The Battle of Little Bighorn: Debunking the Myth

The Battle of Little Bighorn

• The Battle of Little Bighorn took place in Montana in 1876, where a combined force of Northern Plains Indians led by Sitting Bull defeated the U.S. 7th Cavalry led by George Armstrong Custer.

The Myth of Custer's Last Stand

• The traditional story of Custer's Last Stand portrays it as a heroic, gallant, and legendary last stand against a horde of Indian warriors.
• Archaeologists using forensic skills have uncovered evidence that contradicts this myth, revealing a gruesome and chaotic battle.

Indian Accounts

• The Indian stories of the battle were discounted as unreliable, but are now proven to be closer to the truth.
• The Indians describe chaos and panic among the Troopers, with no Gallant Last Stand.

Battlefield Investigation

• Archaeologists Douglas Scott and Richard Fox spent years investigating the battlefield, finding evidence that reveals how Custer was defeated.
• They analyzed bullet casings, cartridges, and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct the battle.

Forensic Analysis

• The bones of a Trooper revealed a gruesome death, with multiple injuries including a gunshot wound, blunt force trauma, and stab wounds.
• The remains of another Trooper, Vincent Charlie, were identified through forensic analysis, including a gunshot wound to the hip and a stick jammed down his throat.

The Battle

• On May 17, 1876, three columns of soldiers marched into Montana to force the Northern Plains Indians onto reservations.
• Custer's Crow Indian Scouts spotted an encampment, and Custer divided his force into three battalions to attack the Indian camp.
• Custer's column was defeated, with over 1500 warriors and more than 800 guns used against the soldiers.

Indian Firearms

• The Indians had a vast array of firearms, including muzzle-loading antiques, repeating rifles, and handguns.
• They acquired weapons from trading posts or by trade.

Cartridge Cases and Firing Pins

• Cartridge cases were analyzed to identify firing pins, revealing the movement of guns around the battlefield.
• Matching firing pin impressions showed that the same gun was used in different locations.

Indian Tactics

• Indian cartridges were found behind gullies and ridges, revealing their use of terrain to cover themselves from incoming fire.
• Connecting cartridge cases fired by the same gun revealed the movement of warriors across the battlefield.

The Truth About the 7th Cavalry

• The soldiers were mostly poor immigrants from Western Europe, averaging 22 years old, 5'7" tall, and 150 pounds.
• They suffered from poor health, with signs of tobacco use, bad diet, and little oral hygiene.
• The bones of the Troopers tell a story of rough lives, with signs of rheumatism and arthritis at a young age.### The Battle of Little Bighorn
• The Seventh Cavalry, led by George Armstrong Custer, was ill-prepared and exhausted when they rode into the valley of Little Bighorn, having been riding for weeks without rest.
• Forensic evidence shows that the Troopers were in poor physical condition for a fight, with back problems and toothaches.

Custer's Tactics

• Custer's Cavalry tactics were laid out in a manual written in 1874, which involved deploying Troopers on foot in a skirmish line, with each soldier spaced five yards apart.
• The skirmish line was designed to respond to the increasing accuracy of firearms, but it proved to be ineffective against the Indians' guerrilla warfare tactics.

The Battle

• The battle began with Custer's left wing, consisting of 80 Troopers, pursuing the Indian women and children, while the right wing, consisting of 120 men, deployed near Calhoun Hill.
• The Indians, who were armed with Henry rifles, were able to outmaneuver the Troopers and inflict heavy casualties.
• The Troopers, who were armed with single-shot Springfield carbines, were unable to concentrate their firepower and were quickly overwhelmed.

Indian Tactics

• The Indians, who were skilled hunters and warriors, fought individually and used the terrain to their advantage, employing hit-and-run tactics to pick off the Troopers.
• They were able to close in on the Troopers and use their repeating rifles to devastating effect, particularly within a 200-yard range.

Turning Point of the Battle

• The turning point of the battle occurred when the right wing, led by Captain Keo, was attacked by the Indians and panicked, leading to a collapse of the Troopers' line.
• The Indians took advantage of the Troopers' disarray and inflicted heavy casualties, eventually killing 105 men and forcing the survivors to flee.

Last Stand Hill

• The final stand of the Troopers took place on Last Stand Hill, where Custer and his remaining men were surrounded and killed.
• Archaeological evidence shows that the Indians had many Springfield carbines taken from the dead and wounded Troopers, which they used to attack Custer's men.
• The last fighting did not take place on Last Stand Hill, but rather in a nearby ravine called Deep Ravine.

Aftermath

• The battle lasted around 90 minutes, and 268 men were killed, including Custer.
• The Indians also suffered heavy casualties, with an estimated 50-100 warriors killed.
• The battle marked the beginning of the end of the Northern Plains Indians' way of life, as they were eventually forced onto reservations and their land was taken over by the US government.

Archaeological Evidence

• Archaeological evidence, including cartridge cases and personal items, has confirmed the Indian accounts of the battle.
• The evidence has also revealed the tactics employed by the Troopers and the Indians, including the use of skirmish lines and guerrilla warfare.
• The discovery of an unfired bullet on Last Stand Hill has provided a poignant reminder of the desperation and chaos of the final moments of the battle.

Identification of Troopers

• Forensic evidence, including skull fragments, has been used to identify the remains of Troopers killed in the battle.
• One such identification was made possible by the discovery of a skull fragment with a distinctive nose and upper teeth, which was matched to a photograph of Mitch Boyer, a Custer Scout.