The Battle of Little Big Horn was known as Custer's Last Stand. It was the most famous Indiana battle in American history. The battle was at the Little Big Horn River in what is now the state of Montana.
General George Custer was commanding the expedition and he was on a mission
to force Sioux and Cheyenne Indians off of the plains and back to their reservations.
Gold had been found in the Black Hills and the white men wanted the land and gold for themselves.
On June 25, 1876, General Custer's command came upon the main camp of Sitting Bull. Custer and his five companies charged the thickest part while Major Reno with seven companies attacked on the other side. The soldiers were held off and a slaughter was the result.
Gibbons command coming up behind Custer and Reno, for reinforcement, showed up and the Indians left. The number of killed is stated at 300 and the wounded at 31.
Two hundred and seven men are said to have been buried in one place. The list of killed includes seventeen commissioned officers.
On July 6, at the headquarters of Lieutenant General Sheridan, all was bustle and confusion over the reported massacre of Custer's command. Telegrams were being constantly received. Most of them were of a confidential nature and withheld from publication. One dispatch said "the unfortunate command broke camp on the North Rosebud on June 22, for the purpose of proceeding in a direction which would bring it to the bloody fight". It was said that "General Custer was directed by General Terry to find and get a feel of the Indians. But, not to fight unless General Terry arrived with infantry and with Gibbon's troup."
The Battle of Little Big Horn was stirring years before the battle bagan. It was coming to a head in 1876. On February 1, 1876, the Secretary of War was notified that the Indians refused to return to the reservations and were presumed hostile. From that time on, they were to be dealt with by the military offi...