Battle of Little Big Horn

Reference mark

In 1874, George Armstrong Custer leads a forwarding of exploration of Black Hills (Montana/Dakota), in the reserve of the Sioux Lakotas and discovers gold bearing layers there. The authorities initially try to dam up the wave of the gold diggers, before seeking to buy Black Hills with the Indians. In September 1875, the negotiations with the Sioux fail. In November the Terry general launches an ultimatum at December 31st to drive out them of their territory, by the force so necessary. In spring 1876, several columns converge towards the Indians.

The battle

After the failure of the General Crook with the battle of Rosebud on June 17th, the lieutenant-colonel George Armstrong Custer (general by patent in 1865) led the attack of a camp of Indians Sioux and Cheyennes of approximately 6000 people (including 1500 warriors). The Indians are carried out by the chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

Custer divides its forces in order to attack several sides at the same time: the commander Reno with 3 companies or squadrons (cies has, G and M = 170 people), the captain Benteen with 3 squadrons (cies D, H and K = 125 sea-green), Custer with 5 squadrons (cies E, F, C, I and L = 216 sea-green). Having to remain with the back with the ammunition, the McDougall captain has a squadron (sea-green Co B).

Its plan (according to the Bugle Martini): to encircle the Indian camp by attacking it since the south (Reno), the center (Benteen) and north (Custer itself). The train of ammunition must progress at its rate/rhythm, independently.

15:20

The battle starts whereas the companies of Reno go down in the small valley and take a formation in line known as of skirmish line . The Indians are taken by surprise, but go to the meeting of Reno which attacks them in the valley. During this time, Custer skirts the hills to take the village on its side. The two forces then do not have any more any visual contact. Towards 15:50, major Reno has the exposed left side and starts to be made overflow on the back. It thus orders with its riders to go back in saddle and to be withdrawn in the underwood in order to consolidate its right side. On the other hand, the trees prevent the riders from positioning in an ordered way. The warriors then charge the riders in disorder through wood. Reno is submerged, it panics while ordering with its men to ride a horse, to put foot at ground then to go up… Confusion settles and it then gives the order of the retirement while moving to the top of the hill. Its men try to follow it but Reno did not leave any force of cover or back guard in order to cover its precipitated retirement. This causes a rout and 40 soldiers are killed and 13 wounded by the Indians, carried out by the chiefs Two Moon, Crazy Horse and Crow King.

16:10

Custer reaches a hillock close to the village. It needs to recognize the ground and to find a ford to ensure the future offensive of the Benteen captain, in the center. Besides it sends a messenger ordering to Benteen to quickly join it and to bring with him of the cases of transportable ammunition by the riders (" bring packs"). The train of mule advances always independently in the device.

16:20

Custer divided its battalion into two wings: the left wing, under its command, includes/understands the companies E and F, which will have to go to recognize the ford with the bottom of Medicine Tail Coulee. The right wing, under the command of the Keogh captain, must protect the operation by engaging a band from assembled Indians returned from a shooting party and visible in the North-East of Medicine Tail Coulee. The made recognition, the regiment gathers complete on Calhoun Hill, in the North-West. Custer develops the continuation of its plan: the right wing of Keogh is always spread on the peak in line of skirmish, while Custer and the left wing recognize a second ford (North Ford), with an aim of launching an attack of surrounding. According to all probabilities, Custer believes always committed Reno.

During this time, the Benteen captain makes his junction with major Reno on a hill what will become today the Reno-Benteen Battlefield . Made indignant of the inaction of Reno, the Weir captain and his men will try to go to the meeting of Custer to 16:50. They will remain 45 minutes without being constant. Major Reno and the Benteen captain will join them at 6 p.m., whereas Custer and its men are about to be destroyed and, without their carrying help, will make retirement on Reno Hill, of fear of being located by the Indian forces.

17:30 - 18h20

The Indians, under the command of the chief cheyenne Blade White Man, carry out the offensive. The left wing of Custer is broken close to Deep Ravine where it had established a perimeter of defense. Overflowed on its side, the right wing crumbles in its turn with 17:50, after more than one hour of combat with 1 against 5, on an unfavourable ground with the dismounted cavalry. The last square of American riders succumbs to 18:20 after fierce combats (this episode will become legendary under the name of " Last resistance of Custer" , Custer' S Last Stand).

to 200 died on the battle field, without counting deaths by wound. All in all, 7th of cavalry showed half of its 647 men out of combat (killed/wounded) and the Indians of America approximately 1/3 from their 1 ' 500 warriors engageables.

This battle had a great repercussion in the American public opinion, and led to the massacre of the Wounded Knee Creek, fourteen years later.

Quotations

General-in-chief of the American army (1895-1903) Nelson A. Miles: " The more I study the movements here (with Little Big Horn) and the more I have admiration for Custer."

Soldier William Taylor, 7th of cavalry, veteran of the battle: " (the major) Reno proved its incompetence and (the captain) Benteen showed its indifference. I would not use the uglier words of which I so often thought. Both gave up Custer and it had to fight all seul."

Chief Sioux White Bull: " It was a hard combat, very dur."

Chief Gall Sioux: " (...) the two camps are bravely battus."

Chief Sioux Sitting Bull: " There were as well doubts about the exit of the battle as I ordered with the squaws to dismount the tipis and to prepare with of aller."

Chief Sioux Sitting Bull: " Custer was a brave chief. The Indians respected it and did not scalpé it. I will answer for deaths of my people. Mine said that I was right. Let us let thePale ones make in the same way of their côté."

Historian Gregory F. Michno (1997): " The survivors of Reno and Benteen had good back to perpetuate the idea that the last combat of Custer was short. It was not in the interests of the army or those of the officers of career to say that they had trailed during two hours, whereas Custer fought with mort."

One of the most discussed files history of the United States

The defeat of Custer is surrounded by controversy and divides the community of the historians.

Several officers (whose supreme leader of the American army in person, the general Miles) and civilians will be indignant at the behavior of Benteen and of Reno who did not carry assistance to the men of Custer. Before a board of inquiry in 1879, the latter affirmed that it would have been suicidal to try to join the 5 companies of Custer, a judgment now discussed. Certain historians, as well as the last study of David Cornut appeared in France in 2006, show, evidence with the support, Reno and Benteen to have deliberately given up Custer and considers them guilty military treason.

These charges against Reno are not shared by E.A. Brininstool for example. For some, Reno was already in a Shell-shock as of the combat led in the underwood making it thus not-operational in zone of combat.

Other authors finally reject the responsibility for the disaster on Custer (a very discussed judgment, which makes run much ink).

Little Big Horn (Custer' S Last Stand) in the American culture

Little Big Horn occupies a great place in the American culture. It is estimated that on average, a thousand of books devoted to engagement and/or its actors leave each year to the United States. The theater, the cinema and the media paper contributed to the world-famous personality of Custer, Sitting Bull and " the last bataille". For the most known films, one can quote " the fantastic Load " , with Errol Flynn, " Custer the man of Ouest" , with Robert Shaw, " Strong Apache " , a metaphor of Little Big Horn with John Wayne and Henry Founded or " Little Big Man ", with Dustin Hoffman. Little Big Horn is also used as historical reference in films like " the Last Samurai " , with Tom Cruise, " We were soldiers " , with Mel Gibson, " Windtalkers ", with Nicolas Cage or " the night with the museum " , with Ben Stiller. One finds this reference in " on television; Doctor Quinn, lady doctor " , " Over There ", " Into the West " or " Deadwood ". One finds the Custer general in more than 600 films.

To measure the impact of Little Big Horn and the Custer general in unconscious American, it should be known that George Armstrong Custer is the American personality on which the most books were to date published, in front of the president Abraham Lincoln, and whom one frequently says that it acquired with Little Big Horn a kind of immortality, making of him an American symbol (the concept of " to rise and battre" , to stand and fight, remains related to Custer). The engagement of June 25th, 1876 is also the second American battle most studied after that of Gettysburg.

Although the battle is generally called Little Big Horn, the majority of the Americans know it only under the name of Dernière resistance of Custer (Custer' S Last Stand). Until 1991, the battle field itself was called " battle field of Custer". In 2003, a monument in honor of the Indian warriors was inaugurated by an indirect descendant of Custer and the descendants of Sitting Bull and other chiefs of Little Big Horn.

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