The Battle of Little Bighorn

[Greg C.]

The Battle of the Little Bighorn — also known as Custer's Last Stand and Custer Massacre and, in the parlance of the relevant Native Americans, the Battle of the Greasy Grass — was an armed engagement between a Lakota-Northern Cheyenne combined force and the 7th Cavalry of the United States Army. It occurred June 25–June 26, 1876, near the Little Bighorn River in the eastern Montana Territory.

The battle was the most famous action of the Indian Wars and was a victory for the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne. Although in the long run, the battle proved to be the biggest defeat for the Indians. The defeat forced and pressured the U.S. Government to destroy the Indian way of Life. A U.S. cavalry detachment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer was annihilated.

Thousands of Indians had slipped away from their reservations through early 1876. Military officials planned a three-pronged expedition to corral them and force them back to the reservations, using both infantry and cavalry, as well as a small detachment of Gatling guns. Brig. Gen. George Crook's column moved north from Fort Fetterman in the Wyoming Territory toward the Powder River area. Col. John Gibbon's column of 6 companies of the 7th Infantry and 4 of the 2nd Cavalry marched east from Fort Ellis in western Montana Territory. The third column under Brig. Gen. Alfred Terry (including George Custer's 7th Cavalry; Companies B, D and I, 6th U.S. Infantry; Companies C & G, 17th U.S. Infantry; and the Gatling gun detachment of the 20th Infantry) departed westward from Fort Abraham Lincoln in the Dakota Territory. They were accompanied by teamsters and packers with 150 wagons and a large contingent of pack mules.

The coordination and planning went awry on June 17 when Crook's column was delayed after the Battle of the Rosebud and was forced to stop and regroup. Gibbon and Terry proceeded, joining forces in late June near the mouth of the Rosebud River. They formulated a plan that called for Custer's regiment to proceed up the Rosebud River, while Terry and Gibbon's united columns would proceed up the Bighorn and Little Bighorn rivers. The officers hoped to trap the Indian village between these two forces. After discovering a large Indian trail on June 15, the 7th Cavalry split from the remainder of the Terry column on June 22 and began a pursuit along the trail. Custer was offered the use of the Gatling guns but declined, saying they would slow his command. He also declined the offer of two further companies of cavalry on the basis that his regiment could handle anything they found without other assistance. Custer's scouts arrived at an overlook 14 miles (23 km) east of the Little Bighorn River on the night of June 24, as the Terry/Gibbon column was marching toward the mouth of the Little Bighorn.

[Greg C.]

Reno's attack
The first detachment to attack was Major Reno's, conducted after receiving orders from Custer issued by Lt. William W. Cooke. The orders, made without accurate knowledge of the village's size, location, or propensity to stand and fight, were to pursue the Indians and "bring them to battle". However, Custer did promise to "support...[Reno] with the whole outfit". Reno's force crossed the Little Bighorn at the mouth of what is today called Reno Creek and immediately realized that the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne were present "in force and ...not running away".

Sending a message to Custer, but hearing nothing in return, Reno advanced rapidly northward, stating that he drove the enemy "with ease". However, he suspected "a trap" and stopped a few hundred yards short of the encampment, dismounting and deploying in a skirmish line, as standard army doctrine called for. In deploying in a skirmish line, every fifth trooper handled the horses for four troopers taking firing positions, thus immediately reducing the fighting force by 20%. The troopers on the skirmish line were positioned five to ten yards apart, with officers just to their rear and the troopers with horses behind the officers. After about 20 minutes of long distance firing he had taken only one casualty but the odds against him had become more obvious (Reno estimated five to one) and Custer had not reinforced him. Reno ordered a withdrawal into nearby woods in a loop of the river, then made a disorderly retreat across the river to reach the high ground of the bluffs on the other side. The retreat was confused and immediately disrupted by Cheyenne attacks at close quarters. Reno later reported that 3 officers and 29 troopers were killed during the retreat and the subsequent fording of the river and another officer and 13-18 men missing, left behind in the woods, although most of these men eventually rejoined the detachment.

Atop the bluffs, Reno's shaken troops soon linked up with the detachment of Captain Benteen, arriving from the south. This force had been on its lateral scouting mission when it had been summoned by a messenger from Custer to "Come on...big village, be quick...bring pacs...". (This messenger was John Martin, a trumpeter, who was the last white person to see Custer alive and survive the battle.) Benteen's coincidental arrival on the bluffs was just in time to save Reno's men from possible annihilation. Their detachments were then reinforced by McDougall and the pack train. The 14 officers and 340 troopers on the bluffs organized an all-around defense and dug rifle pits.

Despite hearing heavy gunfire from the north, Benteen concentrated on reinforcing Reno's badly wounded battalion, rather than continuing on toward Custer. After an hour, nearing five o'clock and the end of the Custer fight, Capt. Thomas Weir and Company D moved out against orders to make contact with Custer. They advanced a mile and could see Lakota shooting in the distance, but were under considerable pressure themselves. The other companies eventually followed by assigned battalions, first Benteen, then Reno, and finally the pack train, but growing Lakota attacks forced all seven companies to return to the bluff before the pack train, with the ammunition, had moved even a quarter mile. Benteen's apparent reluctance prompted later criticism that he had failed to follow orders.

[Greg C.]

Custer's fight
The gunfire heard on the bluffs was from Custer's fight. His force of 208 was engaged by the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne approximately 3.5 miles (6 km) to the north. Having driven Reno's force away from the encampment and isolated it, many warriors were free to pursue Custer. The route taken by Custer to his "Last Stand" remains a subject of debate. It does seem clear that after ordering Reno to charge, Custer continued down Reno Creek to within about a half mile (800 m) of the Little Bighorn, but then turned north, and climbed up the bluffs, reaching the same spot to which Reno would soon retreat. From this point, he could see Reno, on the other side of the river, charging the village.

Custer then rode north along the bluffs, and descended into a drainage called Medicine Tail Coulee, which led to the river. Some historians believe that part of Custer's force descended the coulee, going west to the river and attempting unsuccessfully to cross into the village. Other authorities believe that Custer never approached the river, but rather continued north across the coulee and up the other side, where he gradually came under attack. According to this theory, by the time Custer realized he was badly outnumbered by the Indians who came from the Reno fight, it was too late to break back through to the south, where Reno and Benteen could have provided reinforcement.

Within less than 30 minutes,Custer's force was completely annihilated. Only two men from the 7th Cavalry later claimed to have seen Custer engage the Indians—a young Crow whose name translated as Curley, and a trooper named Peter Thompson, who had fallen behind Custer's column, and most 'white' accounts of the last moments of Custer's forces are conjecture. There were a number of eyewitness accounts collected from indians at the time, and many years later. Lakota accounts assert that Crazy Horse personally led one of the large groups of Lakota who overwhelmed the cavalrymen. While exact numbers are difficult to determine, it is commonly estimated that the Northern Cheyenne and Lakota outnumbered the 7th Cavalry by approximately 3:1, a ratio which was extended to 5:1 during the fragmented parts of the battle. In addition, some of the Indians were armed with repeating Spencer and Winchester rifles, while the 7th Cavalry carried single-shot Springfield carbines, which had a slow rate of fire and tended to jam when overheated. The Springfield Model 1873 carbines were issued with a copper cartridge. Troopers soon discovered that the copper expanded in the breech when heated upon firing and jammed the rifle, by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case, requiring manual extraction with a knife blade, rendering the carbines useless in combat except as a club. The opposing warriors carried a large variety of weapons, from bows and arrows to Henry rifles. Custer was known to have owned a pair of Webley RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) double action revolvers, chambered in .442 Webley, which he used at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, instead of the Colt Single Action Army, issued to his troops.

The terrain of the battlefield gave Lakota and Cheyenne bows an advantage, since Custer's troops were pinned in a depression on higher ground from which they could not use direct fire at the Indians in defilade. On the other hand, the Lakota and Cheyenne were able to shoot their arrows into the depression by launching them on a high arching indirect fire, with the volume of arrows ensuring severe casualties. U.S. small arms might have been more accurate over open distances, but the fighting on this occasion was close combat where rate of fire and reliability of a weapon were more important attributes.

[Greg C.]

Custer's resistance
Recent archaeological work at the battlefield site indicates that Custer initially deployed his troops in skirmish lines per Army doctrine. This deployment would have resulted in only approximately 150 troopers providing defensive fire over several long skirmish lines. As individual troopers were killed, wounded or their carbines jammed, the skirmish lines became untenable.The History Channel series Battlefield Detectives suggested in 2003 that there may not have been a 'last stand' as it has come down to us through history. Instead, archaeologists suggested that Custer's troops weren't surrounded and picked off but rather simply swamped by a single charge.

The Sioux Chief Red Horse, who fought in the fight, informed Col. W. H. Wood, that the indians suffered 136 dead, and 160 wounded during the entire battle of the greasy grass.David Humphries Miller, who between 1935 and 1955 interviewed the last Indian survivors of the battle, wrote that the Custer fight, lasted less than one-half hour.

While many of Custer's troops were recruits who did not possess an adequate level of military training and skill, archaeological evidence also suggests that they were undernourished and in poor physical condition, but that it was usual in the army at this time.

The aftermath
After the Custer force was annihilated, the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne regrouped to attack Reno and Benteen. The fight continued until dark (approximately 9:00 p.m. by local timekeeping) and for much of the next day, with the outcome in doubt. Reno credited Benteen's leadership with repulsing a severe attack on the portion of the perimeter held by Companies H and M. On June 26 the column under Terry approached from the north, and the Indians drew off in the opposite direction. The wounded were given what treatment was available at that time; five later died of their wounds. Two of the regiment's three surgeons had been with Custer's column; the remaining doctor was assisted by interpreter Fred Gerard.

An examination was made of the Custer battle site. The Indian dead had mostly been removed from the field. The 7th's dead were identified as best as possible and hastily buried where they fell. Custer was found to have been shot in the left temple and in the left chest; either wound would have been fatal. He also suffered a wound to the arm. Some Lakota oral histories assert that Custer committed suicide to avoid capture and subsequent torture or death—as Custer believed—but he was right-handed. His body was found near the top of "Last Stand Hill" where a large obelisk inscribed with the names of the 7th's dead now stands. Most of the dead had been stripped of their clothing, mutilated, and were in an advanced state of decomposition, such that identification of many of the bodies was impossible.

From the evidence, it was impossible to determine what exactly had transpired, but there was evidence of prolonged organized resistance (according to Indian and federal testimonies ). Several days after the battle, the young Crow scout Curley gave an account of the battle which indicated that Custer had attacked the village after crossing the river at the mouth of Medicine Tail Coulee and had been driven back across the river, retreating up the slope to the hill where his body was later found. This scenario seemed compatible with Custer's aggressive style of warfare, and with some of the evidence found on the ground, and formed the basis for many of the popular accounts of the battle.

[neferetus]

There are conflicting reports of Indian losses in the Custer/Reno fights. One source claims that 18 warriors died in the Custer fight, while another 12 fell in the Reno engagement. Including the wounded, the losses were not much over 100. The number of dead was determined by the number of teepees found standing after the battle. When an Indian died, his teepee became his final resting place, with all possessions left intact. The surviving widow was left homeless, until such time as she took another mate. There were 30 such teepees left behind by the departing Indians. While an interesting deduction, this is by no means the final word on the subject.

[Greg C.]

How long did it take the soldiers to tear down and rob the teepees?

[bubbabod]

Custer's intent, I think, was to wait for Terry to arrive from the north and catch the Indians between them. Their presence was discovered when a case of hardtack fell off one of the mules in the pack train. Custer's chief of scouts, Lt. Varnum, was led to the Crow's Nest from which the Indian scouts claimed they could see the village about 12 miles away. Custer made two trips to the Crow's Nest and wasn't able to make out anything. He was told by his scouts to look for what appeared to be worms on the banks of the high ground, which would be the huge pony herd, estimated to be as many as 20,000 horses. The village itself could not be seen because of the broken land, but this is what Custer could see:



Custer proceeded towards the Valley of the LBH, and the signs of a huge village became more and more apparent. They came across a "Lone Tepee" inside of which they found a dead warrior, one who was wounded eight days earlier when Crazy Horse led an attack at the battle of the Rosebud on Gen. Crook's 1000 or so men as they were having their morning coffee. The general area of the lone tepee is near the base of the bluff or slightly up the bluff:



Maj. Reno was ordered to attack the village in the valley and that he would be supported by the whole outfit. Benteen had been sent on his famous "scout too the left" while Custer continued making his way north looking for a place to ford the LBH River and either attack from the north or capture the noncombatants, forcing the Indians attacking Reno to give up their attack.
Reno formed a skirmish line, lost the upperhand, was basically outflanked and driven from the valley into the timber, where he tried to defend, but was driven from their and made a "charge" from the timber, across the LBH River and up the steep banks to a defensible position known as Reno Hill. Here's a picture showing where Reno and his 140 or so men made their crossing and scramble up the steep hills you see. Reno lost about 40 of his men in the valley fight. Sorry for the people in the picture. That's yours truly in the middle stooped over in the purple shirt and baseball hat on backwards:


Reno escaped to Reno Hill. There is a depression there where Dr. Porter set up his field hospital. It might not look like it, but this is a fairly small when you consider there were around 250 men and several hundred horses and mules in this area. The men dug rifle pits, which can still be seen today, and held out until Terry relieved them on the 26th, arriving as scheduled. Here's a view from Reno Hill looking down on the valley where the fight took place and Reno Crossing, where they crossed the river. I don't think it shows the river, but the skirmish line was formed about 100 yards in front of the red-roofed building. Chased into the timber and eventually up this hill:

[Greg C.]

Did you take those pics yourself?

[bubbabod]

Benteen arrived with his men about the same time as Reno and his men made it up the hill. Custer had sent two messages to Benteen, on the famous one carried by a trooper named Martini to come quick. Big village, Bring pacs. But Benteen felt he couldn't follow the order because the pack train was still miles behind them, and you can't come quick with the mules. Many think Benteen is as responsible for the disaster as Custer because he didn't come to Custer's aid.
Custer split his command into two wings and sent Companies E&F under Capt. Yates down Medicine Tail Coulee to possibly cross the river. It's unknown whether he wanted Yates to cross the river or if it was a reconnasaince or a feint intended to draw Gall and Crazy Horse from the valley fight. Yates and his men were met by gunfire and repelled from Medicine Tail Coulee. Some feel Custer led the attempted crossing and received his chest wound there. Most don't belieive that. This is MTC,and is where many of the Sioux and Cheyenne made their crossing to attack Custer. The sign shows Custer's men advancing down MTC, and on the bluff to the left, three Crow scouts firing down into the village:


Custer and about 40 of his men, including his brother Tom and nephew Boston and, fell and were found at what has become known as Last Stand Hill (LSH). It's enclosed by a fence now. Custer's marker is the black one:


In the picture above, about 40 men made a dash for the river near the end of the fight. Don't know if you can make it out, but there is a string of white markers leading from LSH diagonally from the center of the picture to what is known as "Deep Ravine." I'll see if I can find a better picture of the South Skirmish Line, as it is known, which leads from LSH to Deep Ravine. Many people believe Custer fell before these men who fell on the SSL and Deep Ravine. This is a view looking northeast up to LSH along the SSL:


One of the biggest mysteries of the LBH is what they call "The mystery of E Troop." After the fight, when Terry arrived and burial parties were sent out, there were 28 bodies found in Deep Ravine. Sometime later when parties were sent to retrieve the bodies for reburial, they couldn't be found and have never been found. Some say they were never there, that the soldiers were mistaken about where the 28 had been found originally. Modern digs have been done by archeologists using modern equipment, and the bodies have not been found. This is Deep Ravine:


Where Custer Fell, the monument at Last Stand Hill, taken at 8:55 PM:

[bubbabod]

Gentlemen, my bad. I referred to Boston Custer as the nephew of George and Tom. Boston was actually the younger brother. They did have a nephew there, Autie, whose marker is also within the fenced area along with his three uncles. Also killed about a mile away was Capt. Calhoun, who was their brother in law, having married their sister, Margaret.
I spout off a lot of things here from memory, forgetting things. Happens when you get old.

[Greg C.]

They say Little Bighorn battle field is a beatuiful place. I wanna visit it now...

[Bromhead24]

I have been there several times over tha last few years. have photos somewhere too.

All of the movies about the battle of little big horn has ALL of Custers men getting killed with the exception of "Son of the morning star"

[neferetus]

Lots of great info and photos, Bubbabob! Thanks a lot.

I guess the theory holds how people who are intertested in the Alamo are also interested in other 'last stand' historical events.

[bubbabod]

Re: The Battle of Little Bighorn
« Reply #12 on Today at 9:16am »

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Lots of great info and photos, Bubbabob! Thanks a lot.

I guess the theory holds how people who are intertested in the Alamo are also interested in other 'last stand' historical events

Nefer, there is a forum called "Against All Odds" that focuses on the Little Big Horn, but there's also a forum there on The Alamo. It's not terribly active anymore, but there's three of us who post fairly often. Also covers the Zulu war. I think you'd like it:

www.mohicanpress.com/messageboard2/default.asp?Group=4

[bubbabod]

Nefer, there's another good site you might like. It's a forum called "Against All Odds." It deals primarily with the Little Big Horn and also the Alamo and the Zulu war. It hasn't been terribly active lately because most of the members moved on to the History Channel forum or the Little Big Horn Associates forum. There's three or four of us left who post weely. Here's the site:

www.mohicanpress.com/messageboard2/default.asp?Group=4

[bubbabod]

Bromhead, I think most people who haven't studied the battle think that, like in the movie "They Died with their Boots on," that all of Custer's men were killed at Last Stand Hill. But that was only somewhat about one-third of his entire command. Custer had split his command by sending Benteen off with about 140 men on a scouting mission and to head off any Indians that might be fleeing that way, 140 or so with Reno, who was ordered to attack the south end of the village, and the pack train. I don't have the number off the top of my head, but I think there were somewhast over 300 men, plus a number of Indian scouts, that weren't with Custer, but were holed up on Reno Hill no more than four miles away from where Custer was killed.
I'm not sure who or what The Son of the Morning Star is you're talking about. That was what the Indians called Custer. And I think also the Cheyenne chief Dull Knife had that name also.
It's also incorrect that only Captl Keough's horse Comanche survived. Many of the 7th's horses survived and were taken by the Indians, including maybe Custer's own horse. There were army horses left on the field after the Indians moved on, but they were all put down by the soldiers except for Comanche because of who he belonged to.