Col. Huckabee:

I have honor of reporting to you of the action in the Indian Territory near Boggy Depot. As the battalion began arriving on the evening 26th of September, we were hearing disturbing reports that the federals were also massing near us. We also became aware that they must have had savage Indians with them since later that night we could hear them doing their war chants. As you know the next morning we realized that there were indeed many federals in the area. General Beck had sent out a small detachment of cavalry dismounting to rest, they were surprised by a very large battalion of federal infantry and artillery. From our vantage point we could see the fight unfolding we also saw federal cavalry and another battalion of infantry come onto the field. However if you will remember we were ordered not to advance until we had been sent a courier, I must say many of the men were very anxious to assist in the struggle but we did not move for a while. Soon we saw the rest of our battalion moving with you in the lead, your force was driving them back but they were starting to hold as they out numbered you considerably. We could hold back no longer seeing we were square on their flank we advanced, we struck them and poured a devastating fire on them causing them to retire further north. As they pulled back our whole battalion was reunited under your command and preceded to drive them from the field. Our own artillery had not gone into action because some cavalry in a small wash penned them down. I ordered Captain Hunt of the 19th TX to attack them driving them far enough back that our artillery began to have an affect on the force in our front. The federals had managed to find a deep wash to defend which made them as hard as boroughed in ticks to get out of there but when we managed to get a piece of artillery up their borough became their grave. They began to flee up the hill, do to the fatigue of our own men they escaped this time. The next day as we were resting after a long chase they must have doubled back on us and hit us from the south forcing us into the very wash they had defended the previous day. Unfortunately we were nearly surrounded as you were defending the south end of the wash we were hit on the north end by a small force of cavalry and artillery. I took two companies the TMR and the 16th AR to defend our rear the TMR filed into the north end of the ditch and laid down a murderous fire upon them while the 16th went to work trying to flank them soon the 7th AR and 22nd AR combined came up to help us, after ordering that company to fight prone where the artillery had no affect on them I ordered the 16th to move to the right and flank the gun. Mean while the TMR and the 7th and 22nd poured in a devastating fire; the 16th was in position to threaten the gun, when they fired the gun the 16th charged causing the artillery to retire out of the fight. You then ordered us back into the wash and you took the north end sending me to the south end. Here we felt as if we were reliving the days of old when the brave Texans defended the Alamo against hordes of Mexicans. We had very little cover protecting us but the 15th AR, Pelican rifles, and the 2nd, 3rd AR with the 9th TX combined did excellent work holding off at least ten times their number. Things were looking very bleak for us you had no help you could send and General Beck said no help was coming so we resigned ourselves to die here holding this wash. Soon you sent the TMR to our support but we were still vastly out numbered. As our grave began to cave in on us we made a determined stand with Pelicans firing then retiring through the 15th then they fired a volley and retired through the TMR and so on but in the end all was lost as all we could see was blue in and around us. Sir I was fortunate in being captured by an officer, which spared me from the slaughter that fell to the rest of our men. I was appalled and disgusted at what I saw our brave men both wounded and captured being horribly murdered and scalped if I am ever paroled I would like to repay this deed upon them a hundred fold. One last footnote I must mention early in the fight the 9th TX flanked the federal cavalry saving our own cavalry from certain destruction. Sir, I would like to commend the bravery shown by the 15th NW AR, the TransMississippi Rifles, the Pelican Rifles, and the 2nd,3rd AR and 9th TX combined they showed great bravery and determination to the very end. This is my report.

Your Obedient Servant

Rob Sanders

Lt. Col. 1st ARK Infantry