The so-called ‘Great Sioux War of 1876’ remains the most famous ‘Indian war,’ but many of its sites are remote, or known only to a handful of historians and descendants of the participants. On this incredible journey you have a rare opportunity to experience many of these sites, and to literally follow the trails of Crook, Crazy Horse, Custer and Sitting Bull to the Rosebud, the Little Bighorn, and beyond. The mountains, plains, and endless skies of North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska add to the lure that is embodied by those associated with the Centennial Campaign, the likes of Medicine Crow, Low Dog, Crow King, William F. ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody, Gall, Lame White Man, Buffalo Calf Trail Woman, Reno and Benteen, White-Man-Runs-Him, Two Moons, Ranald S. Mackenzie . . . the Lakota and Cheyenne . . . regiments of US Cavalry and Infantry aided by the Crow, Shoshoni and Pawnee.
Arriving at Rapid City, South Dakota, take the shuttle to your hotel and meet the group the next morning ready for the start of your journey.
The scene is set in the Black Hills as we explore some of Custer’s 1874 Black Hills Expedition sites, discussing the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, and the contrast between sacred sites and prospectors’ mines. We then gather on the actual 1875 Allison Commission Council grounds, where the government attempted to lease, and then buy, the Black Hills: “The Black Hills is worth to me seven generations, but you give me this word of six million dollars. It is just a little spit out of my mouth,” Red Cloud told Senator Allison, whose commission had convened along the White River on September 20, 1875, and ended unsuccessfully on September 29.
Following the trail of Crazy Horse we visit Mato Paha – Bear Butte – the Cheyennes’ holy mountain - then take the trail of He Dog’s and Old Bear’s people to Crazy Horse’s camp, to hear the perspectives of the Lakota and Cheyenne.
Fort Abraham Lincoln was the 7th Cavalry’s station on the plains, constructed by the Northern Pacific Railroad railhead near Bismarck, Dakota Territory. It was from this fort that the Dakota Column under General Terry, and including Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh Cavalry, rode out on their ill-fated expedition against the Sioux. For Custer and five companies of the 7th, the expedition would end at the Little Bighorn. Portions of the military post, including the Custer House, have been reconstructed
We follow the Dakota Column to the mouth of the Powder River. At the Powder River Depot we assess Colonel John Gibbon’s and Brigadier General Alfred Terry’s respective commands, Major Reno’s famed reconnaissance, and then proceed west along the Yellowstone to a little known Sitting Bull prayer site.
We begin this day at the mouth of the Rosebud and relive the meeting on the Far West when Terry gave Custer the order to advance. We follow Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer’s 7th US Cavalry up the Rosebud in pursuit of the Lakota and Cheyenne, and explore both Lakota-Cheyenne campsites and those of the 7th Cavalry.
We experience the awe-inspiring Deer Medicine Rocks where Sitting Bull’s vision of soldiers without ears, falling like grasshoppers into camp, can still be seen at this sacred site where the great Sun Dance was held in June 1876.
We relive the Rosebud battle across the vast sweep of the field, viewing the terrain as Crazy Horse and Crook saw it that June day.
You will be glad of some free time at this point, to absorb story so far.
We rejoin Custer and the 7th at the Crow’s Nest, the legendary vantage point from where the village of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Lame White Man, etc. was first seen in the Valley of the Little Bighorn. We cross the ‘Divide’ and stand where Custer and Adjutant WW Cooke decided upon an advance to battle.
A little known site, but crucial to the outcome of the Battle of the Little Bighorn was The Morass where Captain Benteen lengthily watered his horses, as the Battle began down river. We follow Custer on to the Lone Tipi site, and Reno to where he forded the Little Bighorn River.
Inside the village site along the Little Bighorn River we experience the Lakota and Cheyenne perspective – we stand where Crazy Horse crossed the Little Bighorn River to meet Custer’s 7th, and then we follow the battle as it unfolded because on Hoka-hey you have a unique opportunity to actually ride on the Little Bighorn Battlefield, to truly see the terrain as these legendary warriors on each side saw it on June 25, 1876
We follow the story across the battlefield, learning not only of the fate of those who fought for their respective nations, but the lasting results of the battle into modern day times for the Lakota and Cheyenne peoples.
We don't charge single supplements and we don't ask tour members to share rooms. We are happy to provide add-on experiences for tour members, and will make all US$ cost revisions for you. Please discuss possibilities and pricing with Sarah.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
We offer add-on weekends, tours, stays at our tipi camp or extra cultural guiding with our indigenous guides. Additional costs can be discussed with Sarah.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
North Dakota
Montana
South Dakota
Native Americans
Archeology/History
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