This is the river that exuberant parties claim is a mile wide, an inch deep, and runs uphill. The statement is exaggerated. Captain Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, named it the Redstone in 1806 and afterwards found out that the Indians called it the same thing but they pronounced it ‘Wahasah’ He camped just across the Yellowstone from the mouth of the Powder on the night of July 30th, 1806.

Generals Terry and Custer, moving from the east to take part in a campaign against the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, camped on the Yellowstone about 25 miles west of here June 10, 1876. From that point Major Reno was sent with six troops of the 7th Cavalry to scout the Powder and Tongue valleys for Indian sign. He swung further west and picked up a fresh trail on the Rosebud. It was this trail that led Custer into contact with the hostiles resulting in the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

Powder River

When a top rider from this part of the country is forking the hurricane deck of a sun-fishing, fuzztail, some of his pals are prone to sit on the rope rail of the corral, emitting advice and hollering “Powder River! Let ‘er buck!!” by way of encouragement. The 91st Division adopted that war cry during the first World War and spread it far and wide. Well, this is the famous Powder River, that enthusiasts allege is a “mile wide, an inch deep, and runs up hill”

The entire Powder River country was favorite buffalo hunting range for the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians before the day of cattle men. Many intertribal battles were fought in this region as well as frequent skirmishes between Indians and the U.S. troops. The country is rich in Indian lore and tales of the subsequent reign of the cattle kings.

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US 12, MP 32, East of Miles City, Custer County Montana

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