The Battle of Little Bighorn

The Battle of Little Bighorn

by: Sinclaire Parer

The Battle of Little Bighorn also referred to as “Custer’s Last Stand” and “The Battle of Greasy Grass”, was considered “the worst military disaster ever” by eyewitnesstohistory.com. The tension leading up to this historic battle was provoked by Anglo gold miners intruding on the land west of the Mississippi that was given to the Sioux  in the Second treaty of Fort Lamie. The Native americans began to fight back against Anglos, causing a issue. Due to both the hatred of being attacked and the fact that there was gold for new entrepreneurs expanding west, the US army’s 7th calvary deemed it necessary to attack. 

A attack plan was formed with Caption Benteen, Major Reno, and General Custer leading separate attacks from three different directions, trapping the Sioux and Cheyenne on the banks of the Little Bighorn River in Montana. This plan was flawless for the first three days, until June 25 1876 when Custer and his men came across a group of Sioux and Cheyenne people ready to fight led by Sitting Bull. 

The Native Americans outnumbered the Custer’s men by such a large degree that, he lost almost immediately and over 200 of Custer’s men were killed.  When the other two groups of the Army showed up, they were able to retreat in time, sending news back to the east. 

After this loss, there was so much anger trapped inside of the Anglos from this military disaster that they flooded the area with troops demolishing this group of Native Americans and forcing them into surrender, but not before Sitting Bull escaped to Canada. This battle was a turning point and was a last attempt of the Sioux people to preserve their ways. Now there is a memorial on the land where this battle took place preserving the power drawn by this battle.