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JUNE 30 1876: The steam boat Far West carries wounded survivors all the way back to Bismarck ND from Custer's last stand. They key to understanding the battle of Little Big Horn is to comprehend the river network which formed the basis of military strategy of the Sioux and the US Army.<(enlarges) Horses(and immense buffalo herds) operate on water so all cavalry operations revolved around water hence the location of the huge Indian camp( est. 10,000) along the banks to the Little Big Horn an area suitable for a herd estimated at 20,000+ animals. After the disaster of June 25 the army's steam boat, Far West, carrying supplies to the army, switched priorities and carried 52 wounded survivors 7i0 miles over wild rivers back to Bismarck, ND the headquarters of the Seventh cavalry..an 54 hour transit, starting on the 30th, that stands to this day. The famously able captain, Grant Marsh, buried some $375,000 in gold bars entrusted to him by fearful miners to lighten the load and make room for the wounded and the firewood to make the voyage. Approximately twenty miles up the Little Bighorn from the Yellowstone River.... Marsh returned to reclaim the hoard but a mud slide had buried the site. The treasure has never been recovered.