Culture

The Battle of Little Big Horn

CPT. Sandra McKenzie

LT. Col. George Armstrong Cuter Sitting Bull

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Abstract

The battle of Little Bighorn, also known as “Custer’s last Stance,” and by the Native Americans involved, “The battle of Greasy Grass Creek,” was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota and Northern Cheyenne Indians against the seventh Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army. On June 25, 1876, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the Seventh Cavalry on an offensive against a united Indian front under the leadership of the Indian Chief Sitting Bull in Montana territory. Custer’s orders were to “begin a reconnaissance” and pursuit along the Rosebud river. Thinking that the Indians were aware of his presence, Custer attacked their encampment on the morning of June 25, thinking other cavalry and infantry units were in route. A large number of opposition met Custer, and in a matter of hours, five companies from the seventh cavalry were trapped on a hill overlooking a river called Little Bighorn. “What will follow is the bloody climax to one of the most remarkable sagas in American history.”

Introduction

The Battle of Little Bighorn occurred on June 25, 1876 along the Little Bighorn River (a tributary of the Bighorn River) in Montana USA. The battle lasted two days, and pitted Lt. Col. Custer, commander of the famous Seventh Cavalry Regiment of the Army, against the Indian Chief Sitting Bull, leader of the united Lakota and Northern Cheyenne Indian tribes. The battle exposed poor judgment by the army, the inability to follow orders, underestimation of the enemy, and the failure of other companies to “march to the sound of guns.”[1] This led to the death of Lt. Col. Custer, complete annihilation of five companies (about 210 men) under his command, and significant losses in other regiments. Two primary resources used were James Donavan’s book, A terrible...