Battle of Locust Grove facts for kids

The Battle of Locust Grove was a small but important fight during the American Civil War. It happened in the Indian Territory (which is now part of Oklahoma) on July 3, 1862. This battle was part of the larger Trans-Mississippi Theater of the war.

The Battle of Locust Grove

What Happened?

About 250 Union soldiers, led by Colonel William Weer, surprised around 300 Confederate soldiers. The Confederates, commanded by Colonel James J. Clarkson, were camped near a place called Pipe Springs.

The Union troops attacked at dawn. The Confederate soldiers were caught off guard and could not get into a fighting line. They quickly scattered into a nearby area with many locust trees.

The fight led to many Confederate losses. About 100 Confederate soldiers were killed. Another 100 were either wounded or captured. Colonel Clarkson, their commander, was one of the prisoners taken. The Union army reported much smaller losses, with only three soldiers killed and six wounded.

The Union troops also captured a lot of supplies from the Confederates. This included 60 wagons, 64 teams of mules, and many other important items. Some Confederate soldiers managed to escape. They headed towards Tahlequah and Park Hill.

After the Battle

Colonel Weer and his soldiers stayed at the battle site on July 4th. They divided the captured clothing among themselves. All the other captured supplies were shared among the different Union units.

After packing up their camp, Weer and his men moved on. They went to a place called Flat Rock. This spot was about 14 kilometers (14 miles) from Fort Gibson. At that time, Confederate forces held Fort Gibson.

Where is Locust Grove?

The battle took place east of the modern-day town of Locust Grove, Oklahoma. Today, there is a special marker to remember the battle. It is located in Pipe Springs Park, on Scenic Route 412. The marker's exact location is 36° 11.889′ N, 95° 8.998′ W.

The words on the marker explain what happened:

“Federal troops suddenly attacked a Confederate camp along the ridge near here at dawn, July 2, 1862. The surprised Confederates hardly returned fire before their officers and heavy supplies were captured. Yet, hot fighting in the woods lasted nearly all day.”