US ResearchConflictsEarly Republic and War of 1812Battle of Bird's Creek
Early Republic and War of 1812

Battle of Bird's Creek

1839
Texas
Era
Early Republic and War of 1812
Year
1839
Location
Texas
Status
Verified engagement
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Kickapoo
Forces
Union forces: commanded by Chief Opothleyahola (Creek and Seminole Indians supporting the Federal government). Union force strength unknown.
VS
Victor
Texas militia
Forces
Confederate forces: 1,300 led by Col. Douglas H. Cooper
Outcome
Cooper's Confederates drove the Union forces across Bird Creek just before dark. Cooper did not pursue the retreating Federal forces and camped overnight at the position.
The Battle

History & Significance

The Battle of Chusto-Talasah, also known as Bird Creek, Caving Banks, and High Shoal, was fought December 9, 1861, in what is now Tulsa County, Oklahoma during the American Civil War. It was the second of three battles in the Trail of Blood on Ice campaign for the control of Indian Territory during the American Civil War.

Duration
Single day engagement (December 9, 1861)
Historical context

The early republic period saw the United States move from the weak Articles of Confederation to the federal Constitution ratified in 1788, with the Bill of Rights added in 1791. George Washington served two terms as president (1789–1797), establishing precedents for executive authority, and the federal capital moved permanently to Washington D.C. in 1800. The Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled the nation's territory for roughly $15 million, opening vast trans-Mississippi lands to American expansion. The War of 1812 against Britain ended inconclusively but produced a surge of American national identity and eliminated most British support for Indigenous resistance east of the Mississippi. The Northwest Indian Wars (1785–1795) and the Creek War (1813–1814) broke Indigenous confederacies that had resisted US expansion. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 temporarily balanced slave and free states as the nation expanded westward, but embedded the contradiction of slavery in every subsequent territorial debate.

Casualties & Losses

indian killed: 30; militia killed: 5

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Battle of Bird's Creek take place?
Battle of Bird's Creek took place in 1839. Single day engagement (December 9, 1861).
Where was Battle of Bird's Creek fought?
Battle of Bird's Creek was fought in Texas, United States.
What was the outcome of Battle of Bird's Creek?
Cooper's Confederates drove the Union forces across Bird Creek just before dark. Cooper did not pursue the retreating Federal forces and camped overnight at the position.
What was the significance of Battle of Bird's Creek?
The Battle of Chusto-Talasah, also known as Bird Creek, Caving Banks, and High Shoal, was fought December 9, 1861, in what is now Tulsa County, Oklahoma during the American Civil War. It was the second of three battles in the Trail of Blood on Ice campaign for the control of Indian Territory during
Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Battle of Bird's Creek

Oakhurst Historic District
Listed · 0.4 mi
Riverside Baptist Church
Civil War · 1.1 mi
Saint James Second Street Baptist Church
Industrial · 1.4 mi
Allen Chapel AME Church
Civil War · 1.5 mi
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All battles in Texas
Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Wikipedia source.

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