Battle of Little Bighorn: 150 Years of Mystery and Controversy

The Battle of Little Bighorn, fought on June 25-26, 1876, remains one of the most famous and controversial military engagements in American history. It pitted the U.S. Army's Seventh Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer against Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne warriors led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The battle lasted barely a day but resulted in the deaths of Custer and all 210 men under his direct command. Native Americans call it the Battle of Greasy Grass, while popular media dubbed it Custer's Last Stand. The conflict arose from broken treaties, particularly the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, and a gold rush in the Black Hills. Custer, a flamboyant and controversial figure, had lobbied to lead the expedition despite President Grant's opposition. The Sioux village, swollen to some 7,000 people including over 2,000 warriors, overwhelmed Custer's divided forces. The aftermath saw the Sioux forced onto reservations, with Crazy Horse killed in 1877 and Sitting Bull assassinated in 1890. Custer's posthumous reputation has fluctuated, depicted as hero in films like 'They Died with Their Boots On' (1941) and as madman in 'Little Big Man' (1970). The battle's exact events remain debated due to the lack of survivors from Custer's battalion.