Little Bighorn (Hardin, MT 07-25-12)

Like the words “remember the Alamo”, I think most of us know the words “Custer’s last stand” and the “Battle of Little Bighorn”.  Not being a huge history buff myself, I admit I didn’t know that much about Bighorn or Custer- before today, anyways. And, not being a talented history writer, I won’t delve into too many details, but will try to condense the story down into a couple of paragraphs.  I am sure my brother and my son, the  history buffs in the family, will cringe.
George Custer was well known for his military exploits during the civil war.  He fought in the first battle of that war, First Battle of Bull Run, as well as the battle of Gettysburg, and was present at the surrender of General Lee at the conclusion of the war.  He was then sent west to fight the Indian Wars.
So, what led up to this battle?
At that point in time, most American Indians were living on reservations, but had “permission” to roam further west, in the Unceded Territory, hunting the more plentiful game.  Part of the the Lakota (Sioux) Reservation included the Black Hills of South Dakota, an area so important to their culture that as part of the signed treaty, the Black Hills could never be inhabited by white settlers.
In 1874, with the Euro-American economy in a mess, Grant sent Custer to investigate the rumors that the Black Hills were full of gold.   Unfortunately for the Sioux, including Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, there was gold, causing the area to be overrun with Euro-Americans.  The ioux and Cheyenne began leaving the reservations, attacking the settlers, and pressure was put on the government to punish the “hostiles”.  After giving the Indians a month to comply with an order to return to their reservations, the army was sent to deal with those who refused.
    On June 25th 1876, the 7th cavalry, consisting of about 600 men, and led by Custer, discovered a Lakota village along the banks of the Little Bighorn River.  Scouts had informed Custer that this was a huge village, and that, by the way, the Indians had seen the tracks of the cavalry, so were aware that they were closing in.  Fearing that the Indians would flee the area, Custer made the decision to attack immediately. 


Little Bighorn Battlefield



the headstones read "____fell here on June 25 1876,  while defending the Lakota way of life"

He divided the regiment into 3 groups, each section approaching the village from a different vantage point.  Instead of running, the Sioux warriors  met the  soldiers head on.  In fact, had Custer paid more attention to the scout, he may have devised a different plan, because in fact there were almost 8000 Indians, more than 1500 of them warriors. 
The two groups led by Major Reno and Captain Benteen were both overpowered and were quickly pushed back.  Neither leader could find Custer, and ordered their troops to withdraw. 

In the meantime, Custer, whose exact movements have never been determined, was also repulsed and pushed up onto a small hill, where he took his “last stand”.  Cheyenne Chief Two Moon later recalled that “we circled all around them- swirling like water around a stone.” Custer and all of the soldiers under his direct command, including his brother, were killed.

When the Indians realized that reinforcements for the troops were on their way, they themselves withdrew and disbanded.  Although the battle was a decisive victory for the Indians,  within a year or so, most of them were back on the reservation or had moved into Canada.  In the end, they lost their way of life and their sense of freedom.