27TH DAY

(JULY 28TH) OF CUSTER'S EXPEDITION TO THE BLACK HILLS IN 1874. TRAIL IS 10 MILES STARTING AT THE INTERSECTION OF CASTLE CREEK AND SILVER CREEK TO A CAMPSITE NOW UNDER DEERFELD LAKE. STARTING POINT IS APPROXIMATELY 44 MILES FROM RAPID CITY. MAP COVERING THE ROUTE OF JULY 28TH IS: DEERFIELD QUADRANGLE. PICTURE BY ILL1NGSWORTH #817 ELKHORN PRAIRIE.

#1 Latitude N44 01 45
Longitude W103 51 20

This is the reading reported by Ludlow for the camp of July 26-27, 1874. This can be found by traveling West out of Hill City on Forest Service Rd. 17 to Deerfield Lake. Proceed West to Forest Service Rd110. At this point a small creek from the North, Horsethief Creek, enters Castle Creek and Silver Creek enters from the West.

#2 Latitude N44 01 54
Longitude W103 50 23

Park the car and proceed on foot up the drainage, North to:

#3 Latitude N44 02 08
Longitude W103 50 22

Signs of the trail should be visible.

Winchell said, " In leaving camp this morning we strike nearly East, leaving the valley of Box Elder Creek [?] which General Custer named Castle Creek from the rounded and high buttressed bluffs that have enclosed it and aim to camp on the same creek a few miles further down thus escaping a very narrow and deep canyon through which the Creek passed in this mica schist."

Ludlow states, " The valley below us was rather too marshy for the wagons and the Easterly course lay up the Hills to the left and upon a high, rolling prairie." Proceed up the draw to Southeast and notice quite prominent ruts.

#4 Latitude N44 01 55
Longitude W103 49 59

Forsyth said," Broke camp at 4:45 am moved over low hill through a small, pine wood nearly due East but on to a high, rolling praire surrounded in every direction by high hills, densely covered by pine woods..."

Grant wrote," We left this valley today until we got on Elk Horn Prairie so named on account of a large stack of elk horns."

At this reading it may be desired to return to the car and go Southeast on 110 to the intersection of 306. Turn North and drive to the top of the hill. The following reading is West of the road and the trail is visible at:

#5 Latitude N44 02 02
Longitude W103 49 23

From this reading North, an old county road followed Custer's trail. The trail and road are on private land and goes through Reynold's Prairie near:

#6 Latitude N44 03 20
Longitude W103 48 58

Continue North on 306 to a reading on private land to the East of the road that approximates the elk horn stack photographed by Illingsworth.

#7 Latitude N44 04 38
Longitude W103 47 34

This is as far North as the Expedition goes at this time.

According to Winchell," Here they spread out as to form prairie-like undulating plains that are entirely treeless. One of these plains we pass over and find there a large stack of elk horns whence the Indians call it Elk Horn Valley, a name which is appropriately changed to Elk Horn Prairie.

Ludlow wrote, " A huge pile of elk horns of ancient date and of which the Indians disclaimed any share of the construction was found on the Northeast part of this prairie. No camp could be made there and partly retracing our steps we camped again on Castle Valley Creek a few miles below the camp of the day before."

Turning South on 306 the ruts are visible at the following readings along the East side of the road:

#8 Latitude N44 03 36
Longitude W103 47 58

Ruts are visible at the following reading:

#9 Latitude N44 02 57
Longitude W103 48 05

Continue South on 306 to National Forest Rd. 417 (road to Custer Trail Campground). Turn left (East) and at a reading on leased land, the ruts can be seen at:

#10 Latitude N44 02 31
Longitude W103 47 52

Proceed down the road towards Deerfield Lake and look for ruts on the left side of the road at:

#11 Latitude N44 01 49
Longitude W103 47 57

Near the edge of the lake at:

# 12 Latitude N44 01 26
Longitude W103 47 50

At this reading look across the Lake for the Goldrun inlet which is on the route for July 29,1874. The camp for July 28, 1874 from this point is on the lake bottom.

#13 Latitude N44 00 52
Longitude W103 48 27

This is the reading for the camp on July 28, 1874 as recorded by Ludlow.

He wrote, " ...and partly retracing our steps, we camped again on Castle Valley Creek a few miles below the camp of the day before. Another creek coming in from the South promises a road for the next day. The following "note" is given, after dinner made a reconnaissance with General Custer up the creek below camp. A good road was found up the valley which is heavily grassed and flowered. Then ascended a hill on the left and reached through some timber the open prairie I was on in the afternoon. Harney's Peak was visible from the top a high, bare hill and the sun having just set, we were in a few minutes well rewarded for the ride of five miles. The moon was rising just over the Southern shoulder of Harney and masked by heavy clouds. A patch of high, blood-red flame was first seen looking like a brilliant fire and soon after, another, so far from the first that it was difficult to connect the two. A portion of the moon's disk became presently visible and the origin of the flame was apparent. While it lasted, the sight was superb, the moon's mass looked enormous and blood-red with only portions of it's surface visible, while the clouds just above and to the left resembled smoke drifting from an immense conflagration. The moon soon buried herself completely in the clouds and under a rapidly darkening sky we returned to camp."

# 14 Latitude N43 58 04
Longitude W103 43 45
This is the reading for the high hill which Ludlow refers to in the quote above. It is on the left of the trail, approximately five miles from the camp of July 28th. The view may be obstructed by the present covering of timber. This hill can be found on the map for the route of the 28th day, July 29, 1874.