Battle of Chusto-Talasah

Battle of Chusto-Talasah Caving Banks Began: December 9, 1861 Ended: Same day Location: Tulsa County, Oklahoma Theater: Trans-Mississippi Campaign: Operations in the Indian Territory Outcome: Confederate victory Combatants Creek and Seminole Indians Cherokee and Choctaw Indians Commanders Opothleyahola Chief of the Muscogee Creek Douglas H. Cooper Colonel, CSA Strength Unknown 1,300 Casualties 452-500 est. 52 Killed: 15 Wounded: 37

Following Chief Opothleyahola and his Union force’s defeat at Round Mountain, he retreated northeastward, in search of safety. On December 9, 1861, the force was at Chusto-Talasah, or Caving Banks, on the Horseshoe Bend of Bird Creek when Col. Douglas H. Cooper’s 1,300 Confederates attacked Chief Opothleyahola around 2:00 pm. Chief Opothleyahola knew Cooper was coming and had placed his troops in a strong position at Horseshoe Bend. For almost four hours, Cooper attacked and attempted to outflank the Federals, finally driving them east across Bird Creek just before dark. Cooper camped there overnight but did not pursue the Federals because he was short of ammunition. The Confederates claimed victory. Chief Opothleyahola and his band moved off in search of security elsewhere. Although the Confederates had gained a victory, they would win a resounding one later in the month at Chustenahlah.