Rosebud in Rosebud County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Custer Campsite - June 22, 1876

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 18, 2021

1. Custer Campsite - June 22, 1876 Marker

Inscription. At noon, on June 22, 1876, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer's command broke camp along the Yellowstone River, passed in review of General Terry and Colonel Gibbon, and marched to the mouth of Rosebud Creek. The Seventh Cavalry then proceeded about ten miles south along Rosebud Creek reaching this site in the late afternoon.
During "officer's call" at sunset, Custer explained his reasons for two decisions made prior to the day's march. Custer had declined General Terry's offer of Major Brisbin's four additional companies of cavalry from the Montana Column. Custer stated that he felt his Seventh had sufficient manpower to handle the probable numbers of hostiles estimated at no more than 1500 warriors. Custer also decided agains taking the column the column's Gatling gun on the march. Custer reasoned that moving the cumbersome field piece would slow the command down. Custer also restricted bugle use unless in an emergency.
After Custer's meeting, a few junior officers gathered to sing songs for about an hour, a common practice for men of the Seventh. Years later, several of these officers, all survivors of Reno's

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fight in the valley, recalled a conversation late in the evening about Custer's demeanor during officer's call. They remembered that Custer usually confident prior to going into battle was subdued and almost conciliatory even seeking the advice of his junior officers, something he never did. Custer's behavior was so out of the ordinary that Lt. George Wallace, known for being superstitious, remarked that Custer might have been think of his own death.
Late that night, Lt. Edward Godfrey recalled a dialogue in sign language with Bloody Knife and the Crow scouts about the probable numbers of warriors. There was uncertainty in the communication because of the different languages of the scouts. He remembered Mitch Bouyet, Custer's chief scout who spoke good English emphatically stating, "Well I can tell you, we are going to have damned big fight."

Erected by Custer Circle Project 2017 and Community Foundation of Northern Rosebud County.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Wars, US Indian.

Location. 46° 8.006′ N, 106° 27.645′ W. Memorial is in Rosebud, Montana,

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 18, 2021

2. Custer Campsite - June 22, 1876 Marker

The other sign reads: Gen. Custer camped here June 22, 1876."

in Rosebud County. It is on Rosebud Creek Road (County Road 447) 9 miles south of Interstate 94, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 995 Rosebud Creek Road, Rosebud MT 59347, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Southeast Montana, in Custer Country and in the Powder River Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

on the Great Plains,

and specifically on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Grave of Unknown Man (approx. 3½ miles away); Scouting South of the Yellowstone (approx. 9½ miles away); The Seventh Passes in Review (approx. 9.8 miles away); St. Philip's Episcopal Church (approx. 9.9 miles away); Rosebud Creek (approx. 10.2 miles away); Ready to March (approx. 10.2 miles away);

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The Reno Scout -June 10-19, 1876 (approx. 11.9 miles away); Join the Voyage of Discovery (approx. 11.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rosebud.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,135 times since then and 116 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 29, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.