Battle of Chusto-Talasah

The Battle of Chusto-Talasah, also known as Bird Creek, Caving Banks, and High Shoal, was fought December 9, 1861, in what is now Tulsa County, Oklahoma (then Indian Territory) during the American Civil War.

It was the second of three battles in the Trail of Blood on Ice campaign for the control of Indian Territory during the American Civil War.

On December 9, 1861, the force was at Chusto-Talasah (Caving Banks) on the Horseshoe Bend of Bird Creek when Col. Douglas H. Cooper’s 1,300 Confederates attacked about 2:00 p.m. Chief Opothleyahola knew Cooper was coming and had placed his troops in a strong position in heavy timber at Horseshoe Bend.

For almost four hours, Cooper attacked and attempted to outflank the Federals, finally driving them across Bird Creek just before dark.

The Chusto-Talasah battle site is on privately owned land near 86th Street North and Delaware Avenue, 5 miles northwest of modern Tulsa.

Map of Chusto-Talasah Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program .
High Voltage Transmission Lines now traverse over the core battlefield land at Chusto-Talasah. Photo taken in July 2011 by Jeffrey S. Williams