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© Copyright 1998, Jim Loy
Colonel (formerly Major General) George Armstrong Custer died, with all of his men (the 7th Cavalry), at the Little Bighorn in Montana, on June 25, 1876. They were greatly outnumbered by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, who were led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
Custer has come down to us as a classic example of arrogance and stupidity. Was the Little Bighorn battle a particularly stupid battle? Personally, I don't think so.
Custer had inadequate (mostly inaccurate) information. This happens, to some extent, in nearly every famous battle in history. The Little Bighorn battle was not a very remarkable example of this.
Custer knew almost exactly where the Indians were. He did not know that he was out-numbered and out-gunned. His attack looks (to me) to be very intelligent, considering his misinformation. He tried to attack the Indians from high ground, with Reno's (Custer's subordinate) attack as something of a diversion. Most of Reno's men survived, probably luckily. Only an energetic attack by the Indians, before Custer was ready, destroyed Custer's attack and his men.
Custer's defeat spelled the beginning of the end for the Indians. It strengthened the U.S. Government's commitment to put the Indians on reservations.