Union Army troops, led by General John Blunt, push back Confederate troops, commanded by General John Marmaduke, into the northwestern Boston Mountains of Arkansas in the Battle of Cane Hill on November 28, 1862.

Union troops win a strategic victory over the Confederates on July 17 at the Battle of Honey Springs for control of Indian Territory north of the Arkansas River.

At the start of the American Civil War, for cultural and economic reasons, all of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory had opted to side with the Confederate States of America, raising native troops under the leadership of General Douglas H. Cooper.

They had driven out pro-Union Creek Indian forces after a short campaign culminating in the Battle of Chustenahlah.

However, by 1863, Confederate fortunes in the region had sunk.

A Union campaign launched from Kansas led by Major General James G. Blunt has driven Confederacy forces from the north of the region, and many of the Cherokee switch sides to support the Union.

Union forces led by Colonel William A. Phillips had reoccupied Fort Gibson in Indian Territory during April, threatening Confederate forces at Fort Smith.

However, Phillips' supply line stretches from Fort Gibson to Fort Scott, Kansas, one hundred and seventy-five miles (two hundred and eighty two kilometers) to the north along the old Texas Road cattle trail.

Confederate cavalry, operating from Cooper's encampment at Honey Springs, frequently harass Fort Gibson and attack its supply trains.