The Battle of the Little Big Horn

1868 Lakota leaders agreed to Fort Laramie Treaty created a large reservation in the western half of present day South Dakota. give up nomadic life- led to conflict with other tribes, settlers, and railroad surveys Agreeing to the treaty meant accepting a more stationary life, and relying on government supplied subsidies accept more stationary life and rely on government supplied subsidies Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse rejected reservations many roving bands of hunters and warriors did not sign treaty

1874 Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer Lackluster cadet and poor student at West Point July 1861, placed in command of a cavalry unit as a second lieutenant “Custer’s Luck” Custer was ordered to make an exploration of the Black Hills inside Great Sioux Reservation map the area, locate suitable site for military post, natural resources gold discovered invasion of miners and entrepreneurs to Black Hills direct violation of the Fort Laramie Treaty The U.S. negotiated with the Lakota to purchase the Black Hills rejected by Lakota. Winter 1875, Commissioner of Indian Affairs issued ultimatum requiring all Sioux to report to a reservation by January 31, 1876 No response

1876 General Philip Sheridan commander of the Military Division of the Missouri strategy sending several thousand troops to engage “hostile” Natives- force return to Great Sioux Reservation. March, 1876, Montana column (450) commanded by Colonel John Gibbon, marched out of Fort Ellis (Bozeman, Montana) May 1876, second force (1,000) commanded by General George Crook, from Fort Fetterman (central Wyoming) third force (879) commanded by General Alfred Terry, marched from Fort Abraham Lincoln, Bismarck, Dakota Territory bulk of this force was the 7th Cavalry, commanded by Custer.

June 1876 General Terry detached 7th Cavalry to make a wide flanking march and approach the Indians from the east and south; scout for enemies Custer given scouting report that cavalry’s presence was detected Believed element of surprise was gone June 25, 1876, Custer didn’t wait on reinforcements; him and 600 men entered the Little Bighorn Valley Roughly 1500-1800 warriors Custer’s battalion of 210 quickly subdued within an hour

Outcomes momentary victory for Natives General Sheridan put more troops in the field; increased efforts to subdue Indians hunting grounds were invaded by the Army confine the Lakota and Cheyenne to reservations "hostiles" surrendered within one year of the battle Black Hills were taken by the U.S. without compensation Within five years, nearly all Sioux and Cheyenne would be in reservations