It’s going to be another beautiful sunny day and 83 degrees. We headed over to Big Little Bighorn Battle Field around 10:00 am. It was only 6 miles down the road.
We watched a movie at the Visitor Center and toured the museum. After which one of the docents gave an amazing oral presentation of Custer and the 7th Calvary’s battle.
Things I learned: In April of 1868 the Fort Laramie Treaty was signed forcing all the Plains Indians to give up their land and move to the Great Sioux Reservations by January 31, 1876. Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse of the Lakota Tribe refused to sign the treaty. In 1875 the Lakota would not sell the Black Hills. But gold had been discovered there and the US government wanted it as they could see how prosperous it was. They wanted to get rid of the Indians. In the spring of 1876 the Indians followed the buffalo and were living in Unceded Territory. The miners came and ignored the Treaty also.
FYI - In 1843 the Oregon Trail opened and the Civil War took place 1861-1865.
So in in the spring of 1876 General Custer and the 7th Calvary under General Terry were sent to get rid of the Indians. 42 percent of the 7th Calvary were foreign born seeking their fortune and to help settle the west.
The battle ensued June 25-26, 1876 when Custer spied an Indian encampment near Little Bighorn River. The company split their separate ways with specific instructions to attack by General Henry. It was thought that Custer planned to attack the village and keep the women and children hostage; forcing the Indian warriors to surrender. But the Calvary was surrounded by many Indians leading to Custer’s Last Stand and eventual death. The other parties under Reno and Bendeen retreated.
Eventually in 1877 Sitting Bull lead a band into Canada but they were forced to return when faced with hunger and starvation.
So we toured the hill of Custer’s Last Stand and rode our Spyder on the Battlefield Tour.
2025-02-08