The Battle of Round Mountain comes to Yale

David Lebow

February 09, 2008 11:58 pm

— The roar of cannons and the rattle of musketry will echo across the hills of eastern Payne County soon as the Battle of Round Mountain is re-created in Yale’s Jim Thorpe Park.
As many as 500 Civil War reenactors from five states will participate in the 14th annual Winter Encampment the weekend of Feb. 22-24. This is Oklahoma’s oldest annual civil war event.
Visitors to the campsite can visit with the soldiers and an assortment of camp followers as they go through the daily routine of “soldierin’ in Uncle Jeff’s Army,” or “campaignin’ with Uncle Abe’s Army.”
Reliving the 19th century is a passion with this crowd.
They outfit themselves with the arms and accoutrements commonly seen in the Trans-Mississippi Army of 1861, train using “Hardee’s Tactics” and do a considerable amount of research to make sure the impression they create is historically correct.
They even take lessons in etiquette so they will not embarrass their escorts when attending the Grand Ball.
The groups are organized into re-activated civil war army units and follow a military chain of command both in the daily routine and when in Line of Battle.
Most of the reenactors travel across the south taking part in reenactments such as Pleasant Hill, La., Prairie Grove, Ark. and Vicksburg, Miss.
Some even make the pilgrimage to Gettysburg, Pa., each July.
The Round Mountain military camps and battlefield are sited on 15 acres of undeveloped land with no modern development to distract from the atmosphere or spoil that special photograph.
Around the walking track in the park there will be sutlers, the 19th century version of the Base Exchange and the civilian entourage that follows an army in the field.
Modern food vendors will be located in the RV park for those who’s appetites reject hard tack and salt mule.
As you visit the camp, don’t be surprised if the reenactors offer to share their rations or coffee with you. If you see a unit after pay call, they may even try to engage you in a game of chance.
At 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday the soldiers will put their training to the test as they meet on the Field of Glory for the Battle of Round Mountain.
The Battle of Round Mountain was fought Nov. 19, 1861, a few miles northwest of the Highway 18/51 intersection. It was the first civil war battle in Indian Territory and the first of three actions that would follow that winter.
The battle was between a large band of Loyal Creek and Seminole Indians under the leadership of Opothleyahola and a Confederate force made up of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Mounted Rifles and a company of the Ninth Texas Cavalry.
Opothleyahola and his band were essentially a refugee train that left the Deep Fork River near present day Boley, enroute to Walnut Creek, Kan., when Cooper’s force caught up with them north of the Cimarron River at dusk.
Cooper’s scouts found an abandoned campfire and made an advance up a draw.
The Loyal troops forced them to retire upon the main force and a short, severe firefight took place.
They soundly defeated the Confederates and withdrew during the night. Cooper was forced to retreat to Concharty to regroup before renewing the pursuit.
The forces met again at Caving Banks in early December where the Loyal Indians once again defeated Cooper and at Bird Creek Dec. 26, 1861, where Opothleyahola was finally defeated.
His band broke up and disappeared as they mingled with the Cherokees that occupied the area.
The Battle of Round Mountain is hosted by Co. C, 22nd Arkansas Infantry and the U.S. Signal Corps and sponsored by the Jim Thorpe Memorial Foundation.
Yale is located about 25 miles east of Stillwater on Highway 51. Jim Thorpe Park is on the east end of town.

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