Situation (set the stage)

● Little Bighorn was one of a series of battles and encounters fought during the Sioux wars (from
1854-1890).
● During the Lakota and Cheyenne sun dance, a coalition of sorts was formed between these two
tribes, and a number of “Agency Indians” (Indians settled on reservations) who had left their
reservations to attend the event.
● During the sun dance, Sitting Bull is purported to have had a vision of “soldiers falling into his
camp like grasshoppers from the sky”.
● The events of little Bighorn occurred during the Sioux campaign of 1876 with three columns
advancing on suspected Indian camps from the south, east, and west. Custer and twelve
companies of the 7th cavalry traveled with the third column under the command of Brigadier
General Alfred Terry.
● Crook’s column turned back after battle of the Rosebud. Terry and Gibbon continued on, and
planned to link p near Little Bighorn.

The 7th cavalry

● The 7th cavalry was primarily composed of veterans of both the civil war and the early years of
the Sioux wars. However, by the time of the campaign of 1876, roughly 20% of the 7th cavalry
was comprised of troopers who had no real training, and despite being one of the best equipped
and supplied units in the Army, were in poor physical condition and malnourished according to
archaeological evidence.
● The 7th cavalry during the campaign numbered only 566 enlisted men with 31 officers and had
the remaining 22% detached to other duties as well as a number of junior leadership positions
vacant.
● Custer decided to leave his attached artillery battery behind before the campaign, as he said it
would only slow him down. The battery consisted of two light rifled cannon and two or three
Gatling machine guns.
The Indian Coalition
● The Indian force was comprised of experienced if not professional tribal warriors, who were
equipped with a range of ultra-modern and antique weapons and operated as a mostly
mounted skirmishing and raiding force. Indian forces at the battle are likely to have been highly
motivated by a desire to protect their families or prevent their internment on a reservation.
● The Indian forces consisted of elements of the Lakota, Dakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho
tribes and are thought to have numbered between 900 and 2,500 combatants, giving them a
significant advantage in numbers. They also enjoyed a home turf advantage and their numerical
superiority also gave them the element of surprise.
Initial Mission & Disposition of Forces

● On June 24th, Custer’s scouts spotted signs of an Indian encampment in the vicinity of little
Bighorn. He attempted to conduct reconnaissance to learn more, but his scouts and attached
officers were unable to learn much about the camp apart from its size.
● Custer initially intended to launch an attack on June 26th but decided to conduct a hasty attack
on the 25th after he received reports that his scout’s trails had been found by the Indians.
 ● Custer divided his 12 companies into three battalions, one under the command of Maj. Reno,
the second under Capt. Benteen, and the third under his immediate control. One company was
left to guard the baggage train.
● Although the Scouts trail had been discovered by the Indians, they did not alert the majority of
the camp to the possible presence of a nearby enemy.
● Custer was warned by both his scouts and some of his officers about the size of the village but
was worried that postponement on his part would cause him to miss the opportunity to attack.
He also erroneously believed he was facing no more than 800 Indians and that his speed and
firepower would win him the day.
● By 1200, June 25th, Custer’s forces were moving to attack the Indian camp at Little Big Horn with
no accurate idea of the Indian forces, size, dispositions, and equipment while the Indians were
unaware that they were about to be attacked.

The Battle.

● LTC Custer was met with many surprises. Custer’s intel stated that there would be about 800
able bodied Native Warriors, when they where met with a fighting force 2000.
● LTC Custer attempted to re-establish contact with his other threew battalions, but proved
unsuccessful in his attempts.
● With his 200+ mounted soldiers, Custer was engaged from HIgh Noon until the later hours of the
afternoon.
● With sword drawn, Custer clashed with Chief Crazy Horse as his soliders were not only cut off,
but out manuevered, and out gunned by the Natives.
○ The Natives possessed superior repeater rifles, more horses, more manpower, and
much higher motivation and zeal in their cause.
● The next part of the battle is largely shrouded in myth and uncertainty, but the outcome
remains the same.
○ Attempting to break contact with the enemy, Custer moved his unit over to higher
ground, and attempted to hold a defensive position,.
● When the dust settled, and the bullets stopped ringing, the Natives walked away with about 100
new horses, and Custer and all 210 of his men that had followed him layed dead.
● Maj. Reno and CPT. Benteen reinforced each other as they fought off the Natives for over a day
in the neighboring AO. The Natives exhausted their resources, and successfully broke contact.

Aftermath and Consequences.

● Battered and defeated, the remaining of the 7th Cav returned to Fort Riley Kansas embarassed
and ashamed.
● The American government was enraged by this defeat at the hand of the Natives at the height
of their powerr, and sought to find the quickest way to defeat their enemies.
● The U.S. Army flooded the whole midwest region with a majority of its standing fighting force,
and sought to overwhelm the enemy with sheer numbers.
● The Natives of the Plains were not able to sustain defensive measures against such a large force,
and were forced to surrender.
● The outcomes of these conflicts had a very minimal effect on tactics and warfighting functions,
but had many political implications.
○ The natives who were forced onto repressive reservations, still face hardships
generations later. Institutions have allowed for continued oppression of the natives.
● Custer’s Failures:
○ Assumptions.
○ Failure to communicate.
○ Lack of trust in Scouts.
○ Lack of experience.