Sunday, June 4

Today the Dakota Column moved southward along Beaver Creek, marching eighteen miles before setting up camp. In stark contrast to the previous days the temperature was quite high, with General Terry taking to a wagon due to possible heat exhaustion¹.

On the Yellowstone the day was spent constructing a bridge over a creek bed near the camp to facilitate movement of supply trains, which in turn arrived later in the day, bringing Gibbon’s force back to full strength. In addition, fresh horses were brought for the contingent of Crows attached to the column, restoring their mobility for the campaign ahead.

The Wyoming countryside south of Fort Phil Kearny

Crook’s column set out to a beautiful summer day, although a washout caused some delay as men went to work with spades to fill it enough to allow the wagon train to cross. The advance for the day was some 25 miles, with camp made along the Clear Fork of the Powder River, where a large column of smoke was sighted. Originally believing this to be hostiles, it was soon revealed that the source was actually a camp of prospectors headed for the Black Hills, although they did report signs of indians moving northwards.

1. Dakota Column - CUSTER/TERRY - Beaver Creek

2. Wyoming Column - CROOK - Clear Fork

3. Montana Column - GIBBON - Yellowstone River/Rosebud Creek

4. Sioux Encampment - SITTING BULL - Rosebud Creek

• Sources

  1. Weinell, p.68