User:NoAmGeogSoc/Sandbox 22

Far West Island 45.63442 -107.66732 Far West Island is an island in the Bighorn River, in Montana, about 12 river miles upstream from the mouth of the Little Bighorn River, and about 32 river miles downstream from the place where the Bighorn River exits from the Bighorn Mountains and where the Yellowtail Dam is located. The name commemorates the steamer "Far West" which reached this point in the afternoon of 26 June, 1876. The steamer Far West was attached to the military units under General Terry, who were engaged in the Great Sioux War of 1876. The steamer had been detailed to go up the Yellowstone River, and then up the Big Horn River to the mouth of the Little Bighorn River, in order to support the column of infantry and cavalry, under General Gibbon. The Far West overshot the Little Bighorn and had to turn around, which they did at Far West Island.

Historical Background

The "Far West" was under the command of its owner and captain, Grant Marsh. In May and June, the steamer was supporting a column of infantry and cavalry units under the command of General Terry who were operating along the Yellowstone in what became known as the Great Sioux War of 1876. The goal of the operation was to engage a large force of Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne Indians who were roaming together over the lands in the Powder River Basin -- between the Black Hills and the crest of the Big Horn Mountains, which area had been given to them as a hunting area in the Treaty of 1868.

On June 21, at a base on the Yellowstone opposite Rosebud Creek, General Terry had dispatched part of his forces -- the 7th Cavalry, under Lt. Col. Custer -- with orders to follow an month old trail of the Indian camp up Rosebud Creek and then go over to the Little Bighorn drainage to a point where he could then come down the Little Horn. General Terry expected to be in the lower Little Horn draiange by June 26th. The Indian camp was moving and could not be pinpointed as to its location, but it was expected to be somewhere on the Little Horn drainage. If the plan envisioned by Terry worked out, the 7th under Custer would be to be coming down the Little Horn while the force under Terry would be moving up the Little Horn, and the Indians would be between them..

On 26th, in the early morning, the steamer "Far West" was tied up on the Yellowstone River, when orders were received to proceed up the Bighorn River to the mouth of the Little Bighorn River. Though no steamer had ever gone up the Big Horn, Captain Marsh set out up the river. The river was at the height of the spring flood, or such an effort would have been fruitless.

Captain Marsh proceeded up the river about 20 miles when a sufficiently large river was found to flow in, from the east. Captain Marsh thought this was the Little Bighorn River. However, he had on board Captain _____, who over-rode his decision and ordered Marsh to proceed up the river up the Bighorn River to the mouth of the Little Bighorn River, where the column under General Terry hoped to rendevous with the steamer and then march up the Little Big Horn to

In May and June of 1876, the "Far West" was supporting the military column under the command of General Terry, who were seeking to find and engage Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne forces . This military column initially included Lt. Col. Custer and the 7th Cavalry, but he had been dispatched up Rosebud Creek on ___ that was initially moving up the Yellowstone River attempting to engage Lakota Sioux and Norther Cheyenne and This was the farthest point upstream in the Big Horn River that the steamer penetrated while seek to find the mouth of the Little Bighorn River.

In May and June, the steamer had been assigned to support the column of infantry and cavalry soldiers under General Terry, including elements of the 7th Cavalry under Lt. Col. Custer and the 2nd Cavalry under Col. Brisbane, and the ___ Infantry under Col. Gibbon. This column of soldiers had met on the Yellowstone, all of which which were seeking to support Lt. Col. George A. Custer and the 7th Cavalry, opertating independently, and to bring to battle a group of Lakota Sioux and Norther Cheyenne in the area of the Little Bighorn Valley.

In the early morning hours of June 26th, the steamer was ordered to

Unknown to the troops under Gen. Terry and Col. Gibbon the 7th Cavalry under General Custer had engaged the Sioux on June 25, 1876, and the potion of the command led by Col. Custer had been annialated.