The Battle of Little Bighorn: Overview

The Story of the Battle: Causes of Warfare | The Expedition Against the Native Tribes | Native American Movements and Their First Conflict With the Troops | Custer's Troops Take to the Trail | Custer Divides His Command, and Reno Engages the Native Americans | Custer's Last Battle | Reno Battle Renewed by the Native Americans | The March of Generals Terry and Gibbon and Their Arrival at the Battleground | The Return to Bismarck | The Story of the Failed Attack Released |

The Battle of the Little Bighorn River, on June 25-26, 1876, was one of the last important instances of courageous resistance by the Native American people to the advance of white occupation. This fight was the principal one in the war whereby the Northern Cheyenne and several tribes of Sioux, were oppressed by the occupying force.

The battle consisted of two entirely separate aggressive actions. The first, in the valley, was conducted under the leadership of US Major Reno, whose troops retreated before an overwhelming number of Native American warriors and took refuge on the bluffs across the river where, joined by Captain Benteen's force, they defended themselves until the Native American withdrew. In the other action fought nearly 5 miles away, in the vicinity of what is now the monument headquarters, five troops of the Seventh Cavalry under Custer's personal command were overwhelmed by Native American warriors fighting for their homeland. This was 'Custer's Last Battle'.