Custer’s last stand: The shocking truth behind America’s greatest military disaster
It was supposed to be a swift victory. Instead, it became one of the most crushing defeats in U.S. military history.On June 25–26, 1876, the rolling hills of Montana Territory became the stage for a dramatic and deadly encounter between the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment and an alliance of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. What followed would go down in legend as the Battle of the Little Bighorn—or, as Native Americans remember it, the Battle of the Greasy Grass.
The Background: Tensions on the Plains
By the mid-1870s, tensions between Native American tribes and the United States government were at a boiling point. Despite treaties guaranteeing the Black Hills to the Sioux under the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), the discovery of gold in the region brought a flood of prospectors. The U.S. government, eager to exploit the area’s wealth, pressured Native leaders to cede their sacred lands—demands that were categorically rejected by prominent chiefs like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
In early 1876, the U.S. Army launched a campaign to force the "hostile" tribes onto reservations. One of the units tasked with this was the famed 7th Cavalry, led by the flamboyant and controversial Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer.
The Plan and the Fatal Mistakes
The Army’s plan involved a three-pronged offensive to trap Native forces in southeastern Montana. Custer’s regiment was to approach from the east, while General Alfred Terry and Colonel John Gibbon would come from other directions to encircle the enemy. But Custer—impatient and confident—decided to move faster than expected.
On June 25, 1876, Custer located a large Native encampment along the Little Bighorn River. Despite being warned about the size of the opposing force (estimated between 1,500 and 2,500 warriors), Custer chose to attack immediately rather than wait for reinforcements.
Crucially, he split his command into three parts—one under Captain Frederick Benteen, one under Major Marcus Reno, and one under himself. This decision would prove disastrous.
The Battle Unfolds
Reno’s Attack: Reno’s men struck the southern end of the village but were quickly overwhelmed by fierce Native resistance. They retreated across the river and took up a defensive position on the bluffs, suffering heavy casualties in the process.
Benteen’s Delay: Benteen, ordered to scout the left flank, later regrouped with Reno but did not proceed to reinforce Custer directly—possibly due to unclear orders or the rapidly deteriorating situation.
Custer’s Last Stand: Meanwhile, Custer led approximately 210 men in an attempt to attack the village’s northern flank. They were met with a swift and overwhelming counterattack. Within an hour, every soldier under Custer’s direct command was dead. The last stand occurred on what is now known as Last Stand Hill, where Custer and his men were surrounded and annihilated.
The Native Victory
The Native coalition, led by chiefs such as Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Gall, had successfully defended their land and people. The victory sent shockwaves across the United States, coming just as Americans were celebrating their centennial.
But the triumph was short-lived. The U.S. government responded with overwhelming military force, and within a year, most of the major Native leaders had surrendered or been killed. The Battle of the Little Bighorn marked the beginning of the end of the Indian Wars on the Northern Plains.
The Legacy
For Native Americans, the battle remains a symbol of resistance, courage, and the defense of their sovereignty and way of life. For many Americans, it has become a cautionary tale about hubris and the cost of underestimating one's enemy.
The site of the battle is now preserved as the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, where visitors can walk the land, see the markers of where soldiers and warriors fell, and reflect on a complex and tragic chapter of American history.
A Story of Two Narratives
What makes the Battle of the Little Bighorn so compelling even today is the duality of its memory:
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For some, it is the story of Custer’s bold (if reckless) final stand—a heroic, if doomed, defense of civilization.
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For others, it is the story of Indigenous defiance and dignity in the face of broken treaties and violent expansionism.
In truth, it is both—and more.
Quick Facts
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Date: June 25–26, 1876
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Location: Near the Little Bighorn River, Montana Territory
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Combatants: U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment vs. Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, Arapaho
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U.S. Casualties: Over 260 dead
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Native Casualties: Estimated 40–100
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Victor: Native American forces
