Monday, June 12

In camp at the Powder River Depot, the Dakota Column’s day was spent unloading provisions from the Far West, which in turn cast off just after noon to move upriver to take on more supplies. Most men hurriedly wrote letters to be taken back with the steamer, but although it reached its first destination with no difficulty in the later afternoon, the currents caused the smaller mail skiff launched to continue the journey to capsize, drowning a soldier and leaving Captain Marsh to dry the recovered letters over a fire as the boat was reloaded overnight¹.

On the scouting mission, Reno’s men made an advance of 24 miles. During their trek they came across an abandoned campsite that appeared to have been vacated for at least a week. The signs indicated that about thirty lodges had made up the camp, and the Army detachment continued on, searching for the direction the indians had gone.

Entering the modern city of Sheridan, site of Crook’s encampment

Gibbon’s column today made it onto open country and their march was able to proceed at a good speed, passing the Tongue River as they advanced. The column made camp three miles west of the Tongue for the night, having made sixteen miles. In the south, the Wyoming Column remained in camp, Crook and his officers enjoying games of whist in the General’s tent while the men hunted and fished in the surrounding countryside.

1. Dakota Column - TERRY/CUSTER - Powder River Depot

2. Wyoming Column - CROOK -Goose Creek

3. Montana Column - GIBBON - Yellowstone River

4. 7th Cavalry Scout - RENO - Powder River

5. Sioux Encampment - SITTING BULL - Rosebud Creek

• Sources

  1. Weinell, p.83