Thursday, June 8
While the bulk of the Dakota Column remained in camp today, General Terry and two companies made a ride to the Yellowstone, making contact with the Far West, and discovering that his earlier orders to Gibbon to hold on the Yellowstone had not been received. As a result, the Montana Column’s position was unknown to the commander, who immediately changed his plans to use the Far West to move along along the Yellowstone and locate Gibbon. Custer was left in command of the bulk of the column, which remained overnight at the Powder River camp. Preparations were also made for a scouting mission of the remainder of the 7th toward the Tongue River on the General’s orders, moving south along the Powder before cutting west to travel north along the Tongue to reach the Yellowstone.
Custer at camp with Bloody Knife and his staghounds
Gibbon, meanwhile, continued to make a slow course eastward along the Yellowstone, encamping tonight not far west of the Far West’s position at the junction with the Powder, near the Wolf Rapids. Lt. Bradley’s scouts found abandoned provisions that were believed to possibly be from Terry’s scouts while on the trail, having possibly sighted scouts of the Montana Column and mistook them for a Sioux war party.
The Wyoming Column had made contact with unknown indians during the night, who had challenged their pickets to know if any Crows were present. Scout Ben Arnold had answered but was not understood by the questioner. Concerned about the unknown man’s accent, Arnold then answered in Lakota, resulting in the unknown man disappearing into the night, later confirming him to be of the Crow scouts moving to rendevous with Crook’s column, now retreating as they thought they had encountered a large enemy camp¹. The column remained in camp today, waiting for the arrival of their scouts moving up from Fort Phil Kearney.
1. Dakota Column - CUSTER - Powder River
2. Wyoming Column - CROOK -Prairie Dog Creek
3. Montana Column - GIBBON - Yellowstone River/Wolf Rapids
4. Sioux Encampment - SITTING BULL - Rosebud Creek
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Robinson, p.129