Federal troops crossed the rain-swollen Arkansas River on flatboats on the night of July 16, 1863, and marched south on the Texas Road toward Honey Springs with cavalry in the lead. At daybreak on July 17, advance units engaged Confederate forces at Chimney Mountain north of Elk Creek and were driven back into the main Confederate body concealed in the trees awaiting Blunt's troops north of Elk Creek. Blunt reported that at midnight on July 15 he took 250 cavalry and four pieces of light artillery, marched about 13 miles up the Arkansas, drove enemy pickets from the opposite bank, forded the river, then began crossing his forces at the mouth of Grand River in boats. By 10 p.m. on July 16, he had begun moving south with less than 3,000 men, mostly Indians and Negroes, and twelve pieces of artillery, and at daylight came upon the enemy's advance about 5 miles from Elk Creek and drove it rapidly back upon the main force formed on the north side of the timber of Elk Creek, with a line extending 1½ miles and the main road running through its center.