July 25th
Home2 Suites Billings MT to Little Big Horn Montana and on to Best Western Premier, Cody WY(113 miles 2 hours +151 miles , 4 hours give or take)
Significance of the place
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, known to the Lakota and other Plains Indians as the Battle of the Greasy Grass] and also commonly referred to as Custer's Last Stand, was an armed engagement between combined forces of the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army. The battle, which resulted in the defeat of US forces, was the most significant action of the Great Sioux War of 1876. It took place on June 25–26, 1876, along the Little Bighorn River in the Crow Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana Territory.
Brief History:
The fight was an overwhelming victory for the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho, who were led by several major war leaders, including Crazy Horse and Chief Gall, and had been inspired by the visions of Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake). The US 7th Cavalry, including the Custer Battalion, a force of 700 men led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, suffered a major defeat. Five of the 7th Cavalry's 12 companies were annihilated and Custer was killed, as were two of his brothers, a nephew and a brother-in-law. The total US casualty count included 268 dead and 55 severely wounded (six died later from their wounds), including four Crow Indian scouts and two Pawnee Indian scouts.
Drive there:
Started out early - Via Route 310.We arrived in Cody in the afternoon, stopping at a Dairy Queen for lunch. DQ’s began to figure in our trip from this point onwards!
What we did:
a) We were some of the first tourists that day. We first went to Fort Kearny – saw just the remains of it. We went to the Visitor’s Center and were in time to listen to a 45 minute talk about the battle. The Ranger almost reenacted the battle – he was so passionate. (Obviously a Native American). We then walked up the hill and saw where Custer’s body was found. We saw various memorials to the battle – Custer’s being at the top of the hill and one memorializing the Native Americans half way down. We then drove along the ridge and back. This was definitely a moving experience – reminding me about the plight of native Americans.
b) Arrived in Cody in the late afternoon. After checking in to the hotel we went out for Mexican food before the Rodeo. Just at the end of dinner Shree was struck by a severe nose bleed and was dropped off at the hotel. The others went on to the night rodeo and brought back a lasso for Shree.
Impressions:
It was a beautiful day. At Fort Kearny, imagined what it was like to be a soldier in those times. The gravity of the history hit home to all of us. In the car, John kept playing what first sounded like a funny song which later, as we learned about what really happened and turned into a sad one….. “ Please Mr. Custer…. Cody is more typical of a western town that Billings.
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