Wednesday, June 14
At the Powder River Depot the Dakota Column made its final preparations to move out today. Additional supplies and ammuniton were drawn, while the wagon train was to be left behind. The infantry detachment would likewise remain at the depot to protect it. Other unneeded elements, such as the Regimental Band that had served as principal entertainment on the march thus far, would also remain behind. Lastly, the distinctive sabers of the cavalry would be left behind, as they were considered to be of little use in warfare against the plains tribes.
Major Reno’s scouting expedition today made its way from Miapah Creek to Pumpkin Creek, which they followed for the day. This represented a deviation from the path ordered by Terry, who had intended for Reno to remain on the Mizpah until it met the Tongue, which he was then to follow to the north. The move westward came as a result of Reno not observing any smoke or other signs of enemy camps as he surveyed the landscape, electing to move westward toward the large village site identified by Gibbon’s scouts a month prior, in part on the recommendation of scout Mitch Boyer, who was attached to his command for the scout¹.
Bison grazing in the open country
Gibbon’s column made a march of twelve miles, setting up a new camp just downriver from the Rosebud and nearby their old camp from May. Intending to remain here for some time, effort was made to create a comfortable bivouac with good access to water, fuel and forage.
Down in Wyoming, Crook’s men were relieved in the evening when their scouts returned to camp along with a Crow scout they had located. The scouts had made an expedition as far north as the abandoned Fort Smith along the Bighorn River, and reported locating a large encampment of indians, which had turned out to be friendly Crows. These were persuaded to join the command, having previously been led to withdraw after the language mishap on 8 June. In total, a force of 175 Crows entered the Wyoming Column today, along with women and children accompanying their husbands and fathers.
The country near the Montana/Wyoming border today
Crook called a conference in the evening with his officers, and as this concluded another group of just under a hundred Shoshones arrived in camp under the leadership of Washakie, arriving in good formation and striking an impression, in part due to assistance from former Confederate cavalry officer Tom Cosgrove, who was amongst them. A conference of officers and Chiefs was called, with Crook, Washakie and the Crow Chief Old Crow, who rallied his people for the coming campaign to remove the Sioux from the Crow lands of southern Montana.
“These are our lands by inheritance. The Great Spirit gave them to our fathers, but the Sioux stole them from us.”
Crook authorized the Crow and Shoshone to operate under their own leadership without interference from the government command. The newly enlisted scouts spent much of the night dancing, much to the curiosity of the white soldiers. The column would soon move out northward to engage Sitting Bull’s people.
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 - Pumpkin Creek
5. Sioux Encampment - SITTING BULL - Rosebud Creek
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Robinson, p.158
Robinson, p.134