Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument - August 2019
One of the more somber national monuments you will ever visit. It's hard to describe the sadness and quiet of this remote area of grasslands in Montana. The entrance to the monument leads to the graves of the fallen soldiers.....rows and rows of white crosses. While driving the 4 1/2 mile road through the battlefield, you see where soldiers died (white grave makers) and also Indian warriors (red markers). Although most of the warriors were moved and buried elsewhere after the Battle. Everyone visiting talks in whispered voices adding to the sadness, there is no laughter or joy.
We the children of the 1950's know this as Custer's Last Stand - while the Plains Indians refer to it as the Battle of the Greasy Grass. The Battle of Little Big Horn occurred on June 25, 1876. The Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes led by Sitting Bull gathered warriors to fight against the United States Army led by General George Custer. The tribes were fighting to preserve their way of life as nomadic buffalo hunters, while General Custer's orders were to move the tribes to the Sioux Reservation in the Dakota Territory. The Grant administration determined it was easier and less costly to have the Indians contained on the reservation. Interesting how important freedom is to us all and how through the centuries people fought for their freedom.
General Custer's 7th Cavalry numbered 840 while the Plains indians had 2000 or so warriors. An interesting bit of trivia was the mix of Custer's Army. Of the 840 soldiers, 472 were US born while the remaining 368 (44%) were foreign, the majority being German and Irish. However a few were from Norway (Tom's family) and Italy (my family).
Custers Plan:
General Custer's plan was to subdue a larger Indian village. But he misjudged the size of the Indian force, even though his scouts indicated it was much larger than he thought.
* He put 3 companies (140 men) under Major Reno to launch an attack from the south end of the village. Major Reno rushed the village, but retreated when the Indians attacked killing over 50 men. Major Reno managed to join Captain Benteen. They did not join Custer.
*He assigned 3 companies (120 men) to Captain Benteen. Benteens orders were to scout a series of ridges to the southeast to spot any indians trying to escape and then rejoin him.
*The remaining company was under the command of Captain Mc Dougall (175 men). This was a slow moving pack train and very distant to the battlefield.
In 2003 a monument of the Spirit Warrior was erected across from Custer's monument. It represents the warriors who died. But symbolically, the spirit gate welcomes the departed Cavalry soldiers into the circle also.
Such a tragic event in our history, but well worth the visit.
We the children of the 1950's know this as Custer's Last Stand - while the Plains Indians refer to it as the Battle of the Greasy Grass. The Battle of Little Big Horn occurred on June 25, 1876. The Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes led by Sitting Bull gathered warriors to fight against the United States Army led by General George Custer. The tribes were fighting to preserve their way of life as nomadic buffalo hunters, while General Custer's orders were to move the tribes to the Sioux Reservation in the Dakota Territory. The Grant administration determined it was easier and less costly to have the Indians contained on the reservation. Interesting how important freedom is to us all and how through the centuries people fought for their freedom.
General Custer's 7th Cavalry numbered 840 while the Plains indians had 2000 or so warriors. An interesting bit of trivia was the mix of Custer's Army. Of the 840 soldiers, 472 were US born while the remaining 368 (44%) were foreign, the majority being German and Irish. However a few were from Norway (Tom's family) and Italy (my family).
Custers Plan:
General Custer's plan was to subdue a larger Indian village. But he misjudged the size of the Indian force, even though his scouts indicated it was much larger than he thought.
*Custer kept 5 companies with 210 mounted calvarymen. As they approached the village, he saw that size of the Indian force was indeed larger than expected and sent word to Captain Benteen to join them immediately. General Custer and a small contingent of soldiers rode up a ridge while the battle raged below. They shot their horses to use as barriers, but were overwhelmed by the sheer number of warriors. The monument at the top of the hill marks the spot where he died- but his body has been moved to West Point Cemetery.
Custer DID NOT have the entire 7th Cavalry with him. Earlier he had divided the calvary into 3 groups under the command of Major Reno, Captain Benteen and Captain McDougall.
* He put 3 companies (140 men) under Major Reno to launch an attack from the south end of the village. Major Reno rushed the village, but retreated when the Indians attacked killing over 50 men. Major Reno managed to join Captain Benteen. They did not join Custer.
*He assigned 3 companies (120 men) to Captain Benteen. Benteens orders were to scout a series of ridges to the southeast to spot any indians trying to escape and then rejoin him.
*The remaining company was under the command of Captain Mc Dougall (175 men). This was a slow moving pack train and very distant to the battlefield.
In 2003 a monument of the Spirit Warrior was erected across from Custer's monument. It represents the warriors who died. But symbolically, the spirit gate welcomes the departed Cavalry soldiers into the circle also.
Such a tragic event in our history, but well worth the visit.
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