Wednesday, June 21

Terry started out today aboard the Far West to meet with Gibbon and pick him up for the planned conference. Steaming back to meet Custer as the 7th Cavalry arrived at the Rosebud, and the revised stratagem for the campaign was laid out. The Montana Column was ordered to make for the Bighorn River and prepare to cross when the General arrived aboard his steamboat, from whence they would march along the Bighorn southward. Custer was to take his regiment south along the Rosebud before cutting west through the Wolf Mountains to the Little Bighorn, which he would then follow north until meeting Gibbon. Both forces were to engage and destroy any encampment they found along the way, able to be reinforced by the other if they did so.

During the conference George Herendeen, a scout brought on by Gibbon, was called in to describe the country between the Rosebud and the Little Bighorn. Satisfied with his report, Custer selected Herendeen to guide his column until the 7th reached Tullock’s Creek between the Rosebud and Bighorn, after which he would be sent northward along to bring a report to Terry. The 7th would ride along, with Custer refusing an offer of additional troopers from Gibbon’s 4th cavalry as well as electing to leave his Gatling guns behind in the interest of moving quickly. Additional scouts joined the column in the form of the Crows, detached from Gibbon, who was expected to manage well enough as he was following the river.

It should be noted that there was also hope that one or the other of the pincers being sent southward would encounter the Wyoming Column, as at this point the defeat of Crook at the Rosebud was unknown to the northern forces.

1. Powder River Depot

2. 7th Cavalry - Custer - Rosebud Creek/Yellowstone River

3. Montana Column - GIBBON - Great Porcupine Creek

4. Sioux Encampment - SITTING BULL - Little Bighorn River

5. Wyoming Column - CROOK - Goose Creek