General Custer and the 7th Cavalry came upon the Sioux encampment on the Little Bighorn on June 25 and decided to attack at once. Not realizing the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Sioux, most of whom lay concealed in ravines, he divided his regiment into three parts, to attack farther upstream, while he himself led the third (over 200 men) in a direct charge. Every one of them was killed in battle.
The Little Big Horn battle was easily the worst defeat ever sustained by the U.S. Army in Plains Indian warfare with the 7th Cavalry suffering 268 killed or dying of wounds, and 60 wounded. The news shocked the nation and gave rise to an endless debate about the facts, strategy and tactics of the battle which continues to the present day.
Contrary to what is depicted in the many movies and paintings, there were no sabers at the battle. Custer wanted to ride fast and as silently as possible. The sabers created a noisy clatter when a mounted unit was moving rapidly. The fact that Custer decided against carrying the sabers also marks the end of a custom in the mounted unit. The pistol had proven to be the weapon of choice in by the rapidly charging cavalryman. |
