Tuesday, June 13
The stocking of the Powder River Depot continued today, as Terry had decided that the site would serve as his forward base for the coming operations. The Far West returned in the late evening, having had difficulty fighting the currents of the Yellowstone on the return trip, unloading additional supplies and equipment. Reno’s scout, operating to the south, today crossed from the Powder and moved along the Mizpah Creek, encountering no signs of hostiles and only a single roaming buffalo.
The country near the Powder River Depot
The Montana Column continued to have difficulty with muddy roads today, with notable trouble with bringing their wagons across a bridge. The total march was only thirteen miles, encamping overlooking the valley they had spent the day crossing. In Wyoming, Crook’s column again remained in position.
Research Trip
The grave of Scout Brockmeyer at the Powder River Depot site today
After the Initial Rock, the next stop on the second day of the research trip was the Powder River Depot. Accessed via an easement on a rough country road, the end result is a pair of markers for casualties of the Great Sioux War that succumbed to their wounds after returning to the basecamp. The author was unable to go to the farther of the two markers, and instead only visited the first, the grave of Scout Wesley Brockmeier, who was killed at the Depot during a skirmish later in the year.
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 - Mizpah Creek
5. Sioux Encampment - SITTING BULL - Rosebud Creek