I have been reading about this battle since I was a senior in high school. In fact, I wrote a term paper for Kathleen Norfleet about it. It has only taken 50-some years but I finally got to travel the battlefield in person.
Last Stand Hill
George Armstrong Custer, his brother Tom, his brother-in-law James Calhoun, and two nephews all perished at Little Big Horn. George and Tom died within feet of each other on Last Stand Hill, James a mile or so away.
The officers' bodies were removed to eastern cemeteries a year or two after the event, the enlisted men are buried together under the memorial. Rank has its privileges, I guess. GA Custer is buried at West Point.
Many of you know of my lifelong love of horses. Nice to see someone appreciated the horses who were sacrificed in a last-ditch attempt to provide some kind of cover against the attacking warriors. Soldiers shot their mounts and used them as breastworks since the hill is absolutely barren of anything to hide behind - no trees, no rocks, no nothing.
Of the 600 men Custer had, 263 died. The Native American losses are estimated at 40-100. The US Army was soundly trounced. The only reason they entire contingent wasn't destroyed was that the relief column was on its way and the Indians knew they needed to flee quickly.
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