ROSEBUD RIVER II
David.Gettman October 2nd, 2008
Another expedition was organized by General Crook at Fort Fetterman during the month of November for the purpose of carrying on a winter campaign. Included in this force were Company K, Second Cavalry, under Captain Egan, two companies of the Third Cavalry, six of the Fourth, and two of the Fifth, all under the command of Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie, Fourth Cavalry. Also included in the force were four batteries of the Fourth Artillery, serving as foot troops, six companies of the Ninth Infantry, two companies of the Fourteenth Infantry, and three from the Twenty-third Infantry. The supplies were carried on 400 pack mules, 168 wagons, and seven ambulances. A new group of scouts was included in the force, the Pawnees under Major Frank North and Like North. There were also Sioux, Cheyenne, Bannock, and Shoshone scouts, making an imposing force of about six hundred altogether. Because of the fine appearance of the organization, Company K, Second Cavalry, was chosen for courier and provost duty at headquarters.
The column marched on old Fort Reno November 14, 1876, where a supply camp had been established and the old post partially rebuilt. The command moved out November 19 for the Rosebud River, where the village of Crazy Horse was reported to be located. It was decided to leave the wagons at the camp which was established November 22 on Crazy Woman’s Fork of Powder River, and push on with the pack trains. But early the next morning a report was received that there was a large Cheyenne village belonging to Chief Dull Knife located near the head of the stream on which the force was then camped.
Colonel Mackenzie was ordered to march on the Cheyenne village at once, taking with him the cavalry and scouts, altogether about 1,200 men. The dismounted troops were to follow rapidly, under the leadership of General Crook. By rapid night marches over frozen ground in very cold weather, the scouts with the cavalry located the Cheyenne village November 24, and reported that fact to Colonel Mackenzie. By the next morning they had come within striking distance of the village without their presence being known. Continue Reading »
