That kind of war

Headquarters District of Indian Territory, Fort Towson, May 11, 1864

Brig. Gen. S.B. Maxey, commanding, reporting to the Confederate War Department.

A Mr. John Toothman on May 3, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, reports 2,100 Union soldiers at Fort Smith in the 9th Kansas Cavalry, 1st Arkansas Cavalry, 13th Kansas Cavalry, and “Negros and Pin Indians and six pieces artillery.”

Gen. Maxey also reported: “They (Union forces) are still fortifying as fast as they can. They have organized three commands of home guard at or near Fort Smith, amounting to almost 100 men in all. They are scouting and killing every old man and boy that won’t join them.”

Animosities during the 1861-65 war were carried forward by Indian families pro- or anti-removal from the Southeast 30 years before. The same animosities would come up again during debates on statehood for a geographical location to be known as Oklahoma.