In November 1868, the Great Sioux chieftain Red Cloud agreed to sign a treaty with the United States. Red Cloud agreed to relocate the Sioux to Montenegro, the territory of Dakota, which was a sacred site for the tribe. However, some Sioux factions refused to migrate, especially since later white settlers often encroached on lands that had been promised to the Sioux and other Indian tribes such as cheyenne and Arapaho. Together with the mad horses, the sitting bulls, and the Soviets led by other chiefs, they resisted the provisions of the treaty. However, the discovery of gold in Montenegro in 1874 accelerated the pace of white invasions.
In the summer of 1876, in order to eliminate the threat of white immigration, the U.S. army did not hesitate to force some Indian rebels to comply. A cavalry and infantry unit commanded by George Crook and General Alfred Terry, as well as Colonel John Gibbon, was sent to the Montana area. Their plan was to trap the Indians, either to eliminate them or to force them to retreat to their settlements. The picture shows the main weapon at that time.
In mid-June, Crook suspended his attack and regrouped, while Terry and Gibbon traveled to the BigHorn and Little Horn Valleys in hopes of continuing their trapping of the Indians. The Seventh Cavalry Regiment, led by Lieutenant Colonel George Custer, continued along Rosebad Creek. Pictured is George Kast.
Before Custer set out, Terry had proposed to equip him with the Gatling machine gun squad of the Twentieth Infantry Regiment. But Custer refused, saying the machine guns would slow down his march. Later, Terry offered to have two other cavalry units accompany him. Custer refused, confidently stating that the Seventh Cavalry regiment would be able to handle any trouble that might arise. The picture shows the Seventh Cavalry Regiment.
On the morning of June 25, Custer discovered a huge Indian camp by the Little BigHorn River. He then divided his less than 700 soldiers into four groups, an approach that could be problematic in itself. In addition, he was worried that he would not be able to achieve the effect of the surprise attack, so he abandoned the plan of the next day's attack and impulsively ordered an immediate attack. Pictured is the Springfield Type 1873 carbine.
Major Marcus Renault, with 177 men, made his first contact with the enemy, was attacked by a powerful Indian force, and was forced to retreat to the hillside. Shortly after the engagement, Custer sent his 5 companies to the other end of the Indian camp. The mad horses turned around and surrounded the enemy, and they had to push north. Meanwhile, 115 soldiers led by Captain Frederick Bennett joined Renault in response to the attack. After another day of fighting, the soldiers had to retreat. Custer engaged the enemy in a fierce battle and was eventually annihilated at a height 5 km from the Renault position. The picture shows the Mad Horse, the leader of the Indians.
In this battle, 260 soldiers and militiamen were killed on Custer's side, including Castor himself. The battle later became known as "Custer's Last Battle". In addition to this, at least 55 soldiers were wounded. On the Indian side, 130 people were killed and 160 injured. Although they had the upper hand in the Battle of the Little Horn River, within a year the Indians were defeated.