Little Big Horn

A five hour drive north west of Rapid City is the battle site of The Little Big Horn. Its also called Custers Last Stand. This was one of our main objectives when we decided to come to this area before heading south. But, after driving through flat prairie like this for 5 hours we had run out of coffee and my butt was asleep. Finally we got there. The price we pay to keep you informed!

I'm afraid, much as you may already know, a history lesson will follow. In June, 1876, approximately 7000 indians, including around 2000 warriors have set up camp in the field in front of us. The tree line follows the Little Big Horn river. Led by Sitting Bull, a number of different tribes have left their reservations to return to their traditional nomadic life. Note the monument on the far hill.

When the native camp is spotted by Custer, instead of waiting for reinforcements, he decides to attack before they can escape. Instead of fleeing as expected, the warriors turn and attack. Vastly outnumbered and having split his force to attempt to surround the natives, the cavalry is driven back to Last Stand Hill. The tree line in the distance is the Little Big Horn river and just beyond that is where the native camp was set up.

Each of Custers separated battalions attempt to get back to Custers forces but are cut off and killed. I know its hard to see but white markers indicate where each soldier fell and they are spread all over the area below.

There are nearly 250 headstones like these spread over the battlefield which was over 2 miles long.

The area above is Last Stand Hill. It was here that Custer and his men shot their horses to use as shields against the Indian gun fire. The warriors would sneak up in the prairie grass, shoot and duck down making difficult targets. 

Few warriors died during the fighting but where the identity of a fallen warrior is known, a red marker has been placed. Its is thought that about 100 warriors died that day.

There is even a Canadian connection to the battle. Using modern CSI methods, the body at the gravestone on the right has been identified as a scout who was French Canadian.

In this ravine, 28 soldiers died while trying to return to the main force. They were on foot and were being chased by warriors. They were shot as they tried to climb up the far side. Talk about terrifying.

As the separate groups of cavalry were wiped out more and more warriors moved to attack Last Stand Hill where Custer made his last stand. Eventually all firing ceased and the warriors mutilated and stripped the soldiers. 

Except for Custer and a few officers, all of the bodies were buried here and this marker placed above them. 250 men died, not all were soldiers, there were some civilians as well as guides and mule skinners. 

Nearby, all the horses were buried in a big pit and marked with their own headstone. The only cavalry survivor of the battle was the horse Comanche, not Custer's horse as we have been lead to believe. This battle guaranteed the fate of the indians because the full weight of the US government was brought to bear to eliminate their threat.