CUSTER’S LAST STAND

From Sheridan we drove up to Montana to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.  We had a beautiful day and enjoyed the time we spent driving around the battlefield and walking through the museum at the visitor’s center. 

View of the battlefield.  There are white markers here and there.  Hard to see.

Last Stand Hill.  In the middle of the picture is the spot where Custer fell.  At the time of the battle, the fallen soldiers were quickly buried where they fell but have since been moved to other locations so now the markers indicate only where they were found.  Visitor Center and Veteran National Cemetery in the distance.

A close-up of Custer’s marker.

This is a large grave marker located at the top of Last Stand Hill where many of the soldiers were buried in a mass grave.  Many could not be identified.  Those who could be identified, such as Custer and his officers, were later sent back east to their families for their final burial.

The Veterans Memorial National Cemetery near the visitor’s center.

Because the Indians returned after the battle and carried off their dead, it is unknown where the Indians who were killed actually fell.  In recent years the government and the Tribal Council have marked the known locations of the braves who fell with these red granite markers.  This is the only one we saw, that of a Cheyenne warrior.  Very few Indians were killed in this battle, 60 to 100, the count is uncertain.  Whereas, the army lost more than 260 soldiers and attached personnel.  Although the Indians won the battle, they later lost the war and were forced to surrender.

Across the road from Last Stand Hill and the large marker honoring the fallen soldiers is this memorial to the Indians who died defending their way of life and those things they held sacred.

All along the drive, here and there were scattered these markers.  Sometimes five or six together, sometimes only one.

Little Bighorn River meandering through the valley which is now a prime ranching area.

We had a good day here at the Battlefield.  It was quiet and peaceful, a little depressing but it also had the feel of reverence throughout the Monument.