Battle of Middle Boggy Depot

The Battle of Middle Boggy River took place on February 13, 1864 in Choctaw Indian Territory, 4 miles south of what is now Allen, Oklahoma. Advancing down the Dragoon Trail toward Fort Washita, Union Colonel William A. Phillips sent out an advance of approximately 350 men from the 14th Kansas Cavalry (led by Maj. Charles Willetts) and two howitzers (led by Captain Solomon Kaufman) to attack a Confederate outpost guarding the Trail's crossing of Middle Boggy River. The Confederate forces, consisting of 90 poorly armed men, were caught off guard when Willetts shelled them and subsequently attacked. While outnumbered and outgunned, the Confederates held off the Union cavalry attack for approximately 30 minutes before retreating toward Lt. Col. John Jumper and additional troops who were not at the main skirmish. The Union advance continued south toward Ft. Washita the next day, but when the expected reinforcements did not arrive Philips' Expedition into Indian Territory stalled on February 15 near old Stonewall.