Tuesday, May 23
Young Man’s Butte looking east. The Dakota Column camped just to the south (right) of this location on 23 May
On the sixth day of the campaign, the Dakota Column broke camp and set out west, with General Terry facing a choice between a long advance or a shorter one that promised better supply. One option was to move northwest to meet the Heart River again, which would mean a 24 mile march before water and wood could be located. The other was to march to Young Man’s Butte, visible in the distance, and site of known springs as well as good forage for the animals.
Cottonwood trees along a creek near the campsite
He chose the latter, making the march of just under eight miles to the campsite, familiar to Custer, who had used the site in 1874 on his return from the Black Hills. General Terry wrote that the camp was particularly nice, with access to water, grass and ample wood for fires, the latter especially notable as the General expected a cold night¹.
The Montana Column remained in its position along the Yellowstone. One company of infantry was detached today to escort a wagon train back west until linking up with a wagon train en route with supplies from Fort Ellis. Later in the day the sounds of gunfire alerted a hunting party led by civilian scout George Herendeen of an ambush, where cavalrymen sent to investigate located the bodies of two soldiers and one civilian teamster, one scalped².
Later in the day a boat arrived from Bozeman with previsions for sale, including beer for the officers, who reported a fine evening. A party of Sioux was spotted with a war bonnets on the opposite bank as darkness fell, however, leaving Gibbon to order a defensive footing, with artillery positioned and orders for reveille at 0200hrs to meet a possible dawn attack on the camp.
Research Trip
Interpretive signage at the Schnell Recreation Area
The end of the first day of the author’s 2026 research trip to the Little Bighorn ended at the Schnell Recreation Area, a Bureau of Land Management campground located just west of Young Man’s Butte. This was an excellent place to spend the night, although just as General Terry predicted a century and a half prior, the night was very cold (forecasted to not drop below 45 degrees, it instead approached 30, making for a miserable night in a tent). Trails exist that approach Young Man’s Butte, but these could not be explored due to a tight schedule to reach the Bighorn.
1. Dakota Column - CUSTER/TERRY - Young Man’s Butte
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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General Terry’s Letter of 23 May, 1876
Lt. Bradley’s journal, 23 May, 1876