Sunday, June 18

Little of note occurred today in the Dakota Column, with Custer and Terry remaining in camp at the mouth of the Tongue, while Reno made his way to rendezvous with them. His scouting group reached the Yellowstone today, making contact with the Montana Column on the northern bank as they passed, using signal flags and letters swam across the river by Crow scouts.

The country near the Rosebud Battlefield
Marching Through History

To the south, the men of the Wyoming Column arose to open skies and cold frost. None of the wounded had succumbed in the night, but their conditions remained tenuous. Crook still believed the main Sioux camp was nearby, and had proposed an attack the previous evening, but had been made to see reason by the Crow scouts. His command was spent, and instead the night had been spent rigging travois to carry the more seriously wounded from the field.

The fallen Shoshone warrior was burried in the streambed by his people, with warriors trampling over the grave in an attempt to conceal its location from the Sioux. As the column set out southward they were careful to minimize the impact of the trip on the wounded men, but still found it impossible to ensure a smooth ride in the rough country, with some men tossed from travois or dropped from stretchers. Twenty miles were crossed today before camp was made, and once the column halted the Crows broke off to return to their homes, promising to return later.

1. Dakota Column - CUSTER - Yellowstone River/Tongue River

2. Wyoming Column - CROOK - Rosebud Creek

3. Montana Column - GIBBON - Yellowstone River

4. 7th Cavalry Scout - RENO - Rosebud Creek/Yellowstone River

5. Sioux Encampment - SITTING BULL - Little Bighorn River