Custer, George Armstrong (1839-1876), was a United States Army officer who won fame as an American Civil War general and Indian fighter. Indian fighter is a historical term that was once used to describe a soldier or other individual who was noted for battling Native Americans. Custer is best remembered for his role in the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25 and 26, 1876, in the Montana Territory. In this battle, which is also known as “Custer’s Last Stand,” Sioux and Cheyenne warriors killed Custer and all of the men under his direct command. The Battle of the Little Bighorn became famous because of disagreement over the reasons for Custer’s defeat.
Early career.
Custer was born in New Rumley, Ohio, on Dec. 5, 1839. As a boy, he wanted to be a soldier. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1861, ranking last in his class. But during the American Civil War, which had just begun, Custer quickly gained attention as a fearless cavalry leader. In 1863, at the age of 23, he was made a brigadier general, and in 1865, a major general, both temporary ranks.
Many who served with the bold “boy general” admired his bravery and success. Many others felt that Custer was overly proud and too sure of his abilities. Some of his enemies were jealous of him and called Custer a “glory hunter.” But he captured the public’s attention and became a hero in the North.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, the Army dropped Custer to his regular rank of captain. He joined the Seventh Cavalry Regiment in 1866 as a lieutenant colonel. Custer won greater fame and made more enemies as an Indian fighter in the southern Great Plains region and in the Dakota and Montana territories.
The 1876 campaign.
In early 1876, Custer’s regiment joined troops organized to force the Sioux and Cheyenne onto reservations. General Alfred H. Terry commanded the expedition. In June, the main part of the army force reached an area in the Montana Territory where Terry expected to find many Sioux who had refused to settle in reservations. Terry ordered Custer’s regiment to get in a position south of the Sioux encampment.
On the morning of June 25, Custer’s scouts found a Native American village about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away. It lay in the valley along the Little Bighorn River. Custer expected to find about 1,000 warriors. He believed his 650 soldiers could easily capture the village. However, the camp really had at least 2,000 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. This group, whose leaders included Crazy Horse , Gall , and Sitting Bull , was probably the largest gathering of Native American warriors in Western history.
The battle.
Custer decided to attack immediately. He split his regiment into three main groups—one under Captain Frederick W. Benteen, one under Major Marcus A. Reno , and one under himself. He sent Benteen to the south to prevent anyone from escaping in that direction. He ordered Reno to cross the Little Bighorn and attack the village. Custer’s group turned north and went downstream, probably to attack a weak point in the village.
After intense fighting in the valley, Reno’s badly beaten troops retreated up the hills on the other side of the river. Benteen’s group joined Reno’s men there. About 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) away from this site, Cheyenne and Sioux warriors killed Custer and his entire unit of approximately 210 soldiers. The fighting may have lasted only one hour. The Cheyenne and Sioux fought Benteen and Reno’s troops until June 26. Later that day, they disbanded their camp and left the territory. Terry arrived with his soldiers on June 27.
The controversy.
Americans found it difficult to accept that any group of Native Americans could have killed such an accomplished officer and all his men. Custer’s critics accused him of disobeying Terry by attacking without waiting for the main body of soldiers. Custer’s supporters charged that Reno had been a coward, and could have rescued Custer if he had not retreated. Others blamed Terry and his aides for not knowing the size of the enemy’s force. Historians still argue about the reasons for Custer’s defeat, but no one really knows.
See also Indian wars (Little Bighorn)
