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Early afternoon, June 25, 1876, Montana Territory, two scouts
from the Sioux encampment sight the Seventh Cavalry, led by General
George Armstrong Custer, approaching from the East. The infamous
Battle of the Little Bighorn is about to begin. Known to Native
Americans as the Battle of Greasy Grass Creek, the conflict between
a combined group of Lakota and Northern Cheyenne (led by great
leaders such as Chief Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse) against Custer’s
cavalry was a stunning defeat for the U.S. Army. Much has been
made of Custer’s possible hubris in actions that led up
to the battle, but the stark fact remains that these Native American
warriors fought in a far superior fashion than had been expected.
Also known as “Custer’s Last Stand,” the battle
represented the high water mark of the Indian alliance and the
call for retribution on the part of the U.S. citizenry was answered
swiftly and harshly. |