Chapter 33

On the Yellowstone River, three cavalry columns converge on the Sioux - Colonel John Gibbon from the west, General George Crook from the south, and Terry and Custer from the east. Terry expected to find the Sioux on the Little Missouri River - but they weren't there, so he moved his column west to the Powder River. There he learns that Gibbon has seen an indian camp on the Rosebud, farther west. Concerned to catch all the indians, Terry sends Major Marcus Reno up the Powder on a scout. Reno's orders, if he doesn't find indians on the Powder, are to march further west to the Tongue River and then up that river to the Yellowstone. He is under no circumstances to go near the camp Gibbon has seen on the Rosebud. Terry has sent Reno on the scout instead of Custer because he believes if Custer finds indians, he will attack them alone. Reno disobeys Terry's orders and marches to the Rosebud. He reports to Gibbon on June 18th that the indian camp there is empty, but it's big. There has been no