Understanding The Battle Of Little Bighorn

By Tammie Caldwell


Many wars have been fought on American soil by the US Army and some were won gloriously while others led to grave defeat and casualties for the army. One such battle is the battle of Little Bighorn. The battle has come to be known by several other names such as Custer Last Stand and Battle of Greasy Grass. The war was fought between combined forces of Native American tribes and the Seventh Cavalry Regiment of the American Army.

Little Bighorn River was the place where the battle happened in June 25th and 26th, 1976. Little Bighorn River is on the eastern side of what used to be the territory of Montana. This was the most prominent action of all actions in the Great Sioux War. The skirmish which began as a series of conflicts ended into a full blown Sioux War. This war was triggered by the encroaching settlers into the Native Indian-inhabited Great Plains.

Native Indians were forced by the settles and the government to move to the shrinking reservations. Most Native Indians accepted to relocate, but a minority refused and went on the defensive. Cheyenne and Lakota tribes forms and alliance and Sitting Bull was the leader. Thousands of relocated Native Indians later joined the alliance to form a big army.

This war involved many war leaders from the Indian tribes including Chief Gall and Crazy Horse. On the side of US Army soldiers, George Custer, who was in control of the whole seventh Cavalry Regiment was killed along with several prominent officers in the war. The war culminated into great success for the united Indian tribes as the American forces were thwarted and utterly destroyed.

Little is known about what really happened during the battle. The little that has been discovered so far is hugely arguable. Estimates place the number of casualties at fifty five soldiers injured and 268 dead. Many US superior officers who led the engagement died and hence the huge gap in facts about it. Native Americans have also been giving contradicting facts and accounts of the war.

The commanding officer, George Custer has received criticism for several errors and miscalculations. He overrated his forces against the enemy and refused to accept Gatling guns for to reinforce his troops. His decision to divide his forces into three units made it easier to defeat too. Generally speaking, huge false assumptions characterized the engagement and destined it for certain loss on the side of the American forces.

The site where the engagement took place has since been made into a national monument. All soldiers who died were reburied in a mass grave on the battlefield. The engagement has been featured in many artistic works such as music, video games, TV shows, radio programs, paintings, and film.

Reconstruction of the seventh Cavalry regiment has been done since the war. Positions have been filled. The Indian resistance has also been thwarted and restricted to reservations. Some historians have praised Custer for his actions and decisions in the engagement.




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