Wednesday, May 31
Western North Dakota
The dawn came cold and wet in the Dakota Territory, and after a meager breakfast of hardtack the men of the Dakota Column resumed their march westward, crossing the Little Missouri via the bridges that had been constructed the previous day. Weather conditions did not improve as the day went on, and the column made camp at 1400hrs after a march of less than eight miles¹. During the short march, Custer had again deviated from the main force, this time without permission², drawing a sharp rebuke from Terry, who was less than amused. In the evening snow began to fall, intensifying into the night.
On the Yellowstone a group of Crows were dispatched on a scout, but returned in the afternoon without encountering any Sioux. The men in camp continued to hold position, passing the time playing cards and writing in their diaries. According to that of Lt. Bradley, the Yellowstone was by now starting to flood as the summer approached³.
The Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming
The march of the Wyoming Column was just as dismal as that of Terry’s men in the Dakota Territory. Temperatures dropped below freezing, with sleet turning into snow. The march was about twenty miles, and the campsite along the Wind River had ample wood and good grazing, although water quality was again poor⁴.
Sitting Bull, meanwhile, continued to move slowly up the Rosebud, following the good grass as the encampment’s massive pony herd grazed.
1. Dakota Column - CUSTER/TERRY - North Dakota Badlands/Andrews Creek
2. Wyoming Column - CROOK - Wind River
3. Montana Column - GIBBON - Yellowstone River/Rosebud Creek
4. Sioux Encampment - SITTING BULL - Rosebud Creek
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Weinell, p.62
Robinson, p.113
Lt. Bradley, Diary Entry of May 31, 1876
Lt. Bourke, Diary Entry of May 31, 1876