Livingston was in IT in late April-early May 1863, where he among other things met with Gen. Douglas H. Cooper and others. On April 27, 1863, a task force of 75 men from Cos. C (Captain John R. Harden) and H (Captain William H. Shannon) of the 2nd Cherokee Mounted Volunteers was detached to accompany Livingston on his return to Missouri. 1st Lt William Hicks Hendren was the senior officer from Company C in this detachment, while Capt. Shannon led the men from Co. H. It is possible, although not stated in the muster rolls, that Lt Col Thomas Porter Hammack of the 2nd Cherokee was the leader of the task force.
In Civil War terminology, a scout usually refers to an intelligence gathering mission, such as to learn the disposition and intentions of the enemy, locate supplies, or explore routes or terrain. The purpose of this particular scout seems to have been to facilitate a planned strike against the Union overland supply line from Fort Scott, Kansas, to Fort Gibson, I.T. I have not seen any documentation to show exactly how long this mission with Livingston lasted, but the men were apparently still absent on this duty on June 30, 1863, when the muster roll of the 2nd Cherokee was made out. However, it would seem that most, but not all, of the men were back in IT prior to the Battle of Honey Springs on July 17, 1863, since reports and correspondence related to that engagement mention several of the men who were part of the task force.