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Understanding The Battle Of Little Bighorn

By Tammie Caldwell


American soil has experienced some of the greatest wars in history and some were won while others were lost in bloody battles characterized by several casualties. The battle of Little Bighorn is one such engagement that was lost utterly. The battle is currently known by various names including Battle of Greasy Grass and Custer Last Stand. The engagement involved the seventh Cavalry regiment of the American Army and united Native American tribes.

Little Bighorn River was the place where the battle happened in June 25th and 26th, 1976. Little Bighorn River is on the eastern side of what used to be the territory of Montana. This was the most prominent action of all actions in the Great Sioux War. The skirmish which began as a series of conflicts ended into a full blown Sioux War. This war was triggered by the encroaching settlers into the Native Indian-inhabited Great Plains.

The settlers caused Native Americans to be forced to move to ever reducing reservations. Whereas a majority of Native American accepted to relocate, others declined and decided to form a resistance to oppose the initiative. An alliance between Lakota and Cheyenne tribes was formed under the leadership of Sitting Bull. The alliance was called Sun Dance. Several thousand Indians who had initially accepted to relocate joined the alliance and a big army was formed.

Several war leaders from the Native American communities took part in this war including Crazy Horse and Chief Gall. The American Army lost its commander, George Custer along with his family members and several prominent officers. The alliance of Indian tribes obtained great success over the US forces and destroyed it utterly. Some historians approximate that the war lasted only thirty minutes.

The exact facts about the battle remain largely unknown and the little that is known is very debatable. The official number of casualties on the US side is placed at 268 soldiers dead and fifty five injured. The lack of exact account of this war is hugely attributed to the fact that many officers from the US Army died in the engagement. Native Indians have since then given contradicting accounts.

The commanding officer, George Custer has received criticism for several errors and miscalculations. He overrated his forces against the enemy and refused to accept Gatling guns for to reinforce his troops. His decision to divide his forces into three units made it easier to defeat too. Generally speaking, huge false assumptions characterized the engagement and destined it for certain loss on the side of the American forces.

The place where the engagement occurred has been turned into a national monument. Soldiers who fell on the battlefield were reburied in a mass grave at the site. Various artists have featured the engagement in various artistic works like video games, music, radio programs, paintings, , TV shows, and film.

Reconstruction of the seventh Cavalry regiment has been done since the war. Positions have been filled. The Indian resistance has also been thwarted and restricted to reservations. Some historians have praised Custer for his actions and decisions in the engagement.




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