficient force to take the cattle. I have in herd here or near here about 500 head cattle, which I have been unable to send to Fort Scott, for the reason that I deem it unsafe to do it without an escort of at least 20 men, for the following reasons:

About one week ago a party of bushwhackers made a raid on Lighting Creek, capturing a large amount of stock and committing other depredations; and a few days previous to that a raid was made, I think by the Osage Indians, in the same vicinity, who murdered a very worthy citizen, about sixty years of age and his son. I am also informed that there is much dissatisfaction among the Osages and that they are holding secret councils and have come to the conclusion that the whites are so divided among themselves that they [the Osages] can make a successful fight against us.

Today one of my pickets was taken prisoner; his horse and arms taken. Other reliable reports lead me to the belief that the enemy are in force some 40 miles below, on the Neosho. I have detachments out in pursuit of them and as soon as they report, I will report the result to you at once. I must, from necessity, keep a force on the Verdigris, in order to enforce your recent orders. Taking all the facts into consideration, I would respectfully suggest the propriety of sending at least two companies more here, not only to protect the citizens from outrages of Indians, but to carry out your orders above referred to and to protect the Government from depredations in stealing stock by the Indians.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. DOUDNA,

Captain, Company G, 9th Regt., Kansas Vol. Cavalry.

P.S. I presume it is unnecessary for me to add that I feel that I am in a very critical situation and feel the importance of re-enforcements at the earliest possible moment. Living-ston and the Osages, I am informed, have had consultations."

"Headquarters,

Fort Scott, Kansas; April 25, 1863.

Major General James G. Blunt,

Commanding District of Kansas, Fort Leavenworth:

General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 22d instant, directing me to send all the mounted forces of Fort Scott that can be spared to Humboldt and points west and south of that place.

I received also, a few days since, a dispatch from Captain Doudna and a letter from Mr. Thurston of Humboldt asking for assistance and re-enforcements. The tenor of these letters showed considerable alarm, but upon questioning the express messenger I was inclined to think that perhaps their apprehensions had somewhat exaggerated the danger, as but 6 or 7 persons had been seen and they seemed to be engaged in a sort of stealing and robbing expedition. But whether the danger was imminent or not, I could not render any assistance. Of the three cavalry companies stationed here, I could only raise about 130 or 140 mounted men as an escort to the train. I started to Colonel Phillips on the 8th instant and the escort was not as large as it should have been, especially in view of the fact, now shown, that the train will have to go to Fort Gibson. I have not mounted man left. I tried to mount 3 men to send out for deserters, a few days since, but could not get horses.

There is, to be sure, Captain Stevens' company at Morris' Mill, on Drywood [Creek], numbering some 50 or 60 men for duty, but such is an important outpost that I do not think it safe to weaken or break it up. They are also short of horses and cannot mount probably more than 40 men. They are all that could be sent and they cannot be spared. I trust you will let me know your wishes in the matter as soon as possible; meantime hold me blameless in not sending off this company until I know certainly desire it. I enclose to you a letter from Dr. D. Dodge, who resides on the Osage, near McNeil's. It seems to me that a company of the 9th in that region would do good service, not only to the loyal citizens there, but to the troops elsewhere, in the information they would be able to furnish of the movements of the wandering bands of bushwhackers that infest the border. Major Henning promised me he would urge upon your favorable consideration the importance of increasing the cavalry at this post [Fort Scott]. It is utterly insufficient for the present purposes. Last summer the headquarters of the department were here and the enemy was concentrating for a decisive blow against your entire force. Now he is demoralized and scattered, he will split up his forces into small bands and there is nothing here, but the garrison, it will be impossible to give such protection as should be given to exposed citizens without additional force. We should have at least three or four Missouri companies of cavalry. Two should be constantly engaged in scattering, for as soon as the leaves are out the bushwhackers will be swarming through the country. I do hope you will think of this matter favorably and let me have the additional as soon as practicable.

I have the honor to be General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHARLES W. BLAIR,

Major, Second Kansas Cavalry Volunteers, Commanding Post."

Now, Col. Blair eventually received some reinforcements that he requested that assisted in partially solving some of his logistical problems, protecting Fort Scott and the supply trains heading south and pacifying some of the Osage Indians. However, the remainder of these problems and with the coming of the leaves of spring the bushwhackers in Missouri added to his multi-tasking and of course the war went on!