Updated · Letters from an American | Heather Cox Richardson · Jun 26
Lakota Warriors Wiped Out Custer's 263-Man Force at Little Bighorn 150 Years Ago
Updated
Updated · Letters from an American | Heather Cox Richardson · Jun 26
Lakota Warriors Wiped Out Custer's 263-Man Force at Little Bighorn 150 Years Ago
3 articles · Updated · Letters from an American | Heather Cox Richardson · Jun 26
Summary
June 25, 1876 marked the battle in which Custer’s 7th Cavalry was annihilated after attacking a Lakota encampment on the Little Bighorn, with the U.S. Army losing 263 men against about 40 Lakota dead.
Custer badly underestimated the force before him: Sitting Bull’s camp had swelled to about 7,000 people, including roughly 1,800 warriors, after Lakota and Cheyenne fighters gathered following the June 17 Battle of the Rosebud.
His own tactics deepened the disaster. Custer split the 7th Cavalry into three battalions, Reno was driven into the bluffs, Benteen was sent out of action, and Lakota fighters stampeded Custer’s horses before surrounding his men.
The clash capped years of conflict over U.S. expansion into Lakota lands, from the abandoned Bozeman Trail to the Black Hills gold rush that followed Custer’s 1874 expedition and broke an 1868 treaty meant to guarantee the territory.
Was Custer's fatal mistake underestimating his enemy's numbers, or their profound will to fight?
150 years after the battle, is the fight for the sacred Black Hills entering its final chapter?
Beyond 'Custer's Last Stand,' how is the story of the battle being rewritten for a new generation?
The 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn: Indigenous Resilience, Historical Reckoning, and Ongoing Struggles for Justice
Overview
The 150th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn in June 2026 has become a powerful celebration of Native American survival and resilience. Marked by significant gatherings, many tribes and families set up camps near commemorative events, such as the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe’s camp with its tipis serving as a hub for community and discussion among leaders and elders. These gatherings highlight a deep connection to the land and the enduring presence of Indigenous peoples, showing how the anniversary is not just about remembering the past, but also about honoring cultural heritage and unity today.