Friday, April 14, 2006

Vallie Eaves, Major League Pitcher from Connerville


Players Born in Oklahoma - Baseball-Reference.com
: "A total of 220 players were born in Oklahoma
Batters Born in Oklahoma
BELOW: Pitching Register / Manager Register"
Vallie Eaves was from Connerville, Oklahoma and married my dad's cousin and I met him a few times. I see my Eaves cousins from time to time. They own resturants in the metro area. His decendants are prominate in central Oklahoma Little League and School Baseball. In an interesting game a few hears ago my grandson played againest one of the Eaves. They were both pitchers. The Eaves won that game and I am sure his great grandfather Vallie Eaves is proud. Vallie's record is published on the link above along with all 220 players from Oklahoma so far

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Boggy Depot Townsite - Atoka, Oklahoma - brought to you by LASR - Leisure And Sport Review

Chief Allen Wright
Boggy Depot Townsite - Atoka, Oklahoma - Leisure And Sport Review: .

Oklahoma named by Bromide/Atoka area local resident..
"Chief Allen Wright, principal chief of the Choctaw Nation, suggested the word 'Oklahoma' (meaning 'Red People') in 1866 as the name for the proposed Indian Territory. In 1907 the word was made the official state name. The Townsite and adjoining Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on Oklahoma's list of Oldest Historical Places.".

Battle of Boggy Creek 1864


Union Official Records Report of the Battle (O.R. SERIES I VOLUME XXII/2 S# 33)

Early in 1864 approximately 1,500 Union soldiers under Colonel William A. Phillips set out on an expedition to cut a swath through Confederate Indian Territory from the Arkansas River to the Red River.

The Purpose was to bring the area under Union control and to offer the amnesty terms provided in President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of the previous December. Colonel Phillips wanted not only to sever Confederate treaties with the tribes, but also to gain recruits from the Indians. Before departing Fort Gibson, Colonel Phillips told his men, "Soldiers! I take you with me to clean out the Indian Nation south of the river and drive away and destroy rebels. Let me say a few words to you that you are not to forget .... Those who are still in arms are rebels, who ought to die. Do not kill a prisoner after he has surrendered. But I do not ask you to take prisoners. I ask you to make your footsteps severe and terrible. Muskogees! (Creeks) the time has now come when you are to remember the authors of all your sufferings; those who started a needless and wicked war .... Stand by me faithfully and we will soon have peace ...."

On February 9 the Union troops reached the Boggy Depot area, where Colonel Phillips camped to wait for a large part of the 14th Kansas Cavalry under Colonel Thomas Moonlight to arrive from Fort Smith.

While waiting, Colonel Phillips sent an advance of about 350 men under Major Charles Willets to a known Boggy Depot outpost on Middle Boggy River (now known as Muddy Boggy). This force consisted of three troops of the 14th Kansas Cavalry and one section (two guns) of howitzers commanded by Captain Soloman Kaufman.

The Confederate forces at Middle Boggy may have numbered as many as 90 men and no artillery. They were composed of Captain Nail's Company "A" of the First Choctaw and Chickasaw Cavalry, a detachment of the 20th Texas Cavalry, and a part of Lieutenant Colonel John Jumper's Seminole Battalion of Mounted Rifles.

The Confederate forces were completely surprised when Major Willets first shelled and then attacked them. The Confederates fought desperately for approximately thirty minutes before scattering into the surrounding woods, dashing for the safety of Colonel Jumper and the remainder of his Seminole Battalion who were camped at Boggy Depot.

Colonel Jumper and his troops had heard the howitzers firing and had begun to ride toward the encampment when they met Captain Nail and the survivors of the battle.

By the time Colonel Jumper's regiment and the survivors arrived at the battlefield, Major Willets had occupied Middle Boggy, learned of the approaching Seminoles, and retreated to Colonel Phillip's camp.

However, Major Willets, following the directives he had been given, had taken no prisoners. The bodies of the wounded that Captain Nail had left behind were discovered on the ground with their throats cut.

Major Willets reported no Union casualties. The Confederate dead numbered forty-seven. They were buried near the battlefield.


Blogmasters note...

The Boggy Depot State Park near Atoka in southeastern Oklahoma, is popular among travelers for its pleasant surrounding, recreational facilities and its significance as a major historical site.

Adjoining the area is the old cemetery maintained by the Oklahoma Tourism Department with graves of Chief Allen Wright and Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, along with many Confederate troops and other Indian leaders.

Camp Simpson Hiistory


Camp Simpson HistoryAcross the road from William Martin farm/ranch. The Blogmaster grew up there.
The late Rev. Harry Miller from Ada, OK, Scout Executive of the former Pontotoc Council, began Camp Simpson in the early 1930's as a small 120-acre camp on the present site. The Delaware Indians had been relocated there when Oklahoma was "Indian Territory". The creek that ran through the camp was named Delaware Creek, after the Delaware Indians who had previously occupied the site.
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Friday, April 07, 2006

Bromide Oklahoma was one of the first Ranch Rodeos

"I think of myself in the oral tradition - as a troubadour, a village tale-teller, the man in the shadows of the campfire.
That's the way I'd like to be remembered - as a storyteller. A good storyteller."
~ Louis L'Amour


Lamour popularized am romaticized the cowboy in our literature. He received his early encouragement from his membership in the Oklahoma Poetry Society. His first works were poems published by the Society. The blogmaster is a member of the society.

RANCH RODEOS:
"Willard Porter, 'One of Oklahoma's Pioneer-Days Steer Ropings Occurred at Bromide in 1913,'"