Outpost at Baxter Springs

In the summer of 1863, with the successful "Union" occupation of Fort Gibson, Indian Territory [present Oklahoma] it was necessary to improve and protect the line of communication between Fort Scott and Fort Gibson. Since there was no telegraph line connecting these two forts, it became necessary to establish permanent outposts and the first was at Baxter Springs. A second reason for establishing these outposts was to provide additional protection of the "Union" supply trains that were constantly traveling south on the "Old military Road" from Fort Scott to Fort Gibson. The following letters describe the rational for establishing an outpost" at Baxter Springs and is located on Pages 478-479 in Series I, Volume 22, Part II Correspondence of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

"General Orders, "Headquarters District of the Frontier, No. 11

Assistant Adjutant General's Office,

Fort Scott, Kansas, August 22, 1863.

To facilitate communication with the troops in the field, Captain M. H. Insley, Depot Quarter-master, is directed to establish a military express between this post and Fort Blunt, C. N. [Fort Gibson renamed in Honor of Major General James G. Blunt], to make semi-weekly trips, each trip to be made in as short a space of time as possible.

The Post Quartermaster at Fort Blunt and the commanding officer of the OUTPOST at BAXTER SPRINGS will have charge of the stock and control of the expressmen while at their stations, under instructions as may be furnished them by Captain Insley and other officers and men are hereby prohibited from any interference whatever with the men or animals employed on this special and important duty.

With this express in operation public business, officers in the field will have no further excuse for delays in the rendition of the various reports and returns required by the different departments of the service.

Private letters will not be carried by this express, except when of great importance and when the public matter is so light as in so doing to work no detriment to the public service.

By command of Major General Blunt:

H. Z. Curtis,

Assistant Adjutant General"

"Headquarters District of the Frontier,

Fort Scott, Kansas,

August 26, 1863.

Lieut. Col. C. W. Marsh,

Asst. Adj. Gen., Dept. of the Missouri, Saint Louis, Mo.:

Colonel: As will be seen by General Orders No. 11, from these Headquarters, I have taken the liberty to establish an OUTPOST at Baxter Springs, 58 MILES south of this Post and to organize an express to Fort Gibson (generally called here Fort Blunt), with as change of riders and horses or rather mules, at the OUTPOST. The distance from Baxter Springs to Fort Blunt is 105 miles (whole distance from here [Fort Scott] is 163 miles and another post with a small force, I think may be established below Cabin Creek, say 50 miles from Baxter Springs. A very little system will reduce time for carrying dispatches through from this post to fort blunt (quickest time yet made, four days [96 hours]) to 36 hours.

Lieut. j. b. Pond of Company C, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry will have the command at Baxter Springs of about 75 men and officers of his regiment and one company of the 2nd Kansas (Colored) Infantry, commanded by a Lieutenant.

This Lieutenant pond has greatly distinguished himself during the past 6 months in this country IN FIGHTING GUERRILLAS, fighting them at all times in their own style, principally at night, watching the crossings of streams, suspected houses, etc. He is a brave and gallant officer and if the new corps is to be organized at Washington with the specified object in view of FIGHTING GUERRILLAS in their own way, I would beg to recommend Lieutenant Pond for advancement therein.

I do not, of course pretend to know the plans of the Government concerning future Army movements in this Western country, but it has occurred to me that if an expedition against Texas should move up the Red river, as was suggested in a recent telegram from the Commanding General, the main portion of the forces at Fort Blunt may be sent through the Indian Territory or Arkansas to join it and that then, communication being kept up on this line, this express may constitute by far the speediest route for dispatches that can be had with that force. As by that, the express may for a still more immediate connection with a telegraph line, start from Springfield, Missouri instead of Fort Scott. Springfield to Baxter Springs cannot be more than 10 or 15 miles farther from here to the same point.

I have the honor to forward, for the information of the Commanding General, a particular map of the route hence to Fort Blunt, MEASURED by an ODOMETER and notes by Captain Boyd, 2nd Colorado Volunteers and lieutenant Gould, Adjutant Fifth Indian Regiment.

I have the honor to be, Colonel, respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. Z. CURTIS,

Major & Assistant Adjutant General."

Now, this military "Pony Express" between forts Scott and Gibson appears to have continued for the balance of the Civil War as did the "outpost" at Baxter Springs. In early October of 1863 this outpost was attacked by Quantrill's Guerrillas, but it survived and of course the war went on!