The Montana Column caught up with the Far West at Pease Bottom. The wounded were disembarked so that troops and horses could be transported to the northern bank of the Yellowstone.
Gen. Terry wrote two telegrams to Gen. Sheridan. One blamed Custer for failing to follow his orders, stating:“had Custer followed his directions received at the Rosebud June 22nd, the disaster may not have happened at all! I do not tell you this, to cast any reflection on Custer. For whatever errors he may have committed, he has paid the penalty, and you cannot regret his loss more than I do.”
The blame game had begun.
Benteen wrote his wife, estimating native combatants at 5,000.
At Ft. Fetterman supplies were loaded to resupply Crook at Goose Creek. Crook, however, was not at the base of Cloud Peak, hunting.
His party took two Bighorn Sheep and and a nice rustic meal, complete with peaches suspended in alcohol, consumed.
The first news reports of Custer's defeat were published by the The Canton Repository and Helena Herald.
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