Wednesday, June 7

Today’s march of 32 miles was a record for the Dakota Column, who made camp along the Powder River along Locate Creek. The march itself was difficult, with Custer leading a vanguard as they advanced out of the badlands and into stands of pines, the main column having to stop and dig paths through the loose soil in places. As camp was set up, a courier arrived to inform them that the steamboat Far West had been dispatched from Stanley’s Stockade to the confluence of the Powder and Yellowstone Rivers. In response, Terry ordered his Arikara scouts to move downriver and report the column’s location to the boat.

The Yellowstone river country
Marching Through History

The Montana Column made a march of 22 miles, encamping near the mouth of the Tongue River. The reported march was uneventful, taking place over a space of about twelve hours, with a small spring located to water the troops and their animals.

The Wyoming Column made a march of just over fifteen miles, with General Crook taking some time out of the day to hunt Buffalo to bolster the stocks of wild game that were in turn helping to support the rations of the command. The day was miserable and foggy, and camp was made along Prairie Dog Creek, having ascertained that they were following this body rather than the Goose Creek today. As camp was made a funeral detail also set to work, with most of Crook’s command turning out for the funeral of Pvt. Francis Terry, who had accidentally shot himself some days prior, and had become the first casualty of the campaign¹.

1. Dakota Column - CUSTER/TERRY - Powder River

2. Wyoming Column - CROOK -Prairie Dog Creek

3. Montana Column - GIBBON - Yellowstone River/Tongue River

4. Sioux Encampment - SITTING BULL - Rosebud Creek

• Sources

  1. Robinson, p.125