Native American Research and Historical Preservation Society
Please use the following link to read the story as reported by Mahr-itah thee sah-ka roosh in his own words.
http://www.astonisher.com/archives/museum/white_man_runs_him_little_big_horn.html
also this link on Horned Horse who watched the battle from the hillside
http://www.astonisher.com/archives/museum/horned_horse_big_horn.html
http://american-tribes.com/Lakota/BIO/HornedHorse.htm
http://www.astonisher.com/archives/museum/white_man_runs_him_little_big_horn.html
also this link on Horned Horse who watched the battle from the hillside
http://www.astonisher.com/archives/museum/horned_horse_big_horn.html
http://american-tribes.com/Lakota/BIO/HornedHorse.htm
"Forty Years ago I fought Custer till all were dead. I was then the enemy of the Whitemen. Now I am the friend and brother, living in peace together under the flag of our country."
~Two Moons, Northern Cheyenne
"If this memorial is to serve its total purpose, it must not only be a tribute to the dead;
it must contain a message for the living...power through unity..."
~Enos Poor Bear, Sr., Oglala Lakota Elder
After the Battle at Little Big Horn, there were mixed versions as to what happened. Custer and his men were portrayed as heros and the Sioux as villains. John Finerty spent some time researching what probably happened, interviewing both Sioux warriors who fought at the battle and men from the 7th Cavalry.
Between June 22nd and June 24th, Custer and the 7th Cavalry had marched about 140 km. On the 24th, Custer ordered his men to stop and wait for the reports from scouts. That night his scouts informed Custer that the Sioux were camped in the valley of the Little Big Horn River.
To get to the Big Horn River, the cavalry would have to cross the Rosebud Creek, to the east of the Sioux’s camp. Custer's scouts told him that this could only be done during the day despite the fact that Custer wanted a night time crossing to catch the Sioux unawares early on the 25th June.
Custer and his men continued their march at 5 a.m. and crossed the Rosebud Creek at 8.00 a.m. Some Sioux warriors saw the unit and any chance of a surprise attack was lost.
Custer decided that his only option was to attack. Custer divided his men into four sections. He commanded Troops C, E, F, I and L. The other commanding officers were Reno, Benteen and McDougall.
Benteen was originally detailed to hunt out Sioux warriors several miles from where the bulk of the 7th Cavalry were. However, he got an urgent message to return to the main battle zone and assisted Reno’s section. On route, he met up with McDougall who joined him and the besieged Reno. Fighting with the Sioux lasted until the 27th June. However, Custer and his men were now isolated.
No member of the 5 troops under Custer's command survived. Men in Reno’s section claimed that when Custer saw the size of the Sioux camp, he took off his hat and waved it in the air shouting "Hurrah! Custer's luck!"
Horned Horse, an elderly Sioux chief, watched what happened next from a hillside. Horned Horse claimed that the Sioux camp was so large that it stretched for nearly 8 km. As Custer and his men descended to the Big Horn River, they were met with rifle fire from the Sioux. Custer tried to get his men to join Reno, Benteen and McDougall who were on higher ground above the river.
However, the Sioux had crossed the river by foot and had all but surrounded Custer. The soldiers dismounted and returned fire. Horned Horse claimed that the firefight went on for some time and that the soldiers put up great resistance. But they were overwhelmed. Horned Horse had seen many massacres but nothing like this. He claimed that the Big Horn River was red with the blood of the dead.
Reno and the men on higher ground lasted out until reinforcements led by General Gibbon arrived on the 27th June. On seeing the arrival of fresh troops, the Sioux withdrew. Gibbon then went to see where Custer had been fighting. He was shocked by what he saw. All the dead soldiers had been stripped naked and many had been mutilated. Custer's body was untouched though, as if out of respect for his courage.
Between June 22nd and June 24th, Custer and the 7th Cavalry had marched about 140 km. On the 24th, Custer ordered his men to stop and wait for the reports from scouts. That night his scouts informed Custer that the Sioux were camped in the valley of the Little Big Horn River.
To get to the Big Horn River, the cavalry would have to cross the Rosebud Creek, to the east of the Sioux’s camp. Custer's scouts told him that this could only be done during the day despite the fact that Custer wanted a night time crossing to catch the Sioux unawares early on the 25th June.
Custer and his men continued their march at 5 a.m. and crossed the Rosebud Creek at 8.00 a.m. Some Sioux warriors saw the unit and any chance of a surprise attack was lost.
Custer decided that his only option was to attack. Custer divided his men into four sections. He commanded Troops C, E, F, I and L. The other commanding officers were Reno, Benteen and McDougall.
Benteen was originally detailed to hunt out Sioux warriors several miles from where the bulk of the 7th Cavalry were. However, he got an urgent message to return to the main battle zone and assisted Reno’s section. On route, he met up with McDougall who joined him and the besieged Reno. Fighting with the Sioux lasted until the 27th June. However, Custer and his men were now isolated.
No member of the 5 troops under Custer's command survived. Men in Reno’s section claimed that when Custer saw the size of the Sioux camp, he took off his hat and waved it in the air shouting "Hurrah! Custer's luck!"
Horned Horse, an elderly Sioux chief, watched what happened next from a hillside. Horned Horse claimed that the Sioux camp was so large that it stretched for nearly 8 km. As Custer and his men descended to the Big Horn River, they were met with rifle fire from the Sioux. Custer tried to get his men to join Reno, Benteen and McDougall who were on higher ground above the river.
However, the Sioux had crossed the river by foot and had all but surrounded Custer. The soldiers dismounted and returned fire. Horned Horse claimed that the firefight went on for some time and that the soldiers put up great resistance. But they were overwhelmed. Horned Horse had seen many massacres but nothing like this. He claimed that the Big Horn River was red with the blood of the dead.
Reno and the men on higher ground lasted out until reinforcements led by General Gibbon arrived on the 27th June. On seeing the arrival of fresh troops, the Sioux withdrew. Gibbon then went to see where Custer had been fighting. He was shocked by what he saw. All the dead soldiers had been stripped naked and many had been mutilated. Custer's body was untouched though, as if out of respect for his courage.