Organized with the 1st Indian Home Guard in May 1862, the 2nd Indian Home Guard included one company each of Delaware, Kickapoo, Quapaw, Seneca, and Shawnee, two companies of Osage, and two of Cherokee. Its organization took longer because of political disagreements among the tribal and government officials involved in the negotiations. By the spring of 1863, it had seen action at Baxter Springs, Kansas, and in Indian Territory. Three privates of Company F drowned while attempting to swim the Arkansas River. Moving forward on the Texas Road west of south, the force arrived at camp north of and near Elk Creek timber, then advanced and encountered the enemy posted in force under cover of timber at Elk Creek, where a company was sent forward to reconnoiter and found the enemy strongly posted in the woods with their line extending on both sides of the road as brisk fire was kept up on them while they remained under cover.