Battle of Honey Springs

Battle of Honey Springs
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
Union cavalry charge at Honey Springs, 1863. Engraving based on sketch by James R. O'Neill
Date July 17, 1863 (1863-07-17) Location Muskogee County, Oklahoma and McIntosh County, Oklahoma 35°33′22″N 95°28′12″W / 35.55618°N 95.46990°W / 35.55618; -95.46990 Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
James G. Blunt	Douglas H. Cooper, William Lewis Cabell
Units involved
District of the Frontier	1st Brigade, Native American troops
Strength
3,000	6,000
Casualties and losses
Disputed: 79 - over 200	Disputed: 180 - over 500

The Battle of Honey Springs,^[a] also known as the Affair at Elk Creek, on July 17, 1863, was an American Civil War engagement and an important victory for Union forces in their efforts to gain control of the Indian Territory. It was the largest confrontation between Union and Confederate forces in the area that would eventually become Oklahoma.^[1] The engagement was also unique in the fact that white soldiers were the minority in both fighting forces. Native Americans made up a significant portion of each of the opposing armies and the Union force contained African-American units.

The battleground is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northeast of what is now Checotah, Oklahoma and 15 miles (24 km) south of Muskogee.^[2] It was also about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Fort Gibson.^[3]

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