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In the spring and summer of 1876 the United States Government launched
a military campaign upon a portion of the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, who
refused to live within the boundaries of the Great Sioux Reservation. They
chose to continue their traditional nomadic way of life. The campaign was
initiated when a Government ultimatum to return to the Great Sioux Reservation,
in South Dakota, by January 31st, 1876 was ignored.
Gen. Philip Sheridan responded by ordering three military expeditions to
approach the gathering Indians from the East, West and South. The Army anticipated
the off reservation Sioux and Cheyenne would be found in Eastern or South
Central Montana Territory.
As the military threat to these nomadic Sioux and Cheyenne developed,
they began to gather for protection. Sitting Bull became the spiritual
and political headman for the gathering village and remained so while
it was together. A few weeks before the Battle, Sitting Bull conducted
a Sun Dance during which he experienced a vision of a great victory over
soldiers.
Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer and 647 men of the 7th Cavalry, part
of the eastern column, were ordered by General Terry, south along Rosebud
Creek. Ahead of the main column, Custer's 6 Crow and 39 Arikara Indian
Scouts found the massive village. In the Valley of the Little Bighorn
River, the Seventh Cavalry and their Indian allies attacked the village
of 8,000 to 10,000 people, on June 25th,1876. After the battle was over,
263 7th Cavalrymen lay dead, including George Custer. 350 7th Cavalrymen
survived.
An accurate count of the Sioux and Cheyenne dead was not possible, but
at least 60 are known to have died. The Great Sioux War was an inevitable
conflict similar to other 17th, 18th, and 19th century conflicts between
indians and non-indians. All of the participants saw themselves as perhaps
patriots-fighting for their country, land, or way of life.
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