Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-10-01
Conquest of The Indian Territory.

Conquest Of the Indian Territory.
General Blunt has successfully brought TO
a close his campaign in the Indian territory
. by defeating and driving the rebels into Texas
and reducing all the refractory tribes to sub
| lection. From the very commencement OF
the rebellion this territory has been source
Of trouble to us, the rebels having early sent
thi.hcr skiIful cmissaries to stir up the tribes
to disaifection, which they readily accom-
plshed. BY their manipulation the hostile
tlrdians have remained involved in the for
tunes of the rebellion down to the present
time. A portion of the intelligent ChcroEecs
never deserted the proud old flag under which
they had so long lived in peace and prosper
itv, but chose rather to raise and fight their
, brethren in its behalf. Unfortunately they
were worsted in the struggle, and their suf-
ferines on the march into Kansas are well
! known. Since that period the recusant
/ Chcrokces have repentcd of their course and
| formally renewed their allegiance, ut the same
time abolshing slavery in their territory by
an order Of their national council. '''i
Not only did these Cherokccs do this, but
three full regiments Of loyal Indians were
raised bv them to fight under the old flag, and
with this force and his Kansas troops, black
and white Blunt has invaded the Indian terri
tory, and conquered it completely in single
can paign. lie scenes to have had under
his command three full brgodes, including
some Nebraska, Arkansas and Missouri troops
so that his entire corps was purely border
force, composed Of the rough veterans who
are accustomed to suffering and fighting
They never met with a single reverse from
the moment they made thicr advance. 1t is
one Of the pccu'iaritics Of this war that we
| find q victorious campaign carried on by an
| army Of three brigades, raised altogether on
the verge of civilization. This indomitab'c
corps was so much dreaded by the rebel In
dams, that it was found impossible to induce
them to fight against such array with any
spirit. The fame Of Blunt's victories went
before him everywhere
This force would have been larger had the
campaign lasted, for the Interior DEPARTING mt
having ordered the Kansas tribes Of Indians
to be all removed at once from the State Of
Kansas. and counizcd in the Indian territory
that their lands might be thrjuu open to sale
and settlement, General Schofield directed
General Blunt, Unnecessary, to organize these
Indians into companies and battalions, and
to set them to conquer the lands they were
to possess blunt captured two rebel regi-
mcnts OF Creeks, who voluntarily laid down
their arms and asked to return to their ale
glance. lie fought, and beat and dis
persed all the other rebel for, cs, and after
chasing the fugitives to within forty odd
miles Of Red river, returned to the Canadian
river, whence, taking a bridge with him, he
marched to Fort Smith and occupied it
The Creeks had nearly all deserted the rebel
standard, refusing to leave their homes.
This conquest completes the possession by
the present government Of the whole Of the
vast territorial empire which was held by the
Union prior 10 the outbreak Of the civil war
The rebels made desperate efforts 10 conquer
and hold New Mexico, but were defeated and
driven away by troops raised altogether in
Colorado and New Mexico. They also sent a
force into Arizona, which remained there as
army Ct occupation for a time, but was finally
withdrawn when the rebel cause elsewhere
became neccssitous. In addition they organ
lied plans to achieve revolt in Colorado and
Nevada, but without coming to rupture
In the Indian territory alone did they succeed
through the proximity of the rebel States of
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Missouri,and
the scm.civilzed state Of the Indian tribes
and their slavcholding institutions. The re-
suits Of the present campaign puts an emu to
.he "rl IN the whe'eu .u~ critorial empire
ana leaves I'D H3.I. ,osscssion Of it.