The Battle of Little Big Horn started when the gold rush sent many settlers and prospectors through the Bozeman Trail. This trail crossed the Sioux Territory in the Great Plains region. This provoked conflict between the Sioux and the settlers, who were trying to reach the mining districts. Many of the settlers in search if this gold started to complain about the Indians. The federal Government attempted to negotiate with the Sioux at Fort Laramie in 1866. The Sioux did not like this idea and broke away. During the next few years, the Sioux would regularly attack the travelers and nearby settlements along the Bozeman Trail. Again in 1868, the government met with the Sioux at Fort Laramie again and made a treaty. This treaty closed the Bozeman Trail and provided a new reservation in the Black Hills in the Dakota Territory.
             Many of the Sioux were not happy with this new treaty. Particularly unhappy, were the Sioux leaders, Sitting Bull and Crazy horse. But however they stayed near the Bozeman Trail. Then, in 1874 gold was found in the boundaries if the Sioux's reservation in the Black Hills. This brought white prospectors into the Sioux territory. Many of the Sioux left to join Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse back at the Bozeman Trail.
             In 1876 the United States army planned a campaign against the hostile Native Americans. General Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his regiment of 655 men formed a force under General Alfred Howe Terry. Then on June 25th Custer's scouts located the Sioux on the Little Bighorn River and prepared to attack. Custer's regiment was unaware of the strength of the Native Americans. The Native American's had between 2500 and 4000 men. Custer was supposed to join Terry at the junction of the Bighorn and the Little Bighorn rivers, but he disregarded this arrangement. He had a plan to surround the Native Americans and attack with a full-frontal assault. His force wa
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