Red Cloud’s War (1866-1868) erupted when thousands of white settlers racing for Montana's gold fields, streamed across the Bozeman Trail. The trail cut right through the heart of the Lakota’s last remaining hunting grounds.  The hostilities came to a head ten years later when Gen. George Armstrong Custer and his troops met their fate on a bluff above the Little Bighorn River.  Join historians Ed Bearss and Jerry Greene on this tour that visits the sites where U.S. Army troops clashed with Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors.

ITINERARY

September 9, Wednesday
Gather this afternoon at the airport in Billings, MT. Depart Billings Airport by coach at approximately 2:00 pm for 2-hour drive to Sheridan, WY. Join Historian Ed Bearss, tour manager Marty Gane, and fellow travelers at our welcome dinner this evening. Overnight in Sheridan (R,D)

September 10, Thursday
Today, we will explore several sites significant to Red Cloud’s War (1866-1868). Ed Bearss will lead us on a tour of Fort Phil Kearny Historic Site, one of the forts the U.S. Military built to protect the Bozeman Trail. Warriors under Red Cloud and Crazy Horse constantly harassed the soldiers garrisoned at the fort. On December 21, 1866, a band of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho lured Capt. William Fetterman and his 80 men into a deadly ambush. We’ll walk the ground of the Fetterman Fight as Ed recounts the story.

In the summer of 1876, the U.S. Cavalry began a three-prong assault on the Big Horn and Powder River country. General Crook’s column was the first to make contact. On June 17, 1876, a band of Lakota and Cheyenne led by Crazy Horse, surprised General Crook’s column along the Rosebud Creek. Ed will tell us the story of the Battle of the Rosebud as we walk the ground. Overnight Sheridan (B,L)

September 11, Friday
Historian Jerry Greene will join us for this morning for the balance of the tour. We will follow the route of Custer and the 7th Cavalry as they began their 3-day march up Rosebud Creek on June 22, 1876 to the Little Big Horn. We will stop in Lame Deer, where rancher Jack Bailey has given us permission to visit Deer Medicine Rocks, a sacred rock art site located on his property. Here in early June 1876, during a Sun Dance ceremony, Sitting Bull had a vision foretelling the defeat of Custer and the 7th cavalry. Three weeks later, Custer’s men passed this site on their way to the Little Bighorn. Check into our hotel in Billings. Dinner is on our own this evening. Overnight in Billings (L)

September 12, Saturday
In Pryor, MT, we will visit the home of Plenty Coups, the last tribal chief of the Crow Indians. In 1884, he gave up his nomadic ways and was one of the first Crow to own and settle on a farm. This afternoon, Ed and Jerry will begin our examination of the Battle of Little Bighorn. Overnight in Billings (L)

September 13, Sunday
We will spend the last day of our journey with Custer’s disastrous encounter with Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe warriors at Little Bighorn on June 25-26, 1876. Celebrate our Wild West adventure at tonight’s farewell dinner. Overnight in Billings (L,D)

September 14, Monday Individual departures.

NOTE REGARDING AIRLINE RESERVATIONS: This tour begins and ends in Billings, MT.

Please book a flight that arrives in Billlings no later than 1 p.m. on September 9. Please advise our office immediately, if your connections do not allow you to arrive in Billings by 1 p.m. Once we have everyone's flight arrival information, we will advise what time our coach will depart Billings Airport for Sheridan. NOTE REGARDING DRIVING: If you plan to drive, please contact our office and we will assist you in making arrangements to park your car.


THE SIOUX WARS PROGRAM INCLUDES:


* Services of an Historian Guide
(Ed Bearss is scheduled to lead this tour Sept 9-14)

* Services of an Historian Guide
(Jerry Greene is scheduled to lead this tour Sept 11-13)

* Services of a Tour Manager

* 5 nights hotel accommodations

* Transportation on a full-sized coach

* All admissions and excursions

* Two wine/beer welcome receptions; 2 breakfasts; 4 lunches; 2 dinners


* All taxes, baggage handling and gratuities, pre-trip notes, reading list, and map book

COST: 6 DAYS/5 NIGHTS

Double Occupancy: $1,995      
Single Occupancy: $2,275
(NOTE: ALL costs are based on a minimum of 20 participants)