Post by Lawtonka on Apr 14, 2006 18:10:24 GMT -6
This photo was taken from a rest area on I-94.
Camp at Hailstone Creek. Custer and his men camped here on May 20, 1876. This was the fourth camp located 46 miles from Ft. Lincoln. They endured very muddy condition from the severe storms here. The camp was situated on the bluff above the creek. Custer wrote his first letter to Libbie from this campsite. The camp was dark with the exception of a few officers tents which were lit by candlelight.
Just the day before at the camp near what is now known as New Salem, they encountered a very terrific hail storm. The hail stones were at least 1/2" diameter. General Alfred H. Terry noted, "Man and beast alike sustained bruises from this untoward assault from the skies.....Hailstones ripped into the muddied white canvas covers of the wagons like white mini-balls."
