Bill, oh good, that's reasurring.

Not sure where you read about the soil type preferred is dry upland.

Reading this article, i hear it's moist soil with high clay content.

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Quercus+ellipsoidalis

Oh, The NPO's I transplanted took a few years to establish but they were planted in a coarse, dry soil. Not sure how I would approach planting in a wet soil, if that's what yours is. Q. ellipsoidalis likes well drained soil so you may have to start them on a mound, until roots are established.

I see most wholesale nurseries advertising Northern Pin as being well-adapted to acidic, sandy soils but more tolerant of heavier clay soils and more alkaline conditions than Pin. I've been growing some Northern Pin in heavy clay without any real issues yet. The only time I had problems with poor, stunted tree growth was when I planted some on the edge of a field too close to a wetland area. Too flat of an area without decent elevation above the marsh. Last spring I planted some in a sandy location for the first time. I am curious to see how the growth compares over these next few summers.

I have the tree up a mild slope where water in Spring pools in a drainage gulley about 20ft away. At the planting spot digging in April May is saturated muck. When I put the tree in in October the soil was crumbly with a nice amount of moisture, not too much.

Q. ellipsoidalis is the dominant deciduous tree where I live. Bur and White Oaks are present, but in much smaller numbers. We have loamy sand that drains sharply. Dry, droughty conditions are all in a good days work for this tree.

I've never tried growing NPO in marginally draining clay soils, but I'm skeptical about the long-term success of it in these conditions. It might work, but it would be a bitter pill to swallow to have them grow well for a few years and then lose them during a period of excessive moisture.

Is Oak Wilt present in your area? If so, I'd return the NPO's and replant with Swamp White Oak. They'd be more resistant to wilt and perform better in your conditions.