[2] The conflict consisted of only two minor skirmishes, the first of which was actually a struggle between a group of marginalized African Americans and a posse formed to punish the alleged robbery of a piece of smoked meat.

Since the Creek Nation did not exist in the view of the American government the legality of Harjo's election was not relevant at the time in United States law.

The followers of Harjo organized a group called the Lighthorse to serve as a police force to enforce their view of the law.

In March 1909 during the annual meeting of the Creek traditionalists, there was an allegation that one of them or their African American allies had stolen some meat from a local white farmer.

A second confrontation happened on March 27 when a posse from McIntosh County attempted to arrest Chitto Harjo who was holed up in his cabin near Hickory Ground with a few other men.

Eventually, the Creeks fled under the cover of darkness and the death of the two Americans created a "furor" in Checotah and Henryetta.