Tactics in the Heartland

Military Strategies of the Battle of Honey Springs

Step into the heart of Indian Territory in 1863, where one of the most strategically significant — yet often overlooked — battles of the American Civil War unfolded. Tactics in the Heartland offers a vivid, in-depth exploration of the Battle of Honey Springs, shedding light on the military decisions, terrain challenges, and pivotal leadership moments that shaped this critical Union victory.

Author and historian Terry Sloan uncovers the layered complexities behind the confrontation: the role of Native American regiments, the logistical ingenuity of Union forces, and the Confederate missteps that altered the balance of power in the West. Drawing from primary sources, battlefield maps, and firsthand accounts, Sloan reconstructs not only the battle itself but also the broader military context that made Honey Springs a turning point in the Trans-Mississippi Theater.

Perfect for Civil War enthusiasts, military history readers, and strategy scholars alike, this book offers a fresh, tactical lens on a battle that helped secure the Union’s hold on Indian Territory — and changed the course of the war in the West.