Custers Last Stand: Little Bighorn Battlefield

Little Bighorn Battlefield is the site where U.S. soldiers where greatly defeated by a group of northern plains Indians who were trying to resist life on reservations. Known as Custer's Last Stand, this story has been shared in history classes, in books, and among friends and families around the country for years because it is considered one of the most important fights, over land literally and over power and respect fundamentally, that took place between the government and Native Americans. Little Bighorn Battlefield was created into a National Cemetery on January 29, 1879 and became a National Monument on March 22, 1946.

The Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne settled in the Black Hills because they considered the area sacred, and because the amount of buffalo would support their lifestyle for a long time. As gold was discovered in 1852, white miners and settlers began heading west in large numbers taking over land and food in areas already inhabited by Indians. This created enormous tension between the two groups and Indians attacked many immigrants in protest. In 1868, after fights escalated, the government decided that a treaty was necessary to cease tension, thus designating most of the land U.S. property and creating the Great Sioux Reservation. Some Sioux and Cheyenne Indians did not sign the treaty and continued to roam free. In 1875 the government made an ultimatum that all free-roaming Indians had to be within the reservation by January of the following year or they would be forced there. In May of 1876 three columns of U.S. armed forces advanced toward the Black Hills from three different directions to seek out Sioux and Cheyenne Indians that were not abiding.

The Battle of Little Bighorn took place from June 25-26, 1876 above the valley of Little Bighorn River. Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer, a former Civil War fighter, and the 7th cavalry arrived from North Dakota and were the only soldiers to find and fight the entire group of free-roaming Indians. From a scouting post named Crow's Nest on the morning of June 25th, U.S. scouts found a group of Indians led by Chief Sitting Bull gathering toward the west. Sitting Bull was a Sioux leader who resisted reservation life and supported the traditional ways of life but did not actually participate in battle. Custer underestimated the skills of the Indians and attacked the group immediately in fear that they would escape. He split his regiment of 586 troops into three groups. The two reserve groups supposedly heard the battle but mistook the sound of gunshots as Custer making progress. Custer and 210 of his men, however, lost their lives to over 1500 Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians; their bodies were found on and around Last Stand Hill. No more than 100 Indians lost their lives.

After their victory, Indians looked forward to leading free lives. The following winter threatened them again with many battles until Crazy Horse, one of the key warriors, and 900 followers finally surrendered because they were told they would be given blankets, food, and clothing if they did so. The great irony of the battle in the end was despite their victory the Northern Plains Indians still lost their way of life.

The historical and emotional power that this site shares with its visitors makes it an important stop when traveling either to or from Big Sky. The monument lies on Interstate 90 within the Crow Indian Reservation in Crow Agency, Montana. It is also the mid point between the Black Hills and Yellowstone on US 212. Billings Logan International Airport is just 65 miles to the northwest.