During the Civil War, militias from both the Union and Confederate sides stole the Osages' cattle, harassed their villages, and blamed them for raids committed by Americans. Osage leader Charles Mongrain warned intruders and trespassers who were not citizens of the Osage nation to leave immediately. In May 1863, a few miles east of here, an Osage hunting party confronted about 20 strangers riding through their territory. After a shot was fired and one Osage was killed, his comrades pursued the trespassers for about 15 miles and caught them near Drum Creek, killing all but two, who escaped. The strangers proved to be Confederate officers moving west under orders to recruit volunteers and encourage rebellion in New Mexico and Colorado, and the Osage foiled the plot.