Battle for the Bridge

The 6th Kansas Cavalry and 1st Indian Home Guard turned the Confederate right flank while Federal artillery and infantry fire devastated the center units on the Texas Road. Confederate forces began withdrawing toward the bridge, and some soldiers reorganized near the toll bridge in an attempt to halt the advancing Federal troops. Federal pressure eventually drove the Confederates from their positions along the creek, and the demoralized Confederate army began a rapid retreat with Federal forces in pursuit. Colonel Martin, after retiring in good order across the creek when the line along the prairie near the battery gave way, was directed to hold the ford above the bridge, but when the whole right wing fell back from the bridge and below it, he was withdrawn and ordered to fall back to Honey Springs. Brig. Gen. Douglas H. Cooper said his command was ordered left in support of Hopkins' Battery and then ordered to charge the enemy out of the timber, where after hard fighting under destructive fire it gained a position and finally drove the enemy across the stream on the left of the bridge, desperately contesting every foot of ground.

Rentiesville, Oklahoma · United States