Robert Parks' 1st Cherokee Regiment Day Book

Feb 1st to Feb 27th 1863 entries

(Sunday) Hd Qtrs 1st Che Regt
Feb 1st 1863
Genl D H Cooper
Sir I have Just heard from Dr Evans, who has been up as far as Tahlequah for the purpose of seeing his family, and if posable to move them down from that vicinity I in close to you his report as [near] as could be reported to me. And could it be posable for you to meet them on their next trip, I would be very glad. Could you have an outfit of 300 men to meet them in case they should come again I do believe you can very easily thrash them out Our horses and men are both low and lean but would most willingly do all we could to forward such an enterprise. If you can send up the above forces, please let me know, And I will use every exertion to learn all we can about their movements before hand Nothing would please me more than make one successful effort. I am firmly of the opinion that I [could] with a half show, give Col Downing a complite [grubbing] and would be very glad to have an opportunity for trying it. Your Obt Servt
R C Parks Lt Col
1st Che Regt

Dr Evans Report
Left Gibson in the evening and arrived in the neighborhood of Tahlequah about dark near the edge of Town, heard a body of men in [front], coming out from Tahlequah on the Park Hill, he left the road a short distance and dismounted, and a body of about 300 men past, could hear them talking very plain, after they had past, he took the bush and traveled in the direction of Town. He was a fraid to travel the road, thinking Stragglers might be coming up behind. Was very [curious], and by being Slye and easy, gits to his family, he learn from them that Lt Col Louis Downing had been in the neighborhood for several days. He had a force of about 300 Pins, and had brought down a train of teams freighted with flour for the poor and distrest Pin families in that vicinity Col Downing had his Commissary Quarters over about Park Hill, and was distributing out his flour to the needy. He sold none, many Southern families were permitted to draw flower. He assured the people that in ten day he would be back with a fresh supplire. Straggling Pins were said to be numerous, and were very confident that the Southerners were already whipped and would never come back to trouble them again Col Downing gave them great assurance that in no more robing would be don, that it was now death by Genl Order for any Pin to rob every house or family
Capt Johnson Thompson, you will furnish Anderson Reynolds money sufficient to pay his expenses to Hd Qrs - and back with dispatch R C Parks Lt Col We did git off from Camp [Stuart] and gits in to Camp on the Cooper Road our incampment were dreadfully scattered no one being present to have their Camp in any order. We gits in to our Quarters late in the evening. Capt Sh____ from Maj Bryan Battalion came in from Gaines Creek. Saw our flour wagons on the opposite side of Gaines Creek - and it was Just passible and can be looked for with Some Sertainty on Tomorrow. Leut Boon gits in brings me letter from my wife Dated Dec 25th 1862. I receive from Capt [Vore] for services, 700.00
Sends to Clara by Haile, 200.00
And Sent Ben Laudram 20.00
And lend Billy Ricker 5.00 - - - 225.00 . .475.00

Monday Feb 2nd 1862
Our beef ran short last night, Had men and wagons Sent out to kill beef and hawl it in to our Camps. As our horses are reported to be unfit for that purpose I had some 30 men detailed and Started with 2 wagons early out upon the Cooper road to where Watt Grace has a large number of fine cattle. They were all foot and had about 7 miles to walk and were instructed to bring in 12 beaves and to have none wounded and left on the range Richard Martin gits in from Genl Coopers bearing extracts from dispatches from Hd Qtrs Little Rock to Genl Cooper. Reports Grant as [all ready] to renew attack on Vicksburg - Ark Post evacuated by the Feds who were said to be in Strong force on White River. Van Dorn gains Victory destroying millions of property. Marmaduke successful in ___ Capture of Yankee fleet at Galveston harbor by Genl Magruder
Wagons returns with one beef, reports cant kill any, truth was did not try.

Tuesday Feb 3 1863
We are still hearing from our flour but does not come. Now we hear of two wagons loaded with flour for us. Col Watie still on the road to Hd Qrs.
Order
All Commanding Officers of the Rigt will cause immediately all tents of each Company to be moved in to one line, and in tolerable close Order, with the Capt Tent upon the right, all facing the South Officers and men will obey promply
R C Parks Lt Col
Comdg Che Regt
Camp Hindman
Canadian Feb 3rd/63
We had a cow pen build our wagons git from Hd Qrs Three wagons with 5300 weight 300 lbs Sugar Letter from Genl Cooper to Col Watie, two from my wife Loned Huceles Martin $20.00 to bring out his wife & family from the Bayou who the Pins have just robed clean of all they possessed in this world Several new recruits came in after hearing of the flour being here. After bed time snow began to fall very heavy and the weather moderated considerable

Wednesday 4th Heavy Snow all day, ground covered to the depth of 8 or 10 inches. Lt McCall with eight men came in from the neighborhood of Maysville. Reports a few Federal and Pin in and around Maysville. He reports all our bushwhakers from that vicinity
I lay all day in my Camp. Capt Lynch Sends out two wagons out for Hd Qrs for Clothing & flour. Col Watie is due this day but for the inclemency of the weather he did not travel this day. Lt McCall had been taken and peroled by a Federal force Scouting out the country as far down as Vann Buren Where they remained from Saturday [eavning] until Monday morning.

Thursday Feb 5th Col Watie gits in from Genl Coopers, Reports the new appointments for a new Cherokee Regt. William P Adair Col Joal M Bryan Lt Col, Jas M Bell Major, Joel Mayes A G M , R F Martin C.S.&ce
all cut and dried for Bell & Adair partie. Wm Penn a good clever lawyer and an excellent judge of good whiskey to whom the loss of our old trains were attributed. Joal M Bryan, a grand Speculator and a very [favorable] clerk to his own interest, and a man who has command of a battalion for the last eight months, during whitch time the last man from the Cherokee Nation made application for transfer from his Battalion Jas M Bell the Capt of one year pay and 3 weeks Service, one whose men never knew him, only by Character, now a private in Co G and has been in Texas for the last 3 months who ran for Lt Col of Waties Regt and was beaten by 200 votes he only giting 131, Parks 341-131 = 210 Brown 42, after employing all manner of low pitiful, lies and abuses that none but the very basest minds would indulge in, to effect a selfish nature. He governed well while out of Service for the purpose of accomplishing his election to office The Cherokee Regt so composed is to be S_____ the Second, and as the Col tells, subject to his command and kept with the old one
Friday 6th Feb 1863 Weather warm and bright Snow melted fast We lay in Camp paid J Thompson money borrowed $100.00
Brice Bean money borrowed 60.00
Jno Scrimpsher, 50.00
Jno Wilson 25.00, 235.00
Tom Rogers came in with his family his mother has Several Small Children one very small and sick of T___s. Col Watie gives me permission to go down and see my wife I promise him to be back in two weeks

Saturday
Feb 7th Myself and John Schimpshir got off very late as he had to make several horse trades on hand before he could git off. Followed the Cooper road leading to Perryville. Hills sides were peeping through the melting Snow. A greate part of the road was very rugh, mud, snow and ice, we rode stedy all day giting only about 25 miles. In the after noon it was very warm and pleasant. The farther south we got the less snow was visible. The warm after noon sun had melted it down very fast. We encamped upon a nice little elevation under the South side of a hill, over hanging a prairie running South. Jno and my self dismounts, unsaddles, packs wood and starts us a good fire, where we encampt for the night, hobbling our horses and feeding on a small quantity of Corn.
Sunday Feb 8th
Remained in Camps until we had put our breakfast off, and fed our horses some, gits to Gains Creek about [1 O clock] the slough looked muddy and sullen but from it being so very narrow, I had no idea it was over saddle seat deep. I rode in. The first step my pony was over his back and the next lick was something over waist deep to my self and but a very small portion of my ponys head sticking out. My papers were hung upon the horn of my saddle, the straps being pretty long I could by holding them swung up keep them dry. Jno came over after me, not until he had stripped off and had his clothing about his neck, Gains Creek, we found pretty full. I had no idea venturing in to it at the main ford. Went up the river some half mile found a new ford, that appeared to be shallow enough but run awful Swift We were upon a a stand for some length of time, and had near come to the conclusion of camping, when I braved up and determined to make one effort, It ran over my pony but did not swim. Jno stripped and came again, made the ripple in safety and We soon _____ched our clothe and was upon the road again. Capt Jno Martin & command was upon the bank, Stopped only a few [minutes] at Hd Qrs. I fought some F____s and we lead out again Genl Cooper was not at home, had gone down to Ft Smith to see Genl Steele. We well in with some three others going on road, Sgt Martin of our Regt was along encampt 3 miles north of Perryville.
Monday 9th Breakfast at Perryville, wind rise high, past gap bout 12 let footman have my horse to ride, rode late, got to McKinius making some 38 miles, here we git oats for feed.
Tuesday 10th
Paid our bill, 3 00 each, stopped short while in Boggy. Priced a few articles and left again, five combs were 5.00 and other small articles in proportion, After a good hard ride we gits to Jonathan Nails place on blue where we took lodging.
Wednesday 11th
Bill 4 00 each. I git to Riders moderately early finds all very well. Clara and Child were glad to see me. John and Martin remained till after dinner, before leaving for Bonham & Texas
Thursday 12th
Lodgers and travelers appear as plentiful here at 4 00 per night as in old times at 50 cts. I remained all day in and about the place.
Friday 13th Quite a number of wagons were passing. Major Vore & Johnson Vann were the only ones here save the family. Martin Scrimpsher & Cal Miller came in from camps
Saturday 14th Borrows Mr. Robinsons Carriage and starts with my family to Texas where I wish boarding Clara & her child during the Summer Called and remained over night with Mrs. Fowler. Mr. Fowler had gone over to Bonham.
Sunday 15th We made Bonham where we called upon our friends the [Sam Fish] family and remained over night

Monday 16th Left Bonham for Parris, raining. Bodark bottom very bad, I stalled completely Three miles east of Bodark we were compelled to walk and lead out Clara carrying her child through the rain and mud ever shoe much deep, by leaving our carriage we made the next house being well about one half mile from where we left our carriage 4 miles out from Town. Here with Mr. Brotherly we took our dinner and remained The balance of the day it raining slightly all evening.
Tuesday 17th I left Clara and Price at Mr Brotherlies and rode my mule down to Henry Goose 16 miles to try for hand there Col Stevens father met with us at Brotherlies and advised me to do so. I roade over in a tolerable heavy shower of rain, Called on Mr Coldwell at the west end of Town. I remained all night with him, he git around taking my wife in, by living upon the road, but he Showed me very greate kindness in showing me around and trying at every place where [such] might have been had.
Wednesday 18th
Return by the same rout to Mr Brotherlies where I remains all night My little fellow were much glader to see me than I expect
Thursday 19th
Harnessed up and and we tried the road again Took main road to Henry Goose. Mud awful almost out of the question Hard dragging with much whipping to git to Henry Goose Mr Coldwell was not at home.
Friday 20th
Found road very bad heavy [drizzling], we took the naked Prairie after leaving Henry Gooses for several miles called at Mr. Wammacks for nights lodging, he had no forage, Sends us cross the lane a few hundred yards to Mr Burks where we found intertainment.

Saturday 21st
Neither Mr Burke or Mr Wammack would accommodate my wife to board for any money. Mr R S Pierce came in a very old Gentleman who lived a short distance of in the Country who greed I could leave my wife and child with him. After hearing I would be willing give 25.00$ per month for her board I concluded to drive bye and see how he was fixt at any rate before going further. Found very young lady (his wife) The old Gentleman was on his way to Parris when I saw him. He live in a very awkward flat long house only divided with a [pition] through the middle, 2 beds and a [loom] in the back room and one bed in the first room. Had only one fireplace complete, and the way for the second was marked, but closed by plank. Several nigros were standing about the place. It is situated in the Prairie, in timber near, Clara liked the place, as there was no children about and as it was a very private place, and no ways crowded She thought she would like the family well enough to remain, I unloaded her effects and went up to Parris 7 miles returned in the evening find Clara very well pleased with her new acquaintance.
Sunday 22nd
I took leave of all - Clara & Price for Camps again in Canadian I promised them that I would go by Dr. Webbers and send him over to see Price, respecting a bad breaking over the body, whitch appears growing rather serious, Dr Webber not being at home, I had no idea of leaving without it having attended to return again Mrs. Pierce assures me she would send to Parris if it were necessary for a Physician, so I left again I drove, hard though on a very good road and gits back to Mr. Caldwells where I remain the night
Monday 23rd
Left Caldwells and aimed to go by [way] of mouth of [Iland Bayou] Bodark was up, was compelled to change direction and cross Muddy bridge near Bonham Called again on Mr Brotherlie for the night the little children came running out hollering here is the man who has the little boy Price.
Tuesday 24th
M___ Jno Scrimpshire & Col [Hanks] going to Parris for clothing I [said] they could get no clothing in Parris They turned back. Stopped only a very short time in Bonham, Crost river and stopped with Mr. Fowler again having bought corn for the night of Dr. Reed before crossing the river Meets Tim & Alex Rider at Fowlers Old man had come down to see Alex out with a load of corn from Dr. Reeds
Wednesday 25th
Rained very hard in the morning, after whitch we came up to carriage point very well found all wild and busy Creating noise
Thursday 26th
Feeling unwell I lay up had my mule shod & taken at night some medicines
Friday 27th
Leaves Carriage Point gits to [Boggy] Call on Lila Harlin for the night.
Saturday 28th
Passes through Boggy again, gits as far as my road back as Mr McKinneys where I called for the night

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