TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 65 



the Rosebud on June 22, on their way to the Little Horn, 

 and he immediately concentrated every available warrior 

 to meet the yellow-haired chieftain. 



Sitting Bull hated the paleface, hated civilization and 

 its drudgery, and was eager to strike at any of its products 

 and representatives. From his camp he sent out braves, 

 across the plains and mountains, to notify his fellowchiefs 

 that soldiers were coming to kill his people and destroy their 

 property. Ghost dances were then kept up until the Sioux 

 nation was almost crazy. Daily new arrivals poured in to 

 the aid of Sitting Bull. Presently the river was fringed 

 with tepees for a space of three miles. Here were the war- 

 riors of the Sioux, Cheyennes, Minne-Conjoues, Orgolies, 

 Uncapapas, Bloods, Blackfeet and Flatheads, whose lodges 

 numbered eighteen hundred,, by actual count of J. H. But- 

 ler, of the 5th U. S. Infantry, who was serving under Gen- 

 eral Miles and was on the field shortly after the battle. 



Generals Terry and Custer had been sent by the War 

 Department to capture Sitting Bull and to bring him to 

 Washington. The command halted at the mouth of the 

 Rosebud, where it empties into the Yellowstone, and held a 

 council. General Terry sent Custer forward with instruc- 

 tions to strike the Indian forces at a certain point, while he 

 would attack them by way of the Big Horn at the same time, 

 and follow up the Little Horn. As Custer crossed by land 

 Terry suggested that Custer take cannon and Gatling guns, 

 but he declined to do this, saying that it would not be neces- 

 sary. On June twenty-fourth, by a forced march, Custer 

 made twenty-eight miles and camped on the Rosebud, a trib- 

 utary near the divide between Sitting Bull and himself. He 

 reached the camp twenty-four hours before the appointed 

 time, held a council with his scouts, Bob and Bill Jackson, 

 who reported that the warriors of a large Indian village 



