[Footnote 294:  Doubleday to Weer, June 8, 1862 [Ibid., 102].]

[Footnote 295:  Doubleday reported to Weer that it was a pronounced success, so did Blunt to Schofield [Ibid., 427]; but subsequent events showed that it was (cont.)]

cover of the darkness.  Had unquestioned success crowned Doubleday’s efforts, all might have been well; but, as it did not, Weer, who had arrived at Fort Scott[296] a few days before and had been annoyed to find Doubleday gone, ordered him peremptorily to make no further progress southward without the Indians.  The Indian contingent had in reality had a set-back in its preparations.  Its outfit was incomplete and its means for transportation not forthcoming.[297] Under such circumstances, Weer advised the removal of the whole concern to Fort Scott, but that was easier said than done, inasmuch, as before any action was taken, the stores were en route for Humboldt.[298] Nevertheless, Weer was determined to have the expedition start before Stand Watie could be reinforced by Rains.[299] Constant and insistent were the reports that the enemy was massing its forces to destroy the Indian Expedition.[300]

[Footnote 295:  (cont.) anything but that and the Daily Conservative tried to fix the blame upon Weer [Weer to Moonlight, June 23, 1862, Ibid., 446].  The newspaper account of the whole course of affairs may be given, roughly paraphrased, thus:  Doubleday, knowing, perhaps, that Weer was to supersede him and that his time for action was short, “withdrew his detachment from Missouri, concentrated them near Iola, Kansas, and thence directed them to march to the mouth of Shoal Creek, on Spring River, himself taking charge of the convoying of a train of forty days supplies to the same place ...”  He arrived June 4.  Then, “indefatigible in forwarding the preparations for a blow upon the camp of organization which the rebels had occupied unmolested on Cowskin Prairie,” he made his plans for further advance.  At that moment came the news that Weer had superseded him and had ordered him to stop all movement south.  He disregarded the order and struck, even though not fully prepared [Daily Conservative, June 13, 1862].]

[Footnote 296:  Weer to Moonlight, June 5, 1862, Official Records, vol. xiii, 418.]

[Footnote 297:—­Ibid.; Weer to Doubleday, June 6, 1862, Ibid., 418-419.]

[Footnote 298:  Weer to Moonlight, June 13, 1862, Ibid., 430.]

[Footnote 299:  Same to same, June 7, 1862, Ibid., 422.]

[Footnote 300:  The destruction of the Indian Expedition was most certainly the occasion for the massing, notwithstanding the fact that Missourians were apprehensive for the safety of their state only and wanted to have Weer’s white troops diverted to its defence.  Curtis, alone, of the commanders in Missouri seems to have surmised rightly in the matter [Curtis to Schofield, Ibid., 432].]

Weer, therefore, went on ahead to the Osage Catholic Mission and ordered the Fort Scott troops to meet him there.  His purpose was to promote the enlistment of the Osages, who were now abandoning the Confederate cause.[301] He would then go forward and join Doubleday, whom he had instructed to clear the way.[302]