1863 A Union wagon supply train left Fort Scott, Kansas in route to Fort Gibson, Indian Territory. The train stretches out over a mile on the prairie as it rolls down the Texas Road.
Colonel James M. Williams, 2nd Kansas Cavalry, is in charge of the train and its escort. His force consists of detachments of the 2nd Colorado Infantry, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, 6th and 9th Kansas Cavalry, 3rd Indian Home Guard, 1st Kansas Colored Infantry and the 2nd Kansas Artillery.
Since almost the first skirmish of the war in Indian Territory, both sides had become aware of one major deterrent to any offensive strategy, the Blue Stem grass that permeated the prairie. Given adequate moisture, Blue Stem grew in clumps ranging from 3 to 10 feet tall, making visibility problematic even for those on horseback.
Quite often, as wagons traversed the Military Road, only the wagon driver would be visible, making it appear that he was floating along on a sea of grass. Consequently, only certain places along the trail were tactically vulnerable for a military strike.
After a few days, they will ford the halfway point of their journey at Cabin Creek in the Cherokee Nation. But a Confederate force would be waiting, ready to take the wagon train from them.
Photo: A Union wagon train. Courtesy: National Archives.
24 JUNE 1948: the start of the Soviet Union blockade of all road and rail travel into and out of West Berlin.
On this Day in History 26 JUNE 1948: the first cargo planes depart from bases in England and W. Germany arriving with much needed critical supplies for the people isolated in West Berlin.
Planes like the C-47 played a critical role in this year long re-supply mission.
Gallery "Point Lookout", Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
- 1880s
