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Yellowstone Expedition of 1873
Part of the Sioux Wars
Date June 20 – September 23, 1873
Location
Dakota Territory and Montana Territory
Result United States Victory
Belligerents
Lakota Sioux  United States
Commanders and leaders
Sitting Bull
Crazy Horse
Gall
Rain in the Face		 United States David S. Stanley
United States George A. Custer
Strength
~1000 Warriors 1,530 Soldiers
353 Civilians
Casualties and losses
4 killed, 12 wounded 11 killed, 4 wounded, 5 horses killed, ~90 mules killed


The Yellowstone Expedition of 1873 was a journey by the United States Army in the summer of 1873. Its main goal was to find a good path for a new train track, the Northern Pacific Railroad, along the Yellowstone River. This area was in what was then called Dakota Territory and Montana Territory.

The expedition was led by Colonel David S. Stanley. Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer was his second-in-command. This journey was also part of the larger Sioux Wars.

Who Was There

The U.S. Army Forces

Colonel Stanley's group was quite large. It included 1,530 soldiers from the cavalry (soldiers on horseback), infantry (soldiers on foot), and even two cannons. They also carried enough food for 60 days.

The group started from Dakota Territory in June 1873. With them were 275 wagons pulled by mules, 353 civilians who were helping with the survey, and 27 Native American and mixed-blood scouts.

Native American Warriors

The Native American warriors who fought against the expedition were mainly from the village of Sitting Bull. It's thought there were about 400 to 500 lodges (homes) and over 1,000 warriors.

These warriors included Hunkpapa Sioux led by Gall and Rain in the Face. There were also Oglala Sioux led by Crazy Horse, and warriors from the Miniconjou and Cheyenne tribes.

The Journey Begins

The main part of the expedition started from Fort Rice, Dakota Territory, on June 20, 1873. A smaller group of surveyors and soldiers had left a few days earlier.

The first part of the journey was very wet. It rained for 14 out of the first 17 days! Sometimes there were three or four heavy rainfalls in just 24 hours. The bad weather caused problems, with a strong hail storm damaging wagons and equipment.

Colonel Stanley sent some of the 7th Cavalry and mechanics ahead to help fix the damage. The infantry stayed with the heavy wagons. They even had to build a makeshift bridge from overturned wagon beds to cross a flooded river.

On July 5, the whole expedition reunited. They continued their push, crossing another flooded river, the Little Missouri River. Finally, on July 13, 1873, they reached the Yellowstone River in Montana Territory.

Along the Yellowstone, they met steamboats like the Key West and the Josephine. These boats brought important supplies like food for the horses and clothes. On August 1, the expedition first noticed Native American warriors nearby. Guards fired at some during the night, and their tracks were seen the next morning.

Battle of Honsinger Bluff

On August 4, 1873, a fight broke out near the Yellowstone River. George Custer and his men from the 7th Cavalry were scouting ahead of the main group. Custer's group had 86 soldiers, 4 officers, and some Native American scouts. His brother, Thomas Custer, and brother-in-law, James Calhoun, were with him.

Shots were exchanged with Sioux warriors. Custer's men quickly formed a line to fight. They fired a volley (many shots at once) that made the attacking warriors pause. Custer then had his men move to a wooded area near the river.

Once in the woods, the cavalry soldiers got off their horses. They formed a half-circle defense line along a dry riverbed, which acted like a natural wall. The fight lasted about three hours in very hot weather. Finally, Custer's soldiers charged out of the woods, scattering the Lakota Sioux forces. The soldiers chased them for almost four miles, but couldn't catch them.

Battle of Pease Bottom

The expedition kept moving west along the Yellowstone River. On August 11, another fight happened with Sitting Bull's warriors near the mouth of the Bighorn River. This place later became known as Pease Bottom.

During this skirmish, Private John H. Tuttle was killed. First Lieutenant Charles Braden was badly wounded when a bullet shattered his leg. He was on sick leave until he retired from the army years later.

The Expedition Ends

After exploring near the Musselshell River, Colonel David S. Stanley and the Yellowstone Expedition turned back. They traveled down the Yellowstone River and returned to Dakota Territory. The long journey officially ended on September 23, 1873.

Expedition Losses

During the expedition, Colonel Stanley's group lost 11 men who were killed, and 1 man was wounded. Some of those killed included John Honsinger, the army's senior veterinarian, and Private John H. Tuttle. First Lieutenant Charles Braden was the one wounded.

The Native American warriors fighting the expedition were estimated to have lost 5 men killed. Many other warriors and horses were also wounded.

What Happened Later

Many of the officers who were part of the Yellowstone Expedition later died in the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana on June 25, 1876. This included George A. Custer, his brother Thomas W. Custer, and his brother-in-law James Calhoun.

However, some officers like Myles Moylan and Charles Varnum survived that battle. Moylan later received a special award, the Congressional Medal of Honor, for his bravery in another battle in 1877.

The Native American leaders who fought against the Yellowstone Expedition in 1873, such as Sitting Bull, Gall, Crazy Horse, and Rain in the Face, also took part in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Army Groups in the Expedition

Here are some of the U.S. Army groups that were part of the expedition:

  • 6th U. S. Infantry, Company C
  • 8th U. S. Infantry, Companies B, C, F and H
  • 9th U. S. Infantry, Companies A, D, E, F, H and I
  • 17th U. S. Infantry, Companies A, B and H
  • 20th U. S. Infantry, Company E
  • 22nd U. S. Infantry, Companies B, E, H, I and K
  • 7th U. S. Cavalry, Companies A, B, C, E, F, G, H, K, L and M
  • Artillery Section (two 3-inch cannons)
  • Indian Scouts (27 men)
  • Guides
  • Civilians (353 men)
  • Steamship Josephine
  • Steamship Key West

In total, the expedition had:

  • 1,451 Enlisted soldiers
  • 79 Officers
  • 353 Civilians
  • 275 Wagons and Ambulances
  • 2,321 Horses

Important Officers

Here are some of the key officers who were part of the expedition:

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