The most significant battle of the Great Sioux War of 1876, resulting in the total defeat of five companies of the U.S. 7th Cavalry and the death of Lt. Col. Custer.
Key Facts
- Date
- June 25–26, 1876
- U.S. Force Size
- 700 men, 7th Cavalry Regiment
- U.S. Dead
- 268 soldiers
- U.S. Severely Wounded
- 55 soldiers
- Companies Wiped Out
- 5 of 12 companies destroyed
- Commander Killed
- Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Lakota Sioux expansion into Crow treaty lands, white encroachment into the sacred Black Hills, and broader U.S. displacement of native tribes around Fort Laramie created mounting tensions. The U.S. Army launched a campaign in 1876 to force non-treaty Lakota and their allies back onto reservations, setting the stage for direct military confrontation along the Little Bighorn River.
On June 25–26, 1876, Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer led the 7th Cavalry Regiment in an attack on a large encampment of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors along the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory. Warriors led by Crazy Horse, Chief Gall, and inspired by Sitting Bull's visions overwhelmed and annihilated five of Custer's twelve companies, killing Custer and 268 U.S. soldiers total.
The battle was a major military victory for the allied tribes but ultimately accelerated U.S. punitive campaigns that forced the Lakota and Cheyenne onto reservations within months. Custer became a celebrated martyr in American popular culture for decades, though his reputation was later reappraised by historians. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument now commemorates those who fought on both sides.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer.
Side B
1 belligerent
Crazy Horse, Chief Gall, Sitting Bull.