Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Little big horn / greasy grass battle

The wife and I ppent a few hours at the site this week. 2nd visit to the site.

I am not much of a horseman but would be interesting to ride the site. They must have had some darn tough horses back then. Reno's retreat uphill from the river timber did not look easy if at high speed. Custer's troops were seperated a long distance from the rest. If Custer and all knew where Reno and Benteen were located, the order to bring up packs was not expected to be a quick proposition. Something must have gotten screwed up beyond Reno's problems.

Odd thing is the area where the battle occurred was only under Lakota and Tsisitas control for 30-40 or so years prior and maybe not complete control then.

Need to do some more studying.

I have been there a few times myself. I would really like to have seen it back in the day, hard to imagine what it was really like seeing it now.

I've only been there once.....back in 1978 on a trip that was part of my graduation gift.

I have been there. It is very tough terrain. I don't see how Reno's men could have climbed that bank and gotten out of the river.

You would be surprised at how much 600 Indians could motivate you…

Was the area under Lakota and Tsisitas (Cheyenne) control at all? Crow Agency is right there.

Yeah, they saw Bloody Knife get his brains blown all over Major Reno's shirt, and they struck out for higher ground.

Love this history stuff.

Lately I’ve following a YouTube channel, Badlands Backroads.

He got himself a KLR and rides the the backroads of ND’s badlands, checking out Historical sites.

Some of these sites are along routes taken by the army through different campaigns. Gen. Sully….

Battle of the Badlands, Fort Dilt, Killdeer Mountain Battle Field.. although those weren’t really tied to Custer, it maybe of interest.

I used to buy guns from a friend in Canada. I call him a friend even though I never met him because he was totally honest and great to deal with. Had to go through a broker to get them into the U.S. Although history is something I totally enjoy I am not an expert on this battle. Ok after my background information that I often do lol. I believe the natives escaped into Canada. My friend told me that the natives he knows told him that Custer was taken alive and tortured by the women. Something that I don't think is in any history books. I believe him personally. Just thought I would share this.

Exactly what I was going to say. Wife and I spent an afternoon there shortly after the anniversary. I was following the army from Ft Riley through NE, WY and MT.

The Indians did not choose their camp site haphazardly, randomly, or by accident. A few miles north or south the terrain provides much less protection from the east.
Due to the engagement a few days prior on the Rosebud, they had to have suspected that they might be pursued.

It is entirely possible that Custer was taken alive and tortured. Squaws were expert at that, and it happened to many troopers on that day.
If that were true, the Army would never have let that story out. They did let it out that his brother Tom was cut all to pieces by the squaws.

Custer's body was found with his troops on Last Stand Hill as it is called. He suffered two bullet wounds one of which was a shot to the brain. He had a chest wound also. I have read speculation that his brother Tom may have finished him off. Some of the troops most certainly committed suicide to avoid capture and torture.

I thought it was interesting in that it wouldn't fit a narrative thanks for the information. I enjoy the comments from those of you that are historians on this subject.

I have seen multple videos on the battle from both sides including a great step by step series.
This one below is very the best. I have defended Custer from the usual crowd that love to slap the arrogant racist moniker on him and dismiss him but, yeah, he had warnings enough.

That didn't happen. Much of what is talked about is rumor and gossip. You can't rely on the Indian's accounts without some real investigation, as they had nothing to lose by embellishing their stories.

There are some good books that cover Custer and the battle, but most of the books are written by people that read other books...

After my latest trip there, I could easily be convinced that at least half the deaths were due to snake bite.

I'm not saying I know for a fact that it is what happened to Custer as you can't say for a fact it didn't happen. Books are usually written by the winners. It is very reasonable to think it may have happened. Instead of going down in a blaze of glory with his bulldogs.

The first time I visited, they had warning signs about rattlesnakes. Didn't notice them this time but might have missed them.

If I remember correctly, the Crow were pushed out of the area around 1840 or so. Lakota were in the bighorns in the 1860s. Skirtmishes and raids between the two groups likely continued.

The Crow might have got the reservation area in exchange for cooperation with U.S. gvtmnt. Psa Toka scouts with Custer. I don't know the answer.

The Cheyenne reservation is very close also.