THE FALLEN AT THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN

The Battle of the Little Bighorn (known to the world over as Custers Last Stand) was fought on June 25-26, in the summer of 1876.

Under the political and spiritual leadership of Tatanka-Iyotanka (Sitting Bull), an estimated 7000 men, women, and children (1500-2000 of which were warriors) encamped along the Little Bighorn valley floor near the Little Bighorn River. It was one of the largest concentrations of Indians ever to assemble on the northern plains.

Lt. Col George Armstrong Custer led the U.S. Army consisting of five companies of the 7th Cavalry against the overwhelming force of Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. Such men as Crazy Horse, Lame White Man and Gall led the enraged warriors. After the brutal battle cleared, 210 cavalrymen and attached civilian personnel lay dead in the tall grasses of the battlefield.

For two-days, Major Marcus Reno and Captain Frederick Benteen would command the remaining seven companies of soldiers against warriors on the bluffs 4.5 miles south from Custer's doomed men. Many of these same soldiers would bury Custer and his fallen men on June 28, 1876.

And the rest is history.