In late July, an American column under General James G. Blunt thrust into Indian Territory, with the goal of subduing Confederate strength within the Territory and recapturing the Confederate strongpoint at Fort Smith in adjacent Arkansas. On July 17, 1863, Confederate forces awaited the column at their encampment in Honey Springs. Although the American column had only 3,000 men and the Southerners numbered 6,000, the Union army won the day. O'Neill sketched a charge by a battalion of the 6th Kansas Cavalry during the latter stage of the battle. After the affray, O'Neill sent his pen-and-ink sketch to "Leslie's" home office in New York City, where the sketch was recut as a wood engraving for publication. This was a time-consuming process; O'Neill's sketch was published in the weekly's August 29, 1863 issue, more than a month after the battle. O'Neill also worked as a stringer, sending news accounts of the Arkansas campaigns to "Leslie's" for publication.