“Custer Trail Crossing 1874”

General George A. Custer, in his famous Expedition into the Black Hills in 1874, had a command of 10 troops of cavalry, two companies of infantry, a band, a notable array of scientists, a multitude of scouts, Indian and others, and it took 110 six mule teams to transport the paraphernalia.

His expedition was in Violation of Indian Treaty rights and was in part at least responsible for the Indian wars of 1876 when he and over 200 members of the 7th Cavalry met their death.

On the 8th of August, 1874 Custer and his column passed a point a few rods south of this point enroute from his location camp on French Creek east of Custer, to the home station of the 7th Cavalry at Ft. Abraham Lincoln, near Mandan, North Dakota. The main column made 883 miles on this trip, taking 60 days for the journey. His verification of the existence of gold in paying quantities brought about a great rush of unauthorized prospectors into the Black Hills, led by the Gordon Party, the fall of 1874.

Lawrence County, 10 miles south of Deadwood on 385