Monday, May 22
The advance of the Dakota Column today was swift, with early difficulty with the wagons on marshy terrain giving way to easily passible dry flatlands. Advancing thus, the column managed to cross over fifteen miles, greater than any day yet since they had departed Fort Abraham Lincoln. They found themselves at the head of the Knife River, with Young Man’s Butte visible to the west, just to the west of the modern day town of Hebron, North Dakota. After a mishap with one of their wagons resulted in spilled cargo and an injured driver¹, and considering a lack of water and wood moving forward, General Terry called an early halt in the early afternoon.
The prairies of North Dakota
Along the Yellowstone, the Montana Column held its position. The dawn came and went without the feared attack by the war party sighted the previous day. Despite this, Colonel Gibbon made no movements, instead opting to maintain his position to block the river crossing and hold.
1. Dakota Column - CUSTER/TERRY - Knife River
2. Wyoming Column - CROOK - Fort Fetterman
3. Montana Column - GIBBON - Yellowstone River/Rosebud Creek
4. Sioux Encampment - US Intelligence position - Little Missouri River
5. Sioux Encampment - Actual position - Rosebud Creek/Yellowstone
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Weinell, p.27