Custer Battlefield Custer Battlefield National Monument, in south­ Reno, with orders from Custer to cross the river and attack, advanced down the Little Bighorn NATIONAL MONUMENT • , memorializes one of the last armed efforts of the Northern Plains Indians to Valley and struck the upper end of the camp. resist the westward march of the white man's Outflanked by the defending warriors, he re­ civilization. Here on June 25-26, 1876, in the treated in disorder to the river and took up de­ valley of the Little , over 260 sol­ fensive positions on the bluffs beyond. Here he diers and attached personnel of the U.S. Army was soon joined by Benteen, who had hurried met defeat and death at the hands of several forward under written orders from Custer to thousand and warriors. Among "Come on; Big village, be quick, bring packs." the dead were Lt. Col. George A. Custer and Hearing heavy gunfire from the north, Reno and every member of his immediate command of Benteen assumed that Custer was engaged and about 225 men. Although the Indians won this set out to join him. An advance company under battle, they lost the war against the white man, Capt. Thomas B. Weir marched a mile or so who finally ended their independent, nomadic downstream to a high hill,from which the Custer way of life. battlefield was visible. By this time, however, the firing had stopped. When the rest of the command arrived on the hill it was attacked The conflict between the white man and Indian by a large force of Indians, and Reno ordered a had begun with the arrival of the first settlers withdrawal to the original position on the bluffs from Europe and continued relentlessly for overlooking the Little Bighorn. Here he was sur­ three centuries —sometimes around the camp- rounded by an overwhelming Indian force and fire, sometimes at treaty grounds, but more suffered heavy casualties in the ensuing fight. often on the battlefield. Custer Battlefield, with The Indians withdrew on the approach of the its scattered white marble markers, is a reminder THE CAMPAIGN OF 1876 columns under Gibbon and Terry on June 26. of that long struggle for possession of the Ameri­ The Army's campaign against the Sioux and can continent. But more particularly it com­ Cheyenne called for three separate expedi­ In the meantime, Custer had ridden into history memorates the part the U.S. Army played in tions—Gen. George Crook's force from Fort and legend. His movements after separating conquering the last frontier. Fetterman in , Col. John Gibbon's from Reno's battalion are shrouded in mystery. command from Fort Ellis in Montana, and Gen. All that is definitely known is that his command IMMEDIATE CAUSE FOR INDIAN WAR Alfred H. Terry's troops from Fort Abraham was surrounded and destroyed by the Indians. Lincoln in Dakota Territory. These columns were The only survivor was a horse named Comanche. The end of the Civil War saw the vigorous re­ to converge on the main body of the hostile In­ In the battle, the 7th Cavalry lost the five com­ sumption of the white man's great westward dians, concentrated in southeastern Montana •&U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1970 392-712/39 panies (C, E, F, I, and L) that were under Custer. emigration. With it came the inevitable en­ under the leadership of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse REPRINT 1970 The other seven companies of the regiment, croachment on Indian domain with little regard and other famous war chiefs. for the sanctity of hunting grounds or treaty under Reno and Benteen, suffered additional agreements. The Indians resisted stoutly. To Crook clashed with the hostiles in March 1876 casualties of 47 dead and 52 wounded. Except end the conflict, the U.S. Government in 1868, and again in June, the Indians moving west for Custer and his officers, those killed in the at Fort Laramie, Wyo., signed a treaty with the toward the Little Bighorn. In mid-June Terry battle are buried around the base of the granite Sioux, Cheyenne, and other tribes of the Great and Gibbon met at the junction of the Yellow­ memorial on the battlefield. Most of the officers' Plains, designating a large area in western Da­ stone and Rosebud Rivers. Hoping to find the bodies were exhumed and sent elsewhere a year kota and part of eastern Wyoming as a per­ Indians in the Little Bighorn Valley, Terry after the battle. Custer's remains are buried at manent Indian reservation. The Government ordered Custer and the 7th Cavalry up the Rose­ West Point. promised "to protect... [them] against the bud to approach the Little Bighorn from the commission of all depredations by people of the south. Terry himself would accompany Gibbon's Indian losses are not known. Probably less than ." force back up the Yellowstone and Bighorn to 100 were killed. approach from the north. In 1874, gold was discovered in the , THE MONUMENT the heart of the Indian reservation. News of BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN Custer Battlefield was designated a National As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the strike spread quickly and soon thousands The 7th Cavalry, numbering about 700 men, Cemetery in 1 879, and renamed a National Mon­ the Department of the Interior has basic respon­ of eager gold seekers swarmed into the region located the Indian camp on June 25. Custer, ument in 1946. The monument's 1.2 square sibilities for water, fish, wildlife, mineral, land, in violation of the Fort Laramie treaty. The underestimating the strength of the Indians, miles include that part of the battlefield where park, and recreational resources. Indian and Ter­ Army tried to keep them out, but to no avail. decided to attack the camp and divided his regi­ Custer and hismendiedand —ina separate sec­ ritorial affairs are other major concerns of The Indians became more defiant over this dis­ ment into three battalions. Three companies tion upstream—the site of the Reno-Benteen America's "Department of Natural Resources." regard of the 1868 peace agreement, which under Capt. Frederick W. Benteen were sent defense perimeter. The Department works to assure the wisest resulted in an exodus of Sioux and Cheyenne to scout the bluffs to the left, while three com­ choice in managing all our resources so each from the reservation. In December 1875, the panies under Maj. Marcus A. Reno and five will make its full contribution to a better United Commissioner of Indian Affairs ordered the ADMINISTRATION under Custer marched on opposite banks of a States—now and in the future. tribes to return before January 31, 1876, or small creek toward the Indian village in the Custer Battlefield National Monument is admin­ thereafter be regarded as hostiles "and treated Little Bighorn Valley. istered by the National Park Service, U.S. De­ accordingly by the military force." When the partment of the Interior. A superintendent, Indians did not comply, the Army was called in When near the Little Bighorn, Custer turned whose address is Crow Agency, Mont. 59022, U. S. Department of the Interior to enforce the order. north toward the lower end of the Indian camp. is in immediate charge. National Park Service attack on Custer's battalion. About 2 miles far­ ABOUT YOUR VISIT of the battle and how best to see the battlefield. indicating where C and E Companies were over­ whelmed can be seen on a knoll between the hill ther, the road cuts through Weir Point, the high National Cemetery. A short distance west of and the river. hill where Captain Weir halted in the attempt to the visitor center and accessible by foot is Cus­ break through to aid Custer on the afternoon Custer Battlefield is in the heart of the Crow ter Battlefield National Cemetery. Soldiers Battle Ridge. The road continues to the south of June 25, 1876. Indian Reservation of southeastern Montana. killed in several notable Indian engagements of for about one-half mile along the crest of the U.S. 87 (Int. 90) passes 1 mile to the west, and the Northern Plains are buried here with veter­ ridge. Identified by interpretive signs are Reno-Benteen Battlefield. The road terminates U.S. 212 connects the monument with the Black ans of more recent wars. groups of markers denoting where the men of at the 7th Cavalry Memorial, Vk miles south of Hills and Yellowstone National Park. Crow Companies F, I, and L fell in the battle. At the Weir Point. This granite shaft stands on the Agency is 2 miles to the north, and Hardin, 15. Custer Hill. The road continues beyond the visi­ end of the ridge a spur road loops around Cal­ north edge of Reno's position. Immediately The nearest large cities are Billings, Mont., tor center to Custer Hill, dominated by the mon­ houn Hill, a flank of the L Company position. south of it is the depression in which the hospi­ 65 miles northwest, and Sheridan, Wyo., 70 ument erected over the mass grave of the sol­ tal was located, and beyond the hospital site is miles south. diers killed in the battle. From here you can get Road to Reno-Benteen Battlefield. Those wish­ the ridge held by Captain Benteen during the an excellent view of most of the battlefield as ing to visit the site of Reno's siege may proceed battle. Visitors who wish to view the battle­ Following are the principal features of interest well as the valley in which the Indian village on a 4-mile road leading across Crow Indian field closely may follow the Entrenchment Trail included in the monument: was located. On the west side of the hill just be­ Reservation land to the detached section that (a trail guide may be obtained at a self-service low the monument is a cluster of 52 markers contains the battlefield. Visitors must return by box at the Reno-Benteen Battlefield). From Visitor center. You should stop first at the showing as nearly as possible where the rem­ the same route. After leaving Custer Battlefield, Reno Hill is a fine view of the valley from which visitor center, on the right side of the entrance nant of Custer's battalion gathered for the "last this road drops close to the Little Bighorn near Reno retreated on the afternoon of June 25. road about one-quarter mile from the main en­ stand." Custer, his brothers, Tom and Boston, the mouth of Medicine Tail and Deep Coulees. trance. Here museum exhibits, literature, and and his nephew, "Autie" Reed, were all found in Here, opposite the center of the Indian village, There are no camping or picnicking facilities at National Park Service personnel tell the story this group. West of the monument, the markers the Indians crossed the river to make the first the monument.

CUSTER BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT MONTANA

REV. AUG. 1968 JAN. 1959 NM-CUS-7001