why did the battle of little bighorn take place

Full Answer

What really happened at the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

The engagement was one in a series of battles and negotiations between Plains Indians and U.S. forces over control of Western territory, collectively known as the Sioux Wars. In less than an hour, the Sioux and Cheyenne had won the Battle of the Little Bighorn, killing Custer and every one of his men.

What caused the Battle of Little Bighorn?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn happened because the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie, in which the U.S. government guaranteed to the Lakota and Dakota (Yankton) as well as the Arapaho exclusive possession of the Dakota Territory west of the Missouri River, had been broken. How long did the Battle of the Little Bighorn last?

Who killed Custer at Little Bighorn?

In less than an hour, the Sioux and Cheyenne had won the Battle of the Little Bighorn, killing Custer and every one of his men. The battle has been ennobled as “Custer’s Last Stand”—but in truth, Custer and his men never stood a fighting chance. Custer’s early life was less than auspicious.

Who defeated Custer at Little Bighorn?

Who defeated Custer at Little Bighorn? On June 25, 1876, Native American forces led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeat the U.S. Army troops of General George Armstrong Custer in the Battle of the Little Bighorn near southern Montana’s Little Bighorn River.

Where was the Battle of the Little Bighorn fought?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought at the Little Bighorn River in southern Montana Territory, U.S.

Why did the Battle of the Little Bighorn happen?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn happened because the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie, in which the U.S. government guaranteed to the Lakota and Dako...

Why is the Battle of the Little Bighorn significant?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn is significant because it proved to be the height of Native American power during the 19th century. It was also th...

Who fought in the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought between U.S. federal troops, led by George Armstrong Custer, and Lakota and Northern Cheyenne warriors,...

How many people died in the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

All 210 U.S. soldiers who followed George Armstrong Custer into the Battle of the Little Bighorn were killed; Custer also died. There were about 50...

How many people died in the Battle of Little Bighorn?

All 210 U.S. soldiers who followed George Armstrong Custer into the Battle of the Little Bighorn were killed; Custer also died. There were about 50 known deaths among Sitting Bull ’s followers. Events leading up to the confrontation were typical of the irresolute and confusing policy of the U.S. government toward Native Americans.

How many soldiers were in the Sitting Bull battle?

Army intelligence had estimated Sitting Bull’s force at 800 fighting men; in fact, some 2,000 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors took part in the battle. Many of them were armed with superior repeating rifles, and all of them were quick to defend their families.

What happened to Custer's regiment at the Battle of Little Bighorn?

In fragmenting his regiment, Custer had left its three main components unable to provide each other support. As the Battle of the Little Bighorn unfolded, Custer and the 7th Cavalry fell victim to a series of surprises, not the least of which was the number of warriors that they encountered.

Why was the Battle of Little Bighorn important?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn is significant because it proved to be the height of Native American power during the 19th century. It was also the worst U.S. Army defeat during the Plains Wars.

How many soldiers were killed in the Battle of Custer?

Cut off by the Indians, all 210 of the soldiers who had followed Custer toward the northern reaches of the village were killed in a desperate fight that may have lasted nearly two hours and culminated in the defense of high ground beyond the village that became known as “Custer’s Last Stand.” The details of the movements of the components of Custer’s contingent have been much hypothesized. Reconstructions of their actions have been formulated using both the accounts of Native American eyewitnesses and sophisticated analysis of archaeological evidence (cartridge cases, bullets, arrowheads, gun fragments, buttons, human bones, etc.), Ultimately, however, much of the understanding of this most famous portion of the battle is the product of conjecture, and the popular perception of it remains shrouded in myth.

Which Indians were granted the right to own the Dakota Territory?

Although the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), in effect, had guaranteed to the Lakota and Dakota (Yankton) Sioux as well as the Arapaho Indians exclusive possession of the Dakota territory west of the Missouri River, white miners in search of gold were settling in lands sacred especially to the Lakota.

Where did Custer teach?

He holds his Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and taught in Kansas and... Below is the full article. For the article summary, see Battle of the Little Bighorn summary . Battle of the Little Bighorn, also called Custer’s Last Stand, (June 25, 1876), battle at the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory, U.S., ...

How long did the Custer fight last?

David Humphreys Miller, who between 1935 and 1955 interviewed the last Lakota survivors of the battle, wrote that the Custer fight lasted less than one-half hour.

What was Custer's field strategy?

Custer's field strategy was designed to engage non-combatants at the encampments on the Little Bighorn to capture women, children, and the elderly or disabled to serve as hostages to convince the warriors to surrender and comply with federal orders to relocate. Custer's battalions were poised to "ride into the camp and secure non-combatant hostages", and "forc [e] the warriors to surrender". Author Evan S. Connell observed that if Custer could occupy the village before widespread resistance developed, the Sioux and Cheyenne warriors "would be obliged to surrender, because if they started to fight, they would be endangering their families."

How many soldiers died in the 7th Cavalry?

The 7th Cavalry suffered 52 percent casualties: 16 officers and 242 troopers killed or died of wounds, 1 officer and 51 troopers wounded. Every soldier of the five companies with Custer was killed (except for some Crow scouts and several troopers that had left that column before the battle or as the battle was starting). Among the dead were Custer's brothers Boston and Thomas, his brother-in-law James Calhoun, and his nephew Henry Reed.

What was the 7th Cavalry?

The 7th Cavalry had been created just after the American Civil War. Many men were veterans of the war, including most of the leading officers. A significant portion of the regiment had previously served 4½ years at Fort Riley, Kansas, during which time it fought one major engagement and numerous skirmishes, experiencing casualties of 36 killed and 27 wounded. Six other troopers had died of drowning and 51 in cholera epidemics. In November 1868, while stationed in Kansas, the 7th Cavalry under Custer had successfully routed Black Kettle 's Southern Cheyenne camp on the Washita River in the Battle of Washita River, an attack which was at the time labeled a "massacre of innocent Indians" by the Indian Bureau.

How long did it take for the Custer Massacre to run?

Traveling night and day, with a full head of steam, Marsh brought the steamer downriver to Bismarck, Dakota Territory, making the 710 mi (1,140 km) run in the record time of 54 hours and bringing the first news of the military defeat which came to be popularly known as the "Custer Massacre.".

What was the name of the Indian encampment at the Battle of the Rosebud?

The Lone Teepee (or Tipi) was a landmark along the 7th Cavalry's march. It was where the Indian encampment had been a week earlier, during the Battle of the Rosebud on June 17, 1876. The Indians had left a single teepee standing (some reports mention a second that had been partially dismantled), and in it was the body of a Sans Arc warrior, Old She-Bear, who had been wounded in the battle. He had died a couple of days after the Rosebud battle, and it was the custom of the Indians to move camp when a warrior died and leave the body with its possessions. The Lone Teepee was an important location during the Battle of the Little Bighorn for several reasons, including:

How many Native Americans died in the Battle of the Plains?

W. H. Wood in 1877 that the Native Americans suffered 136 dead and 160 wounded during the battle. In 1881, Red Horse told Dr. C. E. McChesney the same numbers but in a series of drawings done by Red Horse to illustrate the battle, he drew only sixty figures representing Lakota and Cheyenne casualties. Of those sixty figures, only thirty-some are portrayed with a conventional Plains Indian method of indicating death. In the last 140 years, historians have been able to identify multiple Indian names pertaining to the same individual, which has greatly reduced previously inflated numbers. Today a list of positively known casualties exists that lists 99 names, attributed and consolidated to 31 identified warriors.

What was the most ferocious battle of the Sioux Wars?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn —also known as Custer’s Last Stand—was the most ferocious battle of the Sioux Wars. Colonel George Custer and his men never stood a fighting chance. The Battle of the Little Bighorn —also known as Custer’s Last Stand—was the most ferocious battle of the Sioux Wars. Colonel George Custer and his men never stood ...

What is the significance of the Lakota Sioux dance?

At the 10-year memorial of the Battle of Little Bighorn, unidentified Lakota Sioux dance in commemoration of their victory over the United States 7th Cavalry Regiment (under General George Custer), Montana, 1886.

How many bullets did Custer get?

Custer had suffered two bullet wounds, one near his heart and one in the head. It’s unclear which wound killed him or if the head wound happened before or after he died. In the heat of battle, it’s unlikely the warrior who shot Custer knew he’d just killed a U.S. Army icon.

What was the American reaction to the Battle of Little Big Horn?

The American reaction to Little Big Horn spelled doom for the Plains Indians. The Battle of the Little Big Horn didn’t end with the massacre of Custer and his men. The Native Americans quickly regrouped and pursued Reno’s and Benteen’s battalions. The troops fought until General Terry’s reinforcements finally arrived.

Where was Custer buried?

Custer was later disinterred and reburied at West Point. Other troops were also disinterred for private burials.

Why did the railroads kill buffalo?

In the hopes of squashing the livelihood of the Native American people on the Plains , the government allowed the railroads to kill scores of buffalo herds to lay railroad tracks. They also urged hunters to kill as many buffalo as possible without oversight and encouraged trains to stop so passengers could massacre buffalo for sport.

Why did the Plains get scarcer?

But after the Civil War, far-west land became scarcer and the U.S. government granted 10 percent of Plains land to settlers and railroads.

What brought the Battle of the Little Bighorn to a close?

The warriors quickly rushed to the top of the hill, dispatching the last of the wounded. Superior numbers and overwhelming firepower brought the Custer portion of the Battle of the Little Bighorn to a close.

What tribes were involved in the Battle of Little Bighorn?

The combatants were warriors of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, battling men of the 7 th Regiment of the US Cavalry. The Battle of the Little Bighorn has come to symbolize the clash of two vastly dissimilar cultures: the buffalo/horse culture of the northern plains tribes, and the highly industrial/agricultural based culture of the United States. This battle was not an isolated soldier versus warrior confrontation, but part of a much larger strategic campaign designed to force the capitulation of the nonreservation Lakota and Cheyenne.

What was General Terry's plan for the Indians?

On June 22, General Terry decided to detach Custer and his 7 th Cavalry to make a wide flanking march and approach the Indians from the east and south. Custer was to act as the hammer, and prevent the Lakota and their Cheyenne allies from slipping away and scattering, a common fear expressed by government and military authorities. General Terry and Colonel Gibbon, with infantry and cavalry, would approach from the north to act as a blocking force or anvil in support of Custer's far ranging movements toward the headwaters of the Tongue and Little Bighorn Rivers. The Indians, who were thought to be camped somewhere along the Little Bighorn River, "would be so completely enclosed as to make their escape virtually impossible."

How many men did Custer command at Wolf Mountain?

At the Wolf Mountain location, Custer ordered a division of the regiment into four segments: the pack train with ammunition and supplies, three companies (125 men) commanded by Captain Frederick Benteen, three companies (140 men) commanded by Major Marcus Reno and five companies (210 men) commanded by Custer.

What was the purpose of the Battle of Fort Laramie?

This battle was not an isolated soldier versus warrior confrontation, but part of a much larger strategic campaign designed to force the capitulation of the nonreservation Lakota and Cheyenne. In 1868, many Lakota leaders agreed to sign the Treaty of Fort Laramie. This treaty created a large reservation in the western half ...

What river did Reno's command cross?

Reno's now shattered command recrossed the Little Bighorn River and struggled up steep bluffs to regroup atop high ground to the east of the valley fight. Meanwhile, Captain Benteen had returned after finding no evidence of Indians or their movement to the south.

What did General Terry and Colonel Gibbon do?

General Terry and Colonel Gibbon, with infantry and cavalry, would approach from the north to act as a blocking force or anvil in support of Custer's far ranging movements toward the headwaters of the Tongue and Little Bighorn Rivers.

What tribes were involved in the Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull?

In 1875, after gold was discovered in South Dakota’s Black Hills, the U.S. Army ignored previous treaty agreements and invaded the region. This betrayal led many Sioux and Cheyenne tribesmen to leave their reservations and join Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse in Montana. By the late spring of 1876, more than 10,000 Native Americans had gathered in a camp along the Little Bighorn River–which they called the Greasy Grass—in defiance of a U.S. War Department order to return to their reservations or risk being attacked.

What was the Battle of Little Bighorn?

The Battle of the Little Bighorn—also called Custer’s Last Stand—marked the most decisive Native American victory and the worst U.S. Army defeat in the long Plains Indian War. The gruesome fate of Custer and his men outraged many white Americans and confirmed their image of the Native Americans as "wild.".

Who rallied the warriors and saw to the safety of the women and children?

The older Sitting Bull rallied the warriors and saw to the safety of the women and children, while Crazy Horse set off with a large force to meet the attackers head on. Despite Custer’s desperate attempts to regroup his men, they were quickly overwhelmed.

Who ordered Custer's 7th Cavalry to scout ahead?

A force of 1,200 Native Americans turned back the first column on June 17. Five days later, General Alfred Terry ordered Custer’s 7th Cavalry to scout ahead for enemy troops. On the morning of June 25, Custer drew near the camp and decided to press on ahead rather than wait for reinforcements.

Reservations

In 1868, fearing they would have to defend both the Bozeman Trail and transcontinental railway, the US government proposed peace. The Treaty of Fort Laramie created a large reservation for the Lakota in the western half of South Dakota, a region rich in buffalo, and closed the Bozeman Trail for good.

The Battle of Little Bighorn

In March 1876, 3 US forces set out to find and engage the Native Americans. They had little idea where or when they would encounter the 800-1,500 warriors they expected to meet.

A temporary victory

The Native American victory at Little Bighorn was certainly a significant act of collective resistance to US encroachment on their way of life. The battle demonstrated the strength of the Lakota and their allies, who suffered an estimated 26 casualties compared with roughly 260 of the 7th Cavalry.

Overview

Battle

Background

Prelude

Aftermath

Participants

Casualties

Legacy