Still uncertain as to where Custer fell and when
Thicket Reno was forced to fight through
Always a solemn place
Good warriors fell on both sides
Where Custer crossed the Little Bighorn
This weekend is the 137th Anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The Battle of Greasy Hills to the Cheyenne and Sioux.
My history lessons didn't include the fact that Custer was an arrogant, self-absorbed jerk of a leader.
The Glory of "Custer's Last Stand" is, by and large a myth. Custer may have been one of the first to fall, as the Native Warriors targeted him from the beginning.
Custer's troops were poorly trained, poorly equipped and greatly out gunned (also not covered in the history books)
A series of misguided judgments on both sides led to this day. Gen Crook, a week earlier had engaged a Sioux war party at the Battle of the Rosebud. He greatly under-estimated the size and strength of the party and chose to retreat.
The war party saw the retreat and considered it a great victory, giving them a serious false sense of confidence.
If Crook had pressed the attack to victory, Sitting Bull would have never had the confidence to attack Custer and the 7th Cav. a week later.
It's good the archeology has helped to rewrite the story to get it right. Revision's of history wouldn't be needed if the truth were told in the first place.
Sometimes in life we just get our butt's kicked. We need to just admit it, learn from it, and move on.
