Custer's Last Stand: Little Bighorn
George Armstrong Custer Died here, but his legend lives on.
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Gravestones mark the last stand of
Custer and his men. |
Like the battle at the Alamo, the one fought at the Little Bighorn has entered the realm where history and legend merge. The basic facts are these: on June 25, 1876, seventh U.S. Cavalry troops commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer came upon history's largest known encampment of Indians beside the Little Bighorn River. In the battle that followed, Custer and all the men with him—more than 260—were wiped out by the Sioux warriors of Chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse as well as Cheyenne warriors. Ironically, the Native Americans' victory hastened their own downfall, as Custer's loss motivated the U.S. government to move even more aggressively against the Indians.
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Custer never died. | |
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In a sense, Custer never died. Scores of books and movies have been dedicated to his "Last Stand," and even today the battlefield site is the subject of controversy. Through the 1980s, the National Monument was called the Custer Battlefield, and events were interpreted in favor of Custer and his men. In 1991 the Park Service changed the name to Little Bighorn Battlefield to introduce a more balanced interpretation of events. A memorial planned to commemorate the Indians who died in the battle promises a neutral interpretation, although its critics charge that it tips the scale too far the other way.
At the visitor center, videos and exhibits explain the battle. Within walking distance are Last Stand Hill—where Custer died—and Custer National Cemetery. The drive on Battlefield Road from Last Stand Hill traces Custer's final movements in reverse, and marble markers along the route commemorate fallen soldiers. The road ends at the Reno-Benteen Battlefield, where Custer's rear guard were able to hold off the Sioux.
Little Bighorn Battlefield is 54 miles east of Billings off I-90. It's open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, with hours varying seasonally. There is an admission charge in summer. For information, call (406) 638-2622; website www.nps.gov/libi. For Montana visitor information, call (800) 847-4868.
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