16th Arkansas Infantry Events
2008
Battle of Honey Springs (Checotah, Oklahoma)
September 26-28, 2008
ELMORE CITY TACTICAL
Oct. 17-19, 2008
Gen. Wm. H. Emory Maj. George Washington
Sponsored by the 16th Arkansas, 1st Arkansas Battalion, Caddo Autumn is a tactical that will be held near present day Elmore City, Okla. an area where a lot of activity during the War Between the States took place. Caddo Autumn, will be a multi-company tactical event held at the picturesque “Table Top” mountain range near present day Elmore City. To give some brief history of the region, Maj. George Washington’s Caddo Frontier Guard was stationed, at times, just a few miles to the north along the Washita River. Their purpose was to protect the settlements from marauding Comanche that plundered the area. Maj. Washington’s tribe, were known as the “Whitebead Caddo”, and had signed an agreement with Confederate authorities to serve in the capacity of a Reserve Squadron not venturing beyond the vicinity of the Chickasaw Nation. George Washington served the South with honor becoming the last officer to surrender in Indian Territory, doing so just after Gov. Winchester Colbert at Tishomingo on July 16, 1865.
Lt. Col. William H. Emory, Federal
commander of the area at the time the War erupted, evacuated U.S. held posts of
Ft. Arbuckle, Washita, and Cobb in May 1861. Ft. Arbuckle is located just ten
miles southeast of Elmore City. Federal troops began evacuation of Ft.
Arbuckle, heading north towards Kansas. They had gone only a few miles, crossing
to the north side of the Washita River, when it became apparent that their force
was being pursued by an advance guard of Texas State Troops under the command of
Col. William C. Young.
“On the 5th, finding myself followed, I halted, and sent Captain Sturgis with his company and Lieutenant Averell to the rear, to bring into my camp the advance guard of the pursuing forces, which he did happily without having to shed blood.” - Lt. Col. Wm. H. Emory, 1st Cav. Cmdg.
For more details contact: Rebjeb16@yahoo.com 405.659.3533