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Custer's Last Stand: Little Bighorn.June 25, 1876
Historic Traveller.Com ^ | 6/25/2004 | Primedia

Posted on 06/25/2004 7:09:26 AM PDT by ijcr

Like the battle at the Alamo, the one fought at the Little Bighorn has entered the realm where history and legend merge. The basic facts are these: on June 25, 1876, seventh U.S. Cavalry troops commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer came upon history's largest known encampment of Indians beside the Little Bighorn River.

In the battle that followed, Custer and all the men with him—more than 260—were wiped out by the Sioux warriors of Chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse as well as Cheyenne warriors.

Ironically, the Native Americans' victory hastened their own downfall, as Custer's loss motivated the U.S. government to move even more aggressively against the Indians.

In a sense, Custer never died. Scores of books and movies have been dedicated to his "Last Stand," and even today the battlefield site is the subject of controversy.

Through the 1980s, the National Monument was called the Custer Battlefield, and events were interpreted in favor of Custer and his men.

In 1991 the Park Service changed the name to Little Bighorn Battlefield to introduce a more balanced interpretation of events. A memorial planned to commemorate the Indians who died in the battle promises a neutral interpretation, although its critics charge that it tips the scale too far the other way.

Gravestones mark the last stand of Custer and his men.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; US: Montana
KEYWORDS: 7thcalvary; americanindians; custer; history; littlebighorn; sioux
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To: Alberta's Child

Only because they wanted to be rounded up. Cold and hunger has a way of doing that. Otherwise there would have been six less Mounties.


61 posted on 06/25/2004 8:52:02 AM PDT by fish hawk
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To: Badeye

They awarded something like 24 - TWENTY-FOUR - CMOHs to men at Little Big Horn...


62 posted on 06/25/2004 8:53:21 AM PDT by Chad Fairbanks (Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.)
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To: Alberta's Child

They were very brave, but they had an advantage in that the Indians already regarded them as being representatives of the "Great Mother."


63 posted on 06/25/2004 8:55:03 AM PDT by junta
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

Yeah, and I'm sure those things are right smack dab on the Battlefield, too... not.

But hey, what's athread about indians without all the bitter "Casino/Gaming" references, right?


64 posted on 06/25/2004 8:56:36 AM PDT by Chad Fairbanks (Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.)
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To: Chad Fairbanks

They are right at the entrance to the battlefield and have greatly changed the landscape and the mood of the battlefield.


65 posted on 06/25/2004 9:00:17 AM PDT by BookmanTheJanitor
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

So, tell me - how is that different from any other battlefield park in this country? Nearly any battlefield I've been to in this country was bordered by the kitchiest tourist crap.

But, man, when the Indians do it... it's a bad thing.


66 posted on 06/25/2004 9:02:48 AM PDT by Chad Fairbanks (Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.)
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To: ijcr

Happy Birthday to me, too. I have always made this the claim to my birthday's fame.


67 posted on 06/25/2004 9:04:07 AM PDT by klute
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

Of course, I won't be happy until the Crow Agency opens up a Barber Shop right on the spot where Custer was killed. ;0)


68 posted on 06/25/2004 9:04:22 AM PDT by Chad Fairbanks (Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.)
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To: Chad Fairbanks

I was just going to ping you. (Interesting thread.)


69 posted on 06/25/2004 9:04:24 AM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (JUST SAY NO TO SIMS' CITY.)
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To: ijcr
.
My great great grandfather rode with Custer. We have a copy of his discharge signed by Custer.
.
70 posted on 06/25/2004 9:04:48 AM PDT by Jackie
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet

Happy Custer Got His Butt Kicked Day!


71 posted on 06/25/2004 9:05:08 AM PDT by Chad Fairbanks (Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.)
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To: Badeye
"I think it was PBS that did a fiction account called "The Trial of General Custer" ..."

The book (author: Douglas C. Jones) was far superior to the "movie".
In the book, the CMOH was given in exchange for Custer's resignation from the Army (as, in the book, he was acquitted of the Charges and so was able to remain in the Army).

In the book, as well, it does a far better job of explaining that, as a result of the Little Bighorn Battle, he was insane.

72 posted on 06/25/2004 9:06:16 AM PDT by BlueLancer (Der Elite Møøsënspåånkængrüppen ØberKømmändø (EMØØK))
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To: Jackie

I had an ancestor (a Blackfoot) at Little Big Horn. Small world ;0)


73 posted on 06/25/2004 9:06:55 AM PDT by Chad Fairbanks (Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.)
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To: ijcr

Monroe, Michigan has a big statue of Custer on His Horse at the city park. I believe he was from Monroe.


74 posted on 06/25/2004 9:09:39 AM PDT by sheikdetailfeather
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To: Chad Fairbanks

Bookman's right. It does look like crap. There are many people on the Crow Agency that hate it, including my mother-in-law.


75 posted on 06/25/2004 9:11:24 AM PDT by Troublemaker
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To: Troublemaker

I'm sure it does... But then, EVERYTHING gets commercialized these days, and it IS a shame... but, again, it's not just an indian thing. It's a human thing, unfortunately...


76 posted on 06/25/2004 9:12:39 AM PDT by Chad Fairbanks (Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.)
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To: Badeye
If I remember correctly, they concluded Custer died in the first ten or fifteen minuts.

SNIFF! You...you mean the Robert Shaw version of Custer was WRONG???

77 posted on 06/25/2004 9:16:03 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
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To: OrioleFan

According to my book "The Custer Companion" the message you quote was the last message sent by Custer and carried by the Italian immigrant John Martin. The Kanipe message that Custer sent to Capt. McDougall read, "Bring the pack train straight across to high ground- if packs get loose don't stop to fix them, cut them off. Come quick. Big Indian camp."


78 posted on 06/25/2004 9:16:08 AM PDT by junta
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To: Red Badger
None. They were Lakota Sioux........

Sounds like indians to me

I really don't care what they were, I wanna know the numbers. I'm sure Custer didn't lose in a one to one battle.
79 posted on 06/25/2004 9:18:07 AM PDT by Vision (Always Faithful)
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To: Chad Fairbanks

That gives me an idea. ; )


80 posted on 06/25/2004 9:19:51 AM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (JUST SAY NO TO SIMS' CITY.)
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