Trail of Blood on Ice facts for kids

The Trail of Blood on Ice was a very difficult journey. It happened in December 1861 during the American Civil War. Native Americans who supported the Union fought their way north. They were led by Chief Opothleyahola of the Upper Creek people. They traveled from Indian Territory (which was controlled by the Confederates) to Fort Row, Kansas. Confederate forces, led by Colonel Douglas H. Cooper, kept attacking them along the way.

Why They Fought

When eleven Southern states left the United States in 1861, both the Union and the Confederate States wanted control of the Indian Territory. This caused old rivalries between Native American tribes to start up again. Some tribes decided to support the North (Union), while others joined the South (Confederates).

A Confederate force, led by Colonel Douglas H. Cooper, attacked the tribes who supported the Union in the Indian Territory. Chief Opothleyahola resisted this attack. He led his Union-supporting Creek and Seminole people from McIntosh County, Oklahoma north toward Fort Row, Kansas. These Native American warriors fought Cooper's soldiers in a series of battles during the winter of 1861. Their very harsh journey to Kansas became known as the "Trail of Blood on Ice."

Battle of Round Mountain

The first fight was the Battle of Round Mountain. It happened on November 19, 1861. The exact location is still debated by historians. Some think it was near Keystone, Oklahoma, while others believe it was near Yale, Oklahoma. Evidence seems to point to the site near Yale, which is known as Twin Mounds.

Colonel Cooper's soldiers arrived there around 4:00 p.m. Their cavalry charged forward and found that Opothleyahola's followers had just left their camp. The Confederates found and followed some people who had fallen behind. The 4th Texas soldiers accidentally ran into Opothleyahola's warriors hiding in the trees at the bottom of the Round Mountains. The Union-supporting Native Americans pushed the Confederate cavalry back to Cooper's main group. It got dark, which stopped Cooper's counterattack until the main enemy force was very close. After a short fight, Opothleyahola's men set the prairie grass on fire and then retreated.

Battle of Chusto-Talasah

The second battle was the Battle of Chusto-Talasah, also called "Caving Banks." It was fought on December 9, 1861, near Sperry, Oklahoma. For almost four hours, Colonel Cooper attacked. He tried to get around the sides of the Union-supporting forces. He finally pushed them east across Bird Creek just before dark. Cooper camped there overnight. He did not chase the Union forces because he did not have enough ammunition. The Confederates said they won this battle. Chief Opothleyahola and his group moved away to find safety somewhere else. Cooper estimated their losses were about 500 people. The Confederates had 15 killed and 37 wounded.

Battle of Chustenahlah

The third and final battle was the Battle of Chustenahlah. It took place on December 26, 1861, near Skiatook, Oklahoma. Colonels James M. McIntosh and Cooper planned to attack the camp together. Each of their groups would move toward the camp from different directions. McIntosh left Fort Gibson on December 22 with 1,380 men.

On December 25, McIntosh learned that Cooper's group could not join him for a while. But he decided to attack the next day anyway, even though he had fewer men and the weather was very cold. McIntosh attacked the camp at noon. The 1,700 Union-supporting defenders were hidden in the bushes on the side of a rough hill. McIntosh made a plan to meet at the top of the hill. The South Kansas-Texas Cavalry was ordered to charge directly up the steep hill on foot. The 11th Texas moved to their left using a hidden path. The 6th Texas went around to the right. As the Confederate attack continued, the Native Americans started to fall back. They would hide for a bit and then move back again. Their retreat became a full escape when the Confederates reached their camp. The Native Americans tried to make a stand there but were forced away again by 4:00 p.m. The survivors fled. Many went all the way to Kansas, where they found people loyal to the Union. Three hundred Cherokees, led by Colonel Stand Watie, stopped some of the fleeing Creeks and Seminoles. They killed 15 of them. Sonuk Mikko's group of Seminole Indians protected the rear of the retreating forces after the battle against Cherokee Chief Stand Watie.

After the Battles

Chief Opothleyahola's group did not fight any more battles. Nearly 2,000 of them died during or shortly after their journey to Fort Row, Kansas. Most of them died because of the cold weather and sickness. The survivors eventually settled near Fort Belmont. More people died there from the cold and from not having enough food during the winter. Many others made their way to different parts of eastern Kansas, like LeRoy's post. There, they formed the First Indian Home Guard, a group that supported the Union.