Battle Stack: Battle of the Little Bighorn (Custer's last stand)
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The battle of the Little Bighorn was fought in 1876 in the Montana territory. In 1874 Gold was discovered in the Black Hills which fell within the territory of the Sioux Reservation. A Government offer to buy the black hills was rejected, but prospectors began arriving. US soldiers were sent to attack any Natives not on the reservation. Sitting Bulls camp was by the Little Bighorn River, and not on the reservation, when it was spotted by US soldiers...what happened next? Find out in this animated tactics video!
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Custer had 647 soldiers, officers, and scouts. Approximately 175 went with Reno (including nearly all of the scouts, white and native), 115 with Benteen, 220 with Custer, and 140 with the pack train.
Crazy Horse did not attack from the behind of any of Custer’s position. Nor did he sweep from the north. Crazy Horse did cross the river ahead of Custer’s advance north from Medicine Tail Coulee/Nye-Cartwright Ridge, but somewhere between Calhoun Hill and Custer Hill. He went up the slope and crossed the ridge, taking up positions east of Company I, which was likely in a reserve posture but facing east. Crazy Horse then went on a “bravery run,” cutting through gaps in the soldier lines (likely between L and I, possibly I and C as well), returning unharmed. He then stated he would do this again, but not return to the positions in the east. Warriors followed him, and it broke the soldier’s resolve. Most headed north toward Custer Hill, some tried to go to Company L to the south, and a few just ran any which way to escape. Attrition has whittled L down, and depending on your theory du jour, Company C was either split by platoons and one was extending L’s line onto Finley-Finckle Ridge, and another was with Company I.
Regardless, C-I-L was a bigger force than E-F, and it was shattered and destroyed. Perhaps 20 made it to Custer Hill out of 130, and the game was up.
I knew right away that the video was wrong about the strength of the 7th calvary.
@El Crab -- very nice and detailed comment. I would say two things. First if you check, on the morning of the Little Bighorn battle, Lt. Col. Custer had with him the 7th U.S. Cavalry which had 31 officers and +/- 566 enlisted soldiers; about 12 - 15 civilian mule packers and quartermaster employees, 35 Indian scouts (6 Crows, the rest mostly Arikaras), and the newspaper reporter Mark Kellogg (who was there at Custer’s invitation but in defiance of an order by Gen. Terry). The final count of the dead has never been established conclusively, although 210 - 212 with Custer are the most commonly accepted numbers.
Putting all of the numbers aside, the other thing I would add to what you said about Crazy Horse (which is correct), is that doing such things as "bravery runs" established status in the Plains Indians. Because they were a nomadic people, they really didn't have or try to acquire a lot of possessions to show off or prove some kind of status, and they couldn't build really big houses either because they relied on teepees which had to be easily transportable. So what's left as a potential status symbol? Reputation. Being a warrior was a central part of an adult male's life, so the more you proved your bravery, courage, and general badassery, the more status and respect you got. Where that comes into play in battle is that the Indians didn't have a formal command structure like the Army -- it's not as if a "Chief" could "order" his "braves" to go into battle. It was more like the Indian leaders like Crazy Horse led by example and reputation. It's more like if the toughest baddest guy you know said, hey let's go get these guys who are attacking us! You'd say sure, I'm stickin' with you! You're a great fighter and you'll win! You may even protect me! [Well, first you might say, as bad as this dude is, thank God he's on OUR side. 😉 You never want to have to face the most dangerous and lethal guy you ever knew as an enemy]. So you'd follow him because he's the guy to follow and you'd WANT to go with him. You might even feel flattered that he asked you to come along. So that's the way the Indians went into battle. Crazy Horse doing those runs sure helped his warrior reputation and also encouraged his followers when they saw he didn't get shot doing them.
@@4thamendment237: Gen. Terry was well aware of Kellogg’s presence with Custer’s command, it was actually Gen. Sherman who told Terry via telegram to advise Custer to not take any newspapermen. Terry very clearly allowed Kellogg to come along, from Fort Abraham Lincoln at the outset.
@@4thamendment237: and thank you for the kind words. It’s the subject of my greatest interest, and as you break down the combat strength on June 25, the numbers add up to just about 647. But if you told me it was 651 or 649, I’d not argue with you. Same as if you latched onto an exact number killed in Custer’s fight, as long as it’s somewhere around 210 +/- a few.
I was there yesterday. I spent 4 hours on the Hallowed ground of the Little Bighorn. From the details I saw and the walking of much of the area of the last stand plus driving to where Reno and Bennett were plus stopping at each plaque story board some of this short video doesn't fit. It truly is an amazing place. The desperate moment kept running through my mind when men realized they were Not going to make it must have been hard even for seasoned troops!
In the U.S., there are five battlefields that are considered to be hallowed, or sacred, ground: Lexington and Concord, The Alamo, Gettysburg, the Little Bighorn, and Pearl Harbor. One might consider the World Trade Center to be hallowed ground, as well.
@@Eadbhard Well Said
This 6 minute video is more detailed and accurate than a 45 minute BBC documentary I just watched about this same battle.
Well done!
BS, this is long dismissed Son of the Morning Star Bullshit from a hack author. Their is no evidence that the Crazy Horse attack from the North happened. To many first hand Indian Accounts don't give any account if this. And from Native American a counts concur that Custers men were still fighting when the some warriors started to make their way to Weir Point, it's likely that when Benteen met Reno on the bluffs, The Custer Fight was only just starting. Their duty was to go to the sound of the firing as they were not immediately engaged. Reno should have been Courtmartialed for his desertions if his men. Once leaving the Timber without organizating a retreat, it is clear he panicked and took off leaving before anyone knew what was going on. He abandoned his command again when Weir was asking for permission to recon the sound of the firing to the North, as per Army Field orders and common sense would dictate. He instead thought it more important to go look for the body of his dead drinking buddy Lt. Hodgkins and bury him in the middle of a combat, while Custer and his men could be heard fighting just 20 minutes ride to the North. Benteen should have been Courtmartialed for following orders and sending a message to messenger about the results of his scout to the South. Custer was waiting, and waiting to know that his southern flank was secure, and Benteen was on his way back before he pushed the northern flank. Not to mention the well established 2hr mosey to Reno, which Custer made in just 45 minutes earlier and two Messengers, and Boston Custer covered that trip in 20minutes.
@@NonExpertKnowItAll Reno went loco when the brains of his scout got sprayed on him in the woods. From then on he was wacky. I really think if benteen and Reno would have gone to Custers aid they would all have been killed.
When they first saw the village, custers crow scouts started to take off there white cloths and put on native clothing. When Custer asked why he was told they wanted to die as natives. He dismissed them for that. Custer was seeking to return to fame that had gone down hill the last few years before the battle. To me he was going in no matter what the odds. Benteen seemed to not be as crazy about that idea. I think it's why beteen dragged his feet. He did want to get his men killed to. I really don't think his couple of hundred men would have been able to stop what happened. They probably would have been able to get in to Custer but would have found themselves just as surrounded. Remember too that troop had been riding for weeks and had done an all night march the night before. The horses and men were not in the best of shape.
@@theodoresmith5272 couldn't be more wrong Benteen was pissed, because he wasn't chosen to lead the initial attack. Custer said the first Company CO ready would lead the attack the vanguard, which Benteen went and got on his horse because he said his company was already saddled and ready, then when Custer sent Benteen on the scout he thought Custer was just being vindictive because they hated eachother. So your he was trying to save his men's lives because he thought the attack was foolish doesn't hold water, like Benteen's horses at the morass. Eitherway it doesn't matter your duty is to go to the sound of the guns, it is to carry out your mission, and if that means many of your men will die so be it. If officers start picking and choosing their missions, and duty, then I guess the 101rst Airborne should never gone into Bastone. I guess the British never should have held the line at the Battle of Marnn. I guess Lee's Army should have abandon the field at Chancellorsville, because dividing his vastly numerically inferior numbers in the face of a superior army was something only stupid wreckless people do, and never works 🙄. If Benteen had moved his ass at the appropriate speed Wier was going, he is there long before Reno abandons his men to die in the timber. The warriors continue to focus all their attention on the south, the never leave Reno on his hill and focus all their numbers on Custer's waiting 210 waiting for Benteen. Then even after he finally relieved Reno, their was no excuse to not send a scout immediately to investigate where the enemy went, and where their Regimental commander was, much less to sit and do nothing when they could hear the firing to the north. It's inexcusable. You have to at least try to find out what your situation is, and aid the mission forward at all costs. This post Vietnam mindset makes me wonder if our current political officer mindset, if they ever found themselves in a real slugfest with a proffessional army that couldn't just be lazer bombed from the sky, would just refuse to do an assignment, because to many casualties in their particular unit might result, and that's not fair that the other units don't have such a difficult mission. 😏. It don't matter I wouldn't get caught in any of that bullshit unless I was absolutely looking for an excuse to die.
@@NonExpertKnowItAll no your first duty is not getting all your men killed.
@@theodoresmith5272 Custer didn't think they would have all been killed now did he. If Reno and Benteen had done their jobs, the Warriors would have been stuck fighting on multiple fronts which something they didn't have the coordination to do, which is why they completely abandoned Reno's troop and all fled to surround Custer, without leaving a rear guard, completely exposing their rear to a hammer and and anvil attack and leaving the women and children exposed to Reno and Benteen. In all Native American history of battle unless they get a small band of soldiers or other Indian tribes cornered and surrounded, native Americans fled the field because suffering high casualties is not cost efficient to hunting gathering cultures. They retreat, and scatter. In this case they would have scattered to the north west where Crooke was supposed to be, instead of hunting and fishing for two weeks, just up the valley from the Battlefield.
Custer's substansive rank at the Battle of Little Big Horn was Lieutenant Colonel,he was a brevet Major General but at the end of the civil war was returned to his substansive rank of Captain and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1866 to command the newly-formed 7th Cavalry Regiment.
Right you are.
Sitting Bull was murdered by collaborators doing the governments dirty work, not an uprising. The medicine man was targeted because the ghost dance worried the authorities.
I agree with a lot of the comments below. Having researched this particular battle for decades I have waded through a lot of books and articles on the subject, none of which adequately abbreviated it while keeping it factual. When you deal with something as polarizing as this it is hard not to be swayed by all the personal observations that pass for facts. Thanks for being short and to the point!
Extremely helpful animation . Reason: It has been difficult to understand exactly where, in relation to the river) the fighting took place. Well done.
Thanks!
These types of things in history are a worthwhile study. Some of us will be supportive of one side or the other and that has no importance, except to an individual. One can't change history. When someone has too much authority and acts improperly, they take others into their consequences. Keep studying. Neat are these animations.
You'll have to visit where Custer attacked that hill has a blind spot he mistaken that the camp was small, but it went for miles
It was big settlement, but it did not went for miles as many claims. Sure Siting Bull warriors made several good tactical decisions, and performed oustandingly well under the pressure of their enemy. Also they combined loud and stealth maneuvering on the terrain with great mastery. No doubt they archived surprise and concentration of force in the best and decissive moment. Very good battle management by his chieftains, and good signalling and undestanding between the different indian groups.
The camp was about 1 1/2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide.
Juan D. Peron Crazy Horse needs to get that credit he directed it with his horn while killing 30 plus Americans in that battle. I just don’t understand why not attack the ponies. They had them in one spot. 15,000 ponies take away mobility you win
Juan D. Peron m
I’ve been told Custers Indian scouts warned him that there were thousands of braves in the camp but he blew their warnings off. Custer was an idiot! He led his men to a slaughter!
Great summing up! Right to the point.
As Custer said so eloquently, "There's just too f******g many of them!"
Nice! One of my relatives was part of the unit that secured the baggage train. He also fought at Mobil bay during the civil war
Custer was outflanked. The worst tactical blunder in warfare, after being ambushed. Custer totally underestimated his enemy. He fought like a Celt, attack like hell, panic like hell, retreat like hell.
Important fact, Custer gambled he could reach the village. The reason was he was after the women and children to use as shields. This is how he intended to get the warriors to quit fighting. What he did not know was that some river areas can not be crossed.
Jarod Smith, i agree, while necessarily not too detailed, it captures the main combatant movements and the urgency and desperateness of the soldiers. It is concise and accurate. It takes a British production company to capture one of America's greatest battles. thank you.
This battle is still too political in the USA to get a fair depiction. We've gone from 'Custer was a great hero!' in the early 20th century to 'Custer was an ignoramus!' in the late 20th century, the truth of course is somewhere in the middle. People also forget this was a battle of US troops allied with Crow/Shoshone warriors against the Sioux/Cheyenne alliance. The Sioux had driven the Crow indians off this land earlier and they were bitter enemies, the latter hoped an alliance with US forces would help them get their land back. The Sioux/Cheyenne warriors won a great victory, but they didn't do themselves any favors when they massacred wounded US troops and desecrated and dismembered most of the trooper bodies. Most of the bodies were not recognizable after the battle and were buried in mass graves. News reporters embedded with General Alfred Terry's US infantry forces who found the remains of Custer's command had a field day describing the slaughter and the US public demanded the perpetrators be brought to justice. Interestingly enough, up to half of Custer's command were recent immigrants to the USA-Italians, Germans, Swiss and Irish were major nationalities. Must have made issuing commands in the heat of battle an interesting challenge.
Best animated version of this fight ever. I can finally understand the geographical layout of the battle
Thanks! :)
Yes! Another video! I've been waiting for one for ages. Your channel is sure to blow up if you consistently post this kind of content so keep it up.
Best illustration to date on who what where and how Custer got defeated........
Brilliant, thank you for this wonderful analysis!
Thats what happens when you underestimate your opponent!
Someone is a triggered libtard.
Um, you mean total defeat where you and all your people get rounded up and put on reservations as a last resort lest you be genocided down to the last child?
Oh wait, that’s what happened to the Indians.
What happened to Custer’s command was that they were outnumbered many times over and were forced to fight against a force that possessed superior firearms technology because the US government gave better guns to the Indians than they did their own soldiers.
@@richardblankenship5481
You are an Idiot! The Gov did NOT give any guns to the indians!
Their guns were acquired thru TRADERS.
Pelt & Fur traders. which sold for FAR MORE than the cost of a Rifle.
Genocide is NOT the Total extermination of a Race. But even the INTENT is GENOCIDE.
look it up! in the United Nations official definition for GENOCIDE!
Someone is REALLY triggered.
@@jesscast5122 The Indians rifles were also acquired through THEFT when they ambushed and killed ANY white folk they could find so your kind isn't innocent either!
There were actually 1,500 warriors and only half were armed with guns. But bows worked well at firing over hills and dead horses.
@knife Knife you're fucking idiot
But the warriors had repeating rifles. The cavalry had single shot rifles. That was according to a forensic investigation done by historians on the battle site. Saw it in a documentary on cable a few years ago.
@@jonmills6927 only about 200 had Henry's/Winchester's and those shoot fast like a bow
Must be the era of “we are professional soldiers” false confidence. We British were busy underestimating the Zulus in South Africa, whilst the US army were treating the native Americans similarly. Both “professional” armies won in the end but suffered some avoidable defeats because of over confidence & serious underestimation of so called “ savages.”
RIP all warriors of all sides.
@Colin Pearce -- Agreed. Isandhlwana was a disaster, but the Defense of Rorke's Drift is in my opinion the most impressive display of raw military courage, intrepidity, composure under fire, and effective battle tactics ever in the history of warfare. I really have only one word for that engagement-- WOW! Can you imagine what those soldiers must have felt as they watched thousands and thousands of those Zulu warriors advance on the run across that plain? "Here they come! As thick as grass and black as pitch!" They're coming like that for only one reason and that reason is you. And they're coming to kill you. No doubt whatsoever. So "Prepare to die like Englishmen!"
Mr. Pearce, you probably already know about the record number of VC's awarded for gallantry there. But I say, why so few?! 😉
@@4thamendment237 The chaps there were very lucky as they were “only” facing 3000 reserves & blood thirsty rebels that crossed into Natal against direct orders from their chieftain. The Zulus were sweeping aside any foe in open battlefield but were less able against dug in or fortified opposition. This clearly helped at Rorkes Drift & the true discipline of the professional British soldier, bullets & bayonet turned it into a survival event. Whilst not diminishing any VC awarded & clearly great acts of heroism occurred I wonder if political sway aimed at making Rorkes Drift the amazing victory to mask the terrible Isandhlwana battle earlier the same day.
The more I look into Isandhlwana the absolute lambs to the slaughter they all became & in my opinion because of the leaders overconfidence, tactical ineptitude & failure to adequately scout for the main Zulu army of 20,000 !
My point is it seemed like Gen. Custer may have been doing the same.
@@colinpearce5856 can you imagine being Lt. Charles Raw and his scouts chasing Zulus into the valley and then stumbling upon those TWENTY THOUSAND Zulus sitting there in total quiet?! The pucker factor must have gone to "9"+ immediately. It's said that they then began "a fighting retreat", but I bet there was a lot more retreating than fighting. It had to be a terrible sinking feeling to realize while you're a long way from London, the Zulus live here. And they're coming for you. And they're coming for one purpose only...
Another thought re: the Zulus v. Custer -- The men who first spotted the Zulus may have had the same thought that Half Yellow Face -- one of Custer’s scouts -- said to Mitch Bouyer to tell Custer: "We are going home today by a trail we do not know."
Little Big Horn and Islandhlawana were very similar in many ways, a modern military power defeated by overwhelming numbers of native fighters. Terrain worked to the advantage of the attackers in both cases, ravines and coulees (as we call them in USA) allowed the natives to get very close to the troopers without coming under long distance fire. Ammunition resupply was crucial in both defeats. In the case of LBH the natives had an advantage in numbers at the point of attack of roughly 10-20:1, same at Islandhawana. Some key differences were the Sioux/Cheyenne had horses, used bow/arrow and had a significant quantity of repeating rifles (200-300) and single shot carbines. In both cases modern military men underestimated the opposition and it resulted in catastrophic defeats.
I have years of research into the battle. And, have tried to "view" it several ways. YOUR version is the best, the best. Thanks.
Have you read; "Custer's Fall" by David Humphreys Miller. it is the true Indian account of what happened & not the lies of the establishment & military. The white man always lied, the Indians usually told the truth! The whites did not WANT to hear the truth, they wanted their hero at his "Last Stand", if Custer ever had a last stand, it was 6" with an arrow through it!
this is an inaccurate version of the battle. Those maneuvers described can only be presumed, since nobody survived, and the archeological excavation of the battlefield tells an entirely different story.
@@judithpowers6656 Judith READ the BOOK..above....Miller Interviewed over 90 Indians that were there
u sound like an expert in men's stands@@leonardfleet50
Leonard Fleet I’ve read it and found it to be speculative and hard to believe. They never tried to cross.
One of the last great victories for the Tribes before the invaders finally managed to seize the bulk of their lands. Thanks for the analysis of the battle!
It’s called manifest destiny
It would be more correct to say the Tantanka Wotanka (Sitting Bull) was assassinated vs. just 'killed'.
Phil Hewett Tatanka Iyotaka is his Lakota name.
Yes, He was murdered, so was Crazy Horse.
Not as accurate as it could be. The 7th cavalry totalled just over 600 men( in 12 companies( one company to guard the mule train, 3 companies with Benteen, 3 companies with Reno and the remaining 5 with Custer)) plus Indian scouts and some civilians( Mule wranglers, scouts, including his nephew). Custer did not try to support Reno, he detached two companies to guard his rear which was under attack. He then tried to cross the river with his remaining 3 companies but was beaten back and headed for high ground where his command was massacred.
He had sent a messanger to Benteen to "come quick and bring ammunition" but Benteen was slow to move forward and when he did was "driven" back to Reno's position( Benteen and Custer hated each other, Benteen blaming Custer, probably rightly, for the loss of a group of troops in a much earlier action).
It should also be pointed out that the 7th cavalry were not, as Hollywood portrays them expert marksmen and horsemen. Pay was pitiful( I think around $7 a month) and many were European immigrants with very little or no riding or shooting experience. The Indians were much better warriors and in some cases better armed with repeating rifles.
You're not much accurate either, Carrick.
Custer did support Reno. He took pressure off of Reno's beleaguered battalion by ordering Captain Yates' company to fire into the village down in the Medicine Tail Ford. The Indians, realizing that there was a new threat upon their village, quit attacking Reno's men and concentrated all their efforts on Custer.
Captain Myles Keogh commanded Custer's right wing. In the right wing there were three Companies: Company L, Company C, and Company I (Keogh's own Company). The right wing afforded protection for the left wing's rear (Custer), and was also tasked to guide and provide covering-fire for Benteen's battalion when it arrived.
During, or immediately after, the Battle of the Washita, Major Elliott with 19 enlisted men pursued, without orders, a group of fleeing Indians. Just before he and his men started their chase, Elliott shouted, "Here's for a Brevet or a coffin!" About 3 - 4 miles down the river, Major Elliott and his men were soon overwhelmed and massacred by a vast number of Indians. Custer attempted a search for Elliott and his men, but it was those vast number of Indians (more than there were at the Little Bighorn) which caused Custer to abandon the search and withdrawal. In short, when Benteen blamed Custer for abandoning Major Elliott to his fate, it was not "probably rightly." Custer tried to do all he could for the impetuous Major, but he had the safety of the rest of his command to consider.
Pay was pitiful, but you have guessed wrong. In 1876, recruits in the U.S. Army earned $13 a month.
".....bring packs."
@@EadbhardWith a desertion rate hitting 20%, with little fear of being caught. US Army had a paper strength of 25,000,
malcolm ,your answer was fine ,missing or ABBREVIATING a piece of history that is never been 100% known you did very well ,HOWEVER people like o Ruairc are are only looked on as SMART-asses ,im nearly as bad for even acknowledging him,btw RUAIRC next time you try and rain on someone else get YOUR s,,, all together ,maj elliot and his men were lost in november 1868,you idiot you made it look like the same morning,NO ONE but smart alec a,,h,,,,, answer or confer with another like you did on here ,iv know your ILK my whole life ,iv marked your kind as losers and you are just more PROOF,!! too all else excuse my grammer ,spelling and attitude my apols but O-RUAIC's of the world gotta be maintained
@@mike89128 Yes...so? How is this comment of yours germane to the topic on hand?
6:03 Sitting Bull was not "killed during another native uprising."
he was killed by native american police while he was being arrested for inciting war investigations
say hey Sitting Bull was arrested because the Indian agent felt threatened by the "ghost dance movement" &misinterpreted it as a war dance rather than the religiously oriented "prayer dance" it originally was intended to be.
@@Chief2Moon a murder
It was a an ambush on peaceful people doing a religious dance for the people, mostly old people,women, children, blasted by cannons from the USA army, not a uprising, sorry 🏹
very happy to see more battlestacks!
Not totally accurate, but well made. Very simplistic description. Animation good and easy to watch and follow.
Like you were there that day 😂
@@bomblifenewzealand You don't have to have been there to know history. What a stupid statement for you to have made.
Kim Fortin I think you have to be there to know the history accurately 😂 otherwise where are you sourcing your made up "accurate" stories from? A story whos been told from gen to gen ends up changing.
Native American Indians .. bravest of the brave.. from Ireland.
Including Captain Myles Keogh historians state that around 30 Irishmen died in the battle.
The indians had repeating rifles from trade with Canadian traders . Custer's men had single shot carbines . So , in actuality Custer was outgunned . A little fact alot of people want to overlook . Not all Indians had winchesters but many did . Once the indians got within 200 yards . It was over for Custers men. At that range the indians were getting off 10 shots for every shot of custers men.
Absolutely spot on Douglas. Custer's men had single shot Springfield rifles and a lot of Indians had repeating rifles(Henry) a fact often not known. Two military weapons experts did an experiment using the rifles from the battle to see how many rounds could be fired in a minute. The expert using the repeater fired 13 rounds and the expert using the single shot fired 4 rounds. In total the 7th Cavalry had 750 troopers between Custer,Reno and Benteen. Historians state that the number of warriors was between 1,800 and 2,000. I think even if Custer was reinforced by Reno or Bentern or even both I still think they would have been defeated. The 7th Cavalry was simply out gunned by superior numbers. I would highly recommend the documentry/drama "The Wild West-Custers's Last Stand". It was made by the DISCOVERY channel in 2007 and includes recent archeological battlefield evidence.
@@johnroche7541 Indian arrows also reaped significant damage upon the troopers. The warriors were able to fire their arrows upwards without exposing themselves, and these many arrows rained down upon the men on Last Stand Hill like a storm of death. But I disagree with you. If Reno would have stayed in the timber, with Custer menacing the fleeing women and children far to the north, and Benteen posing a threat from the middle, I believe the 7th Cavalry would have been victorious that day.
"It aint fun when the rabbit has the gun"
where is this info found. No argument me and my son are studying little big horn and reading "Black Elk Speaks".
@@johnroche7541 You are incorrect and repeating the same myths that has been pushed for about 100 years. The Springfield rifle that the troopers were equipped with had better range, accuracy and reliability than any winchesters or repeating rifle the Sioux had. Only the rate of fire was better on the repeaters. Rate of fire only became decisive in the final minutes of the battle. Custer was caught on an open plain with not rocks or trees for cover. Try to remember that after he and his 200 men were wiped out the remaining 400 or so troopers held off the remaining 1,000 warriors for another day and a half. Why? Because they had position and cover and better rifles, with better range.
He was Lieutenant Colonel Custer. The "General" was just a brevet rank he was given during the Civil War.
Fred Ferd. Apparently, the officers were addressed by their Civil War rank. I believe Reno was addressed as colonel - his CW rank, and not major - his substantive rank. Bentine held the rank of Lt. Col. in the CW, but his substantive rank was captain. Somewhat confusing.
@@klackon1 Well said. This is true. I admit to a strong bias against custer. He should never have been in command.
@@fredferd965. I'm with you. We know that he intended to go after the women and children, and I think it's safe to assume that no good would have come of it.
@@klackon1 Darned Right!!!!! Thanks!!!
I would love to see a Battle of the Boyne episode!
There is a descriptive by chief Two Moons on CZcams which gives first hand account of little big horn . He was interviewed when he was in his later years on reservation and the detail of his story sounds pretty accurate .
Also I have heard that 388 US soldiers died and just a handfull of indians there seems to be rather a good amount of embellishment towards this historic episode from the past.
Many indians were wounded in the battle, survivors noted this in later accounts. Troopers who died during the actual fighting were only a few, most of the Custer command who died were wounded men who were massacred by warriors after they were overwhelmed. The Sioux and Cheyenne didn't take prisoners, they killed them and then disfigured the bodies.
This is a fairly accurate account of the battle except for the numbers involved. Custer actually had close to 600 troopers in 12 companies plus about 3 dozen Native scouts & a dozen civilians. The Native Allies opposing him is not known for certain. The best estimates place the number of warriors between 1,200 & 1,800. About 25% of these Natives were armed with Winchester rifles. Although these weapons were deadly at close range, the soldier's Springfield rifles could hit a target 3 or 4 times farther. The soldiers had 124 rounds of ammo each. The Natives probably had only half that amount. The reason Custer lost so badly was because he divided his forces & rushed into a battle without knowledge of his opponent's numbers or disposition.
Hello I have visited the Battlefield many times and the museum shows a different story of events, but I was not there at the time of the battle. Saludos
please tell us the version of the Museum
@@andreascala2663 hello 👋 the museum try to show the visitors a erroneos turn of events. Examples, failure to articulate the Aborigines are not Indians, they spoke Castilian for the previous 300 years, and Aborigines language since God created the world, the soldiers where ilegal aliens immigrants from Europe and didn't spoke English, promote the USA army in defense of industries no the United States of America Nationals 🇺🇸. thanks for sharing 👍 and asking interesting questions 😉 👍. saludos go and visit the monument
I visited the Site. Captain Myles Keogh was born near where I live in Ireland
Donnacha Foley you live in Ireland well let’s just say that it’s a pleasure to meet a person with Irish blood because I am Irish to because my last name dolan means dark haired Irish man and my last name dolan also means that I am related to high king Niall of the nine hostages father the king of Ireland before Niall and also I am going to Little Bighorn this summer
Captain Myles Keogh was also a veteran of the War if Reunificatiom in Italy.He was also a veteran of the Civil War and saw action at Antietam,Fredericksburg,Ntandy Station and Gettysburg. Like Custer he also wore buckskin. In fact Custer's buckskin was made by Sgt. Jeremiah Finley who was was an Irishman and tailor and was also killed in this battle. Historians state that around 30 Irishmen were killed in this battle. Keogh's body was not mutilated and he was later buried in Auburn Cemetery in New York. His horse "Comanche" survived the battle and died in 1891.
I mean Brandy Station the biggest cavalry engagement of the American Civil War.
@Avid Fan Thanks for this
@@johnroche7541 I didn't know he wore buckskin John
Another good view.
Thanks!
Do the alamo. That would be the perfect vidio for your type of animations
EDIT: Thanks Battlestack
I live in San Antonio, Tx. The Alamo, ..... Ahahaha. Brave white Americans, ... NOT! Many Hispanic Txns outnumbered the Anglos. Same ole thing, Anglos came for land and such caused they failed elsewhere. What the Alamo did do was (even though orders were disobeyed to vacate) to give Sam Houston TIME to organize and marshall the Texans before surprising Santa Ana at
"San-Hah-cin-toh" This is the proper pronunciation. San Jacinto. Hereos at the Alamo? Well, it says so in the history books.
@@RobertGarcia-wv8vx i just went to san antonio. Its a great city. I went to the alamo. It was pretty cool.
Hard to get beyond that accent.
Good stuff. Love these videos you make.
Benteen had to know Custer was engaged in a fierce battle. Custer's men were firing off volleys which was a signal they needed help. But it's likely Benteen and his men may have met the same fate if they had gone to help. But he got away with something big time by not going to help Custer whom he openly admitted he despised.
Benteen saved many lives by failing to rescue Custer and ultimately did to Custer what Custer did to Elliot al Washita ........... karma
@@andreascala2663 You are right I believe, but the question remains - were Benteen's actions in not going to help an act of treason or an act of wisdom to save many lives? I believe most others who may have been in a position of command that day would have went. Benteen did not know how the battle Custer was in was going. All they heard was the sound of many gunshots. Then is when he chose to sit and do nothing. It seems every bit like revenge. Which is treason And dereliction of duty. But it saved many lives, so the controversy continues.
It's hard to know what Benteen and Reno supposed was happening to Custer, some witnesses reported hearing volleys and others did not. They could have genuinely supposed that Custer was in a far better situation than them and determined their only hope was to defend themselves where they were. The one time they tried to reinforce Custer they were driven back. I'm just guessing, but I think both of them were genuinely surprised to find out Custer's command had been lost to the last man. When they initially witnessed Terry's men on the horizon they thought it was Custer coming back to rescue them.
@@andreascala2663 Karma, no it was not really, the pathologically jealous Benteen did to Custer what he accused Custer of at Washita. Reno the inebriated coward and vengeful Benteen having ignored direct orders both written and verbal, should have been courts marshalled and in other wars should have been shot.
@@pimpompoom93726 no, Reno was incapable and inebriated having lost half his command in his unnecessary retreat, Benteen was a bitter, pathologically jealous subordinate who dragged his feet on the back trail and wanted Custer to fail.
This is horrible inaccurate. Reno was sent to attack the village to make the warriors move to that end of the village. Then Custer was going to come in the other side of the village and catch the woman and children. With the woman and children in hand the warriors would give up..it was a tactic he had used before against native villages.
Custer did not get word of renos failed charge he watched it. Some of the crow scouts with him said as much after the battle. Reno's charge had mostly done what it was intended to do draw the warriors that way as the females and children ran away towards Custers troop. When Custer and his troop came off the ridge to cross the river they picked a place that it wasnt possible to cross..As the village was so large, Reno didnt seem to draw all of the warriors that direction and Custers troop came under fire from the village. Some natives started crossing the river between Reno and Custer continuing to fire at custers groub. Then more and more natives crossed and started to work there way behind Custer as he continued to look for a crossing further from Reno and away from the natives crossing the river between them. Miles keogh and his company were ordered to form a skirmish line behind Custer to hold off that force. They did for some time. Keogh led several charges to push back the natives when they got to close to the skirmish line. By this time the natives were comimg across the river in force between Reno and Custer and on the other side of Custer. With the fire still coming from the village and now both sides of him on his side of the river Custer and his troop took the high ground down the ridge from Keogh.
Crazy horse, who had been in the fight against Reno, then brought his groub of mounted braves in to close the gap behind Custer. At that point Custer and his whole groub was surrounded. Keogh was morally wounded and with that his line broke with natives in pursuit. Very few made it to were custers groub was..seem some riders tried to break out and some on foot tried to take shelter in a gully going down to the river but at that point it was all over but the killing. Natives said it all was over in about 45 minutes. After a fire in the 80s the found all the shell casings and have been able to identify not only how the battle was fought on both sides but even how individual warriors had move around the battlefield to encircle custers groub and where different soldiers had fired and formed there lines. Its all well covered in other documentaries and goes almost excactly the way the natives said it did. Custer troops with 1 shot rifles and pistols faced over 200 repeating rifles alone plus pistols older mussle loaders and bow and arrows. Reno and bentine could hear the battle and in all likelyhood knew Custer was being wiped out. I agree with them staying put. At that point all they would have done was put there groub in the same bad spot as custer was in.
there are perfect language correction on the internet!
One analysis said that the wherefor for the loss was that the bows could be gainladen faster than could the firearms.
I believe some disservice has been done to many native warriors; there have been found and recorded 255 cairns around Custer’s and Calhoun’s portion of the battle. Native Americans honored their warriors sacrifice by placing a cairn where they fell. Therefore at least 255 natives had fallen, by not admitting that, you dishonor their sacrifice. Then there’s those that perished around Benteen and Reno’s stand, of course cairns couldn’t be placed because of the proximity and countinued skirmishing, and by nightfall the natives dismantled their camps and dispersed. Therefore the actual numbers will never be known; perhaps a monument to those known and unknown that fell would be a fitting tribute.
2:55 Im afraid Custer was not informed. All the time he though Reno was atacking so he pursued with his original plan.
Custer was only one three major US Army groups sent to attack the Lakota. The battles of Little Big Horn & Rosebud were defeats for the US Army. The third column, and largest, failed to make significant contact.
Crook had the largest force. Not Gibbon.
@@richardschaefer4807 My mistake. An other mistake I made was forgetting that the 7th Calvary was only supposed to be the scouting element of Terry's column from the East.
The twelve companies of the 7th were the "mobile striking force" of the campaign. Gibbon's Montana Column was the weakest of the three "prongs" that were searching out the Sioux. I suspect that lack of a coordinated attack, the terrain and poor communications were the primary reasons for the defeat.
Significant contact?
Pointless adjective.
@@richardschaefer4807The scouts from Miles column probably could see the dust and smoke from the battle. Many authors who lived in the 19th century west, wrote about the exceptional clarity of western skies. Many wrote that a man on horseback, on a rise, could see over 100 miles, and with a good pair of field glasses, 125 miles.
I don't think stand on ridge took but minutes once Crazy Horse made his end run. Probably sheer madness
A great victory
That's why you are writing in English.
Take nothing away from General Custer, he, his brother Thomas (2 time living Medal of Honor recipient), along with his men fought like true warriors, as did my brothers the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho nations. Intelligence is key to battle victory. Custer thought he was only engaging the Sioux, he had no idea that the other nations were in the same encampment and he split his forces accordingly with the battle field intelligence that he had. He also left behind his artillery and Gatling guns so his men could move quicker against a smaller opposing force that his intelligence had indicated. This battle quickly enveloped and quickly ended, Custer's forces were too dispersed and was quickly defeated buy a much larger opposing force, leaving him too few men to form a strong position, even on high ground, and too few to form an effective break out when they were fully encircled. During the American's Civil War, General Custer was a deadly adversary against the Southern Armies, he was brilliant horse soldier, as was his brother Thomas, their men inflicted over 160 casualties on our people before we wiped him out. This was a hard fought battle for both sides and it's my hope there will never be another one.
Well said, very well said. You know your facts.
But I would argue the bit about Custer not knowing he was going up against the Northern Cheyenne too. I think, based upon the trail they were following, as well as other signs, observations, and vestiges, Custer's scouts would have known the Northern Cheyenne were in the village as well. As for the Arapaho, there were very few of them. Well, at least very few Arapaho warriors fought in the battle.
@@Eadbhard Scouts were really his only battle field and area intelligence, I seriously doubt that Custer knew he was coming up upon such a large force of warriors. He and the men that he lead in the past had taken on adversaries larger in numbers, but nothing I believe this large. This battle spooled up quickly and ended even quicker, the Sioux & Cheyenne were light, agile, well armed and ready to fight at a moments notice and they were not surprised by Custer's men. Sioux & Cheyenne scouts would have most defiantly seen Custer coming up on them well before Custer realized their numbers. Custer's men, even carrying light were moving in line kicking up a long line of dust in the air, Sioux & Cheyenne were already encamped for day, fires spread out and at a minimum, nothing to really tip off an advancing adversary. Important fact here, Custer left behind is Gatling guns and field artillery, no military commander would have done that unless they felt it wasn't necessary and Custer didn't think it was necessary because his field intelligence lead him to believe he was perusing a much smaller force. Custer was an intelligent man, as were they men who served with him, his officers were all battle harden from the US Civil War, battle field intelligence back then really was hit and miss.
@@oveidasinclair982 The village on the Little Bighorn was perhaps a little larger than what Custer expected, but everyone in his command, including the scouts, knew they would be facing a big village. This was evident by the immense Indian trail they had been following. Custer and his men have faced adversaries larger in numbers. In 1868, along the Washita River, Custer attacked Chief Black Kettle's southern Cheyenne village; however, shortly after the 7th Cavalry decimated that village, various tribes from downriver heard of it and became alarmed. The Cheyenne camp Custer attacked was just one of many Indian camps situated along the Washita River. There were Kiowas, Comanches, more Cheyenne, and Arapahos, and the warriors from these tribes, more than there were at the Little Bighorn, began to gather en masse once they realized soldiers had attacked the village of Black Kettle. Custer, realizing he was suddenly outmatched and vastly outnumbered, used the captured Cheyennes from Black Kettle's camp to safeguard his men, then prudently withdrew his regiment from the area.
Based upon meticulous research and much scrutiny and study, most scholars believe there were approximately 1,500 to 2,000 warriors at the Little Bighorn. Custer had around 700 men. In short, the men of the 7th Cavalry were not facing insurmountable odds on the day of the battle, not at all.
You err when you say Custer did not surprise the village. He most certainly did surprise it. As a matter of fact, he surprised it twice. Major Reno surprised the village initially with his attack, then Custer himself surprised the village when his battalion suddenly appeared downstream at the Medicine Tail Coulee. This is common knowledge. The Natives who camped along the Greasy Grass were caught totally unawares by Custer's regiment. If the Sioux and Cheyenne knew there were soldiers within close proximity of their village, if they knew there were soldiers coming to attack their camp, the warriors would have ridden out to meet them; they never would have allowed the soldiers to get that close to their home and jeopardize their women and children. Moreover, if the village did have knowledge of an impending attack, and if there was time to allow for it, the women and children would have already fled to a secure and hidden spot. This was not the case at the Little Bighorn.
You wrote that the Sioux and Cheyenne were "light, agile", and "ready to fight in a moment's notice" and you are correct. Custer knew this too; as such, he wanted his regiment to be "light, agile and ready to fight in a moment's notice" as well. That is why he chose not to bring the gatling guns; the number of warriors he was pursuing had nothing to do with his decision not to bring them. Gatling guns were cumbersome; they required a crew of 3 troopers to operate just one of them; they were quite difficult to move over hilly terrain; and, for the most part, they were ineffectual when it came to fighting Indians. Even if Custer did bring them, they would not have been present in the battle; the gatling guns would have been lumbering way behind with Captain MacDougal and the pack train.
Come on, I thought you knew your facts.
@@Eadbhard that was enlightening.....also a cheap shot at the end
@@rickgroendyke8452 Wasn't a "cheap shot". She impressed me with her first comment, but when she replied to my comment , almost everything she wrote was misconstrued, jacked up, and fictitious.
Interesting and well presented.
Well done video. Keep making em guy, I just hope the mic gets an upgrade.
Amazing how accurate this short video and visuals are.
Custer was an arrogant asshole who hoped to catapult a victory over the natives into a successful political career. Before he left on this expedition, he had the opportunity to take 2 Gatling guns but he chose to leave them behind feeling that they would slow his progress. Thanks for the great analysis of this battle..
You're a dumbass. For one, Custer was not vying for a "successful political career". Secondly, Custer was an Indian fighter. He knew Native warriors traveled fast and light; as such, he wanted his cavalry to be able to travel fast and light. Thirdly, gatling guns, for the most part, were ineffectual when it came to fighting Indians on the Plains. Finally, even if Custer did take the gatling guns, they would not have been present at the battle - they would have been lumbering way behind the column, probably behind Captain MacDougal's pack train.
Morons like you should do more research about this topic before posting nonsensical, inaccurate, silly and stupid comments.
Custer kept five battalions with them and they were all killed
Sitting Bull was a medicine man, not a chief.
Native tribes really didn't have "chiefs" The word "chief" was a term whites used to identify Native leaders.
he was both medicine man and leader
I am going to Little Bighorn this summer
Props man you did an excellent job showing everything and pretty accurate. Five stars lol
Well done...!
Comments are always enlightening.😁🇺🇸
As a teenager, I lived in Wyoming with my dad for 2 years and we would go up in the Big Horns walking around, and in school they taught Wyoming history, but I was to busy being rebellious and homesick for Ohio of all places to miss lol... to appreciate Wyoming history and Beauty. We were more interested in finding Chief Green Bud for some tumbleweed ! Lol...
Custer only attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the United States Army. He did however attain the rank of major general by brevet during the Civil War.
A TV programme & book for C4 in the UK was produced many years ago. Now out of print. But, archaeologists & experts examined partial remains of the soldiers. Nearly all had spinal issues as a result of being in the saddle from an early age & poor bone quality due to poor diets. There were not very fit.
Great video. I always wondered what Custer was thinking separating his soldiers, I mean you can only divide 380 so many times before it’s reckless. Definitely in over his head.
He had well over 600 men total. He had used the same strategy at the Washita River a few years earlier with success but he didn't think there were nearly as many Indians at the LBH as there were.
@@ariverrunsthroughitfans9002 ahhh, so he was using a previous successful tactic. I can understand with the fog of war, it’s times like these you wish for greater intelligence information than a bigger army. Good point. I also heard a rumor he had the offer to take the new Gatling Gun in his expedition but declined for the lighter and least troublesome howitzers.
@@tjpowers88 The 'new' gatling gun? What the hell does that mean? Custer "declined" the "new" gatling gun "for the lighter and least troublesome howitzers"? WTF are you talking about? Moron.
@@tjpowers88...Custer's tactics were basically sound. He sent Reno to attack the southern end of the village while he swung around to flank the village, expecting Benteen to be protecting the regiments left flank and to be there to scoop up any fleeing villagers. Custer expected the Indians to scatter rather than stand and fight, as would have every other cavalry officer on the Plains. You really can't get any more textbook than that. However, Custer did attack hurriedly because he thought the 7th had been seen by the Indians. He didn't take the time to explain in detail his expectations for each wing. He just assumed they would attack as aggressively as he would. Custer didn't adequately scout the terrain. The side of the river Reno attacked on is relatively flat bottomland but the side Custer followed to flank the village rises up to become the short, rolling hills that provided cover for the warriors around battle ridge. Also, the next Ford where Custer could cross the river and attack the village was much further than he expected (about 3 miles). It is highly unlikely Custer knew Reno had retreated. When Custer reached the Ford downstream and realized how large the village was he sent a messenger to Benteen to come quick and bring ammunition packs. Benteen received that order in time to reach Custer but he continued marching at a slow pace, even stopping to water his horses. Proof that Benteen could have reached Custer before the battle was decided is that Boston Custer, who was with the pack train, was able to pass Benteen and reach Last Stand Hill, only to die with his brothers. Custer didn't bring Gatling guns or any artillery because that would have substantially slowed the regiments progress and he believed the 7th could handle the village alone. Custer's goal was not to massacre the Indians but rather to return them to the reservation, which he probably would have accomplished by capturing the women and children and/or the village containing all their possessions. This was a common tactic on the Plains.
Ah yes, one of the originators of that infamous horror-movie cliche: "let's split up".
There are two sayings "The battle took long as it takes a hungry man to eat his dinner." And, one that is heard around the battlefield, "The Sioux got the glory the crows got the land but the Cheyennes did the fighting." So why were there Cheyenne als pierced into Custer's ears by the Cheyenne women? So he would hear his promise to never kill another Cheyenne. Time to figure it out and wake up.
The entire battle lasted around 3 hours - not counting the Indian attacks upon the soldiers on Reno Hill. Custer getting his ears punctured by Cheyenne women's sewing awls could be apocryphal. More than likely, Custer was not recognized at the Little Bighorn. A few individual natives from the southern Cheyennes may have remembered Custer, but the odds they recognized his dead body at the Little Bighorn are slim; especially since there were very few southern Cheyenne camped along the Greasy Grass. In short, most of the Indians who fought Custer that day had know idea who he was.
Very interesting that you call the soldiers the Americans.
There are many holes in this account. The Native Americans state categorically that Custer was shot at the ford of the river and carried up to the spot where his body was found. He took no part in the battle as he was mortally wounded. Crazy horse arrived late to the fight. Chief John Grass led the attack on Last Stand hill. 28 soldiers tried to make a break for it down Deep Ravine but ran into a perfect killzone, created by warriors on both sides and coming up the ravine from the village. They all died in there and that is where the battle ended.Their bodies were never recovered and many of the marker stones were just placed randomly on the battlefield. This had been proven by an archaeological survey. Reno and Benteen were sniped at all the next day but the Native Americans decided that losing any more warriors was pointless. They set fire to the grasslands, packed up camp and left. General Terry arrived the next day, with the bad news about Custer and all of his men. Custer's rank was Lt. Colonel at the time. Not General. Nice animations though.
The Sioux are "Lakota "
Sioux means "Enemy" (how the black feet referred to them)
Lakota means "Friend" (what they called themselves)
@@jesscast5122 Blackfoot people were Lakota allies lol and we're related tribal also they were a related band
@@jesscast5122 Sioux was the name given by the French.
@@phyteaux Bullshit!
The black foot SELLOUT scouts working for the white man used to refer to sioux and point. The white man thought that was their name. but they were simply saying
"enemy, over there..."
@@jesscast5122 How about you read some books before you make stupid comments. The Sioux were a brutal tribe that made other tribes life a living hell. Most of those scouts were helping the US because their tribes were oppressed by the Sioux for hundreds of years.
Cool presentation, but is highly speculative in describing what Custer did and why he did it.
how can it be called speculation if you were there ?? uh think about that one : xd
Custer was destroyed for his incompetence. End of the story
I love your content!
Big lesson, never attack an unknown foe. You just might be out numbered 6 to one. The enemy might have better weapons. Knowledge and placement of troops are the key to victory.
That was the limitations of battle field intelligence back then, if Custer had his artillery and Gatling guns, he may have had enough time to form a stronger position and make an effective break out. He left them behind because his intelligence led him to believe he was pursuing a smaller, more agile force of Sioux, NO ONE knew that the Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho nations had joined camp with the Lakota, even at the onset of hostilities he didn't know the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho true strength until it was too late.
Very good video which gives great animation to one of the most dramatic battles of the Indian Wars. Will you be covering the Fetterman Massacre as well, which was a dramatic engagement that pitted a small detachment of the U.S. Regular Army against the larger contingent of Native American warriors led by the genius Red Cloud?
Never heard of that, could you talk about It?
@@bernardoheusi6146 On December 21, 1866, in what is now today Wyoming, near the installation that was named Fort Philip Kearny, after the fallen Civil War general, Captain John Fetterman was serving as part of the United States regular army detachment that was garrisoned within the confines of the fort. The installation, and others that had been placed upon the Bozeman Trail, which was an important immigration route and means of reaching the Dakota and Montana mining claims, was under siege by famed war chief Red Cloud and his massive coalition of Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and other indigenous tribal nations. On that day, a group of wood cutters was out collecting firewood when Red Cloud attacked with a portion of his forces. Fetterman, with a detachment of 80 men and Captain Frederick Brown, went out on the orders of Colonel Henry B. Carrington, to defend those men. According to tradition, which has been challenged by some historians, Fetterman went beyond his orders and pursued the warriors attacking the wood cutters, falling into a trap where he, his command, and the wood cutters, about 120 men in all, were killed by Red Cloud's full 3,000-man army. The impact of this, and the later Box Fight that was a resounding Army victory, was that it left the Fort Kearny garrison depleted in strength, caused concern in the government, and resulted in the decision to abandon the Bozeman Trail, giving Red Cloud the only clear-cut victory for the Native Americans.
If the Fetterman Massacre does become a future subject, don't omit the sequel of Portugee Phillips's heroic ride to summon reinforcements.
Crazy horse the greatest warrior of the plains... Spiritual leader was never touched by the White man's bullets in battle
+Michael Moore. Curious truth that (...Chief Crazy Horse deliberately went into battle & constantly into the thickest part, totally unarmed!) His belief: if he was right the Great Spirit would preserve his life ; if he was wrong, he'd be killed.
Reckon he could be named as among the bravest 'Beserker's' ever.
It's 1 thing to go 'beserk' killing others but ... to ride into battle un-armed, as testing his own judgement with his life - that's something else!
It was thru the act of fasting n prayers... Jus the spiritual aspects of life n a deeper meaning of medicine bundles and his visions from the other world which all died out when we did and the buffalo...jus the old way of life...
Do some research pal. Crazy Horse was shot in the face by a jealous husband over an Indian woman. He was disfigured horribly by this gunshot wound to his cheek and mouth area. That is the reason for his reluctance to face cameras. He was not invited to travel back East to meet with senior American government officials where most significant Indian leaders were photographed. He was the offspring of French Fur trappers and traders. He was slightly built with a lighter complexion and brownish wavy hair. Some have even described his as effeminate. By most historical reports his personal bravery is beyond reproach, however his intellectual abilities have been compared to a child. This is what serious historical researchers have agreed upon, including Lakota and Cheyenne accounts.
Took another skin to kill him.
very good video
At the time of the battle, Custer was a Lieutenant Colonel, not a General.
He was still referred to as General. He was one of the most successful officers in the Civil War at the age of twenty five. At the end of the war General Sheriden donated the small table on which the surrender was signed to Libby and wrote to Custers wife, and I paraphrase: ‘there was scarcely an officer who contributed to the victory than your gallant husband.’
@@drstrangelove4998 As I said, he was a Lieutenant Colonel on June 25th, 1876.
You should try & look at Custer Apollo’s vids.
Custer Apollo's videos on CZcams are excellent. In my opinion, they are some of the best documentaries made about this subject.
Ó Ruairc M. Totally agree. Just to be a pain, if he had a drone as well the vids would have been perfect. He could have integrated the battle senses from all the angles as well.
@@papapabs175 Using a drone would have been a damn good idea, truly. Nevertheless, Custer Apollo does point out the location of where many of the pertinent pre-battle events occurred (Custer's 1st, 2nd camp, the Crow's Nest, Davis Creek, Benteen's "Scout to the Left", the 'Morass', the "Lone Teepee", etc, etc...). I went to the Little Bighorn a couple of years to try to find where these places were located, but I failed miserably. The only place I was able to find, but not with a 100% certainty, was the "Morass" location. In his videos, I wish Apollo explained how a person might be able to find these locations of interest. His knowledge of the present terrain and geographical features, and how they mesh with the events that occurred in late June 1876, is amazing. Like I said, when I visited the area a few years ago - other than the obvious sites - I wasn't able to find or recognize anything, except for maybe the 'Morass". Next time I go, I'll have to use his videos as my own personal guide; then again, as mentioned, the videos unfortunately don't include any modern directions or maps for the curious LBH enthusiast.
Ó Ruairc M. I envy your visit. I was totally satisfied with Custer Apollo’s vids. But when he was explaining certain points in the battle it would have been amazing to have that as well. To actually go to the battle field & enjoy seeing where history was made, wow.
I thought Custer was a Lt. Col ?
Yesterday was victory Day ,aho!
Greatly done with accuracy.
really excellent, what software u use to make this?
Thank you for not calling us Indians, I enjoyed the video.
Well, what's the big deal??? You call yourself "Sinclair" LOL!
That's worse!!
My grandmother who is 100% Lakota Sioux married a French Canadian man and he was a good man too. The French in Canada were good to the native peoples and treated them with respect, more so than the English and American settlers ever did. Sinclair is a French name and yes I do know the history of the name too, but not every family tree goes back to the same roots. Where my distant relatives pick up Sinclair I couldn't tell you, just like you couldn't tell where your family name came from Mr LOL dumb ass Cast.@@jesscast5122
@@oveidasinclair982 - Pardon me for butting in but I had no idea the Lakota Sioux where refered to as " Sinclair" first I have ever heard of it. Thank You for teaching me something about history. ( cut Jess a little slack, I bet he's just a kid )
you really not the sharpest crayon in the box are you Hunt'n ?@@huntnwabbits8150
@@oveidasinclair982 No, no I'm not :)
Sometimes the knife cuts 2 ways " katawasisiw " 🇨🇦 hunter/ gatherer
Benteen is actually widely considered to be the real hero. After the main battle he led 3 charges off Reno Hill that drove back the Natives. His men petitioned for him to be promoted and Sherman promotes him. He didn’t go to Custer because he didn’t understand whether to come right then or when he could keep the pack train going fast. (Please Keep all historical debate cordial)
Custer Had It Coming
He went down there!
I think 3000 warriors is bit of an overestimation. Archaeologists have found evidence of perhaps a little over 1000 lodges in the area. Each lodge would have had 1 to perhaps two warriors , along with the women and old folks. Therefore it could be estimated that perhaps 12 to 1800 warriors were present.
Great video but PLEASE tone down the background audio
I am going to Little Bighorn in August
Allow two days to tour both the battle field and the valley below.
Why do you think we care.....
Chase Dolan : Been there take your time and enjoy. Take binoculars. If possible do a horse back ride .
@@johndillard8588 okay well I had a very good time there but I didn’t do horse back ride but I mean for me the main reason that I went was so I could see where my fellow Irishman Myles Keogh fell and also to see where Custer fell because I mean when my paternal grandfather was young he looked like Custer with his mustache and what I mean by fellow Irishman is I am part Irish because my last name Dolan means dark haired Irish man and Myles Keogh is full Irish but I mean like Keogh was with Buford when he decided to hold the high ground around Gettysburg and Keogh also served in the papal army during the battle of Castelfidardo which was part of the wars of Italian unification.
From the Indian perspective, this battle was the epitome of a Pyrrhic victory.
Billy big words over here😂
The Lakota suffered way fewer casualties than the cavalry. It was not a pyrrhic victory.
@@DChuck Actually, we'll never know for sure. In military terms, casualties include both dead and wounded. Since the 5 companies under Custer's command were wiped out, and Army records of their rosters were a known quantity, it's much easier to come up with a figure for the dead there, and as for the rest of the 7th, the survivors on Reno's Hill were also known and included wounded. On the Native side there were no such rosters, and no lists of dead and wounded. At best we have a good guess of the number of warriors that perished on the battlefield because the count of temporary memorials left by some of the Natives, and because the Army later interviewed some of the chiefs that were present at the battle. But even then the number of casualties probably didn't included warriors that were wounded but later recovered, wounded warriors that escaped the battlefield but subsequently died of their wounds due to infection or the severity of their injuries, or wounded warriors who simply went missing and likely died away from the close proximity of the battlefield.
@@hhale It is stated that 60 warriors were killed and some have individual headstones. It is considered a Phyric victory because later the Indians were forced back to the reservation and their way of life on the plains brought to am end. Crazy Horse was killed/murdered the following year and Sitting Bull became an exile with some of his people in Canada. In strictly military terms it was not a Phyric victory on the day but in the long run. I would recommend the documentary/drama "The Wild West-Custer's Last Stand" made by the DISCOVERY channel in 2007. It includes recent archeological battlefield evidence.
Only one survivor of 7th cavalry. An army horse.
"Don't be greedy, Armstrong. Wait for us."
Gen. Alfred Howe Terry
General Terry did not say these words to Custer; it was Colonel Gibbon.
Custer thought he'd been spotted by Indians from Sitting Bull's camp, that's why he decided to attack immediately.
So Custer basicly lost because he divided his troops.
When Custer circled around the village. he was not there to attack but to capture women and children. This would have stopped the Indian's attack and battle over. The problem is that there were thousands of non combatants in the village and Custer only had a little over a hundred men. There were too many for his men to handle. The real culprit in the whole fiasco is Benteen who disobeyed orders and kind of did his own thing. Custer counted on him being there and he was not. He was operating at a slower pace then the mule team packs and way off from where Custer thought he was when he made his plans.
Wrong. All the enlisted who survived credited Benteen for saving them. Reno had a melt down, Custer made a serious error in judgement. Benteen could only save one of two drowning friends. He knew Custer was lost. Weir tried and was driven back. People forget the fighting continued after LBH with the others who held a defensible position and most survived.
3000 soldiers? More like 2000 warriors at the most.
Between 3 to 4 thousand warriors I understood through Dough Scott -who together with Rich Fox-eas one of the 2 director of the archaeological diggings made in 1985. It's even surprising that not even the army's figures are accurate.
1984 diggings I meant.
I read Custer had 600 men . and they were companies unit's
What’s the name of the music playing in the video?
Anyone with two brain cells to rub together knows that it's a bad idea to split up your forces in the presence of a enemy.
Anyone with no brain cells knows nothing about "hammer-and-anvil" tactics and a tactic called "envelopment". Such stratagems are often successful when a commander splits his forces in the presence of a enemy. You obviously have no brain cells; as such, you're an ignorant moron.
@@Eadbhard would you do that even though you don't have the proper information and the opposing forces out number you. But then again he who dares dosen't always win. Anyway Custer was under orders not to engage with the Indians until the entire force was on scene. But as usual Custer being who he was went against orders and attacked anyway. Check out his record when he was a Cadet at West Point, he was on the verge of being dismissed because of the amount of demerits that he had. He finished at the bottom of his class and the only reason he graduated was because of the fact that the Union Army needed officers.
@@scotthorton1129 Not one of the things you mentioned in this, your reply, is accurate. You're a half-witted ignoramus. If you're going to reply to me, do a lot more research and use factual information, not myths, asshat.
One big mistake; George Armstrong Custer was a Lt. Colonel, not a General.
He was brevetted during the Civil War and although he reverted to his real rank of Lt. Col, he got the privilege of being addressed as General as a perk. A common way to avoid giving real rank or more money to the reduced post-war army.
Would you please do the battle of blair mountain?
Custer made mistakes, no question. But in fairness to him, he had no idea of the actual numbers of the warriors when he divided his command. Army intelligence estimated around 800 warriors and their non-combatant members above and beyond that, that was the information Custer had when he made his initial tactical dispositions. The actual number was 3-4 times that and the terrain made this a close fought fight-the Cavalry range advantage with their single shot carbines was rendered useless.
he murdered children
Custer was Cavalry he split his forces without knowing what he was facing or for that matter where they were and somehow ended up getting stuck on a hill..... Reno got out when he was getting enveloped and he was a drunkard. Doesn’t speak well for the golden cavalier. He got what he deserved but his command was sacrificed for nothing but his ego. I served with the 7th in Korea and they don’t like Custer much.
You're full of crap, Sean Cope.