Custers Last Stand

Before the Battle

June 7, 1876 General Terry’s column finally reached the confluence of the Powder and Yellowstone Rivers. Custer and Reno started down Reno Creek toward the Little Big Horn, Reno on the left and Custer on the right and the pack train in the rear. The command headed for the ford, pressed closely by Indians in large numbers, and at every moment the rate of speed was increased until it became a dead run for the ford. Custer and the 7th were to go along the Rosebud then over to the Little Big Horn and return the same way. Some of the men dug rifle pits with their butcher knives and all slept on their arms. The horses were sent into the timber, and the men forward on the prairie and advanced toward the Indians. We stayed in the bush about 3 hours, and I cold hear heavy firing below in the river, apparently about 2 miles distant. 28-30)

Billy Jackson a scout for Custer said of the Indian trail found “on the 3rd day, we struck the trail of the Hostiles, the one Reno had found several days before. Reno received companies A, G, and M, Benteen companies D, H, and K, Keogh companies I, L, and C, Yates E, F, and Captain McDougall’s company B was assigned as pack train guard.