Approximately 2,000 troops of the U.S. Army, including elements of the 3d, 4th and 5th Cavalry Regiments, along with Native scouts of the Pawnee, Bannocks Shoshone, Arapaho, Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne tribes. . . yes, that's right, the Cheyenne and Sioux, proceed northwest into the Powder River Basin under Col. Ranald Mackenzie, who was notably very dour en route.
Of note, the Shoshone had always been allied to the Army. The Pawnee often had been. The Arapaho and Sioux, who were allied to each other and the Cheyenne, definitely not.
Mackenzie, we've noted here before, may be the greatest Army field commander of the post Civil War Indian WArs.
Meanwhile, the 5th Infantry was conducting winter patrols in Montana under Nelson Miles.
