A Good Day to Die (1988): Documentary on the Battle of the Little Bighorn

[Music] [Music] you [Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Music] [Music] Oh [Music] [Music] Oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] in the fall of 1875 the inexorable march of events on the Northern Plains brought President Grant face-to-face with a dilemma the surge of frontier pressure to seize the gold-bearing Black Hills Dakota the very heart of the permanent reservation of the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes was growing uh turley irresistible yet solemn treaty obligations made such a seizure patently illegal ten years earlier the close of the Civil War had released the vast tide of white emigration to the plains and the mountains beyond no longer left to a slow measured pace forward the white locusts rode the great iron horse swiftly westward the Union Pacific was building toward California along the Platte River it's Eastern Division was about to take the Smoky Hill route across Kansas to Denver the Northern Pacific would ultimately follow the Yellowstone through Montana and beyond no one understood better than inland how surely wagon trail and the re-enforce drove off the buffalo herds the very foundation of the Indian economy and how surely miners and settlers would follow to destroy the land while robbing and killing the Indian himself desperate and bitter resistance was the only recourse open to the threatened tribes chief Red Cloud says the suit against the white invasion by 1867 the Union Pacific Railroad and the Bozeman trail with its bristling forts real phil kearny and CF smith were the targets of Red Cloud Union Pacific crews now under constant harassment slowed the Bozeman trail was closed to civilians battles raged along its length Congress now ordered a Peace Commission to restore order and end Red Cloud's two-year war the resulting 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie granted the Sioux all of present South Dakota west of the Missouri River as the Great Sioux Reservation here the Indian would live in peace growing food and clothing from government agencies along the river the Sioux and the Cheyenne were asked to give up the vast area over which they were accustomed to Rome and to confine themselves to an area too small to support life by the chase other treaty articles spelled out the government's obligations to civilize the Indian and convert him to an industrious farmer the Sioux warrior and hunter despised manual labor in general and detested farming in particular many soot and their allies the Cheyenne did not wish to be herded to the white man's treated lands in the summer of 1868 the fort's were abandoned the soldiers were leaving the Indian was given to understand that he retained his full right to live in the old ways in the vast unceded territory without trespass or interference from whites On June 29th 1869 only four months from the signing of the treaty under a directive from General William Tecumseh Sherman the scope of a military pen unilaterally nullified all the concessions and restored the treaty to its original unacceptable form all Indians outside the well defined limits of their reservations as a rule will be considered hostile the gates were opened [Music] gold was discovered on Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer's 1874 expedition into the Black Hills and the gates were ripped from their hinges for the Fords of adventurers from all points of the compass and struck by Gold Fever [Music] [Music] [Music] on December 6 1875 Indian Commissioner EP Smith directed his Indian agents to communicate the Sitting Bull and other hostile Chiefs and ultimatum surrender at their agencies by January 31st 1876 or be considered hostile and be driven in by military force during this critical winter the reservations were even more repellent by midwinter famine had struck there had been long-standing rumors of the removal of all the Sioux eastward near the detested Missouri River in order to save a few dollars in freight charges On January 18th the agents imposed an embargo on the sale of arms and ammunition to be enforced by the military to the agency Indian the sudden embargo especially in the face of famine amounted to a grave threat and an alarming omen of white man evils to Kali the effect was to drive unusually large numbers of Indians from the agencies in the spring of 1876 [Music] the January 31st deadline came and went without result February 3rd the adjutant general is directing the general of the army to take immediate measures to compel these Indians to return to their reservations Philip H Sheridan commander the division of the Missouri is given command of the campaign wasting no time On February 8th he sent wires to General Alfred H Terry General George crook to prepare for operations against the hostels On February 25th Terry informed Colonel John Gibbon commander the district of Montana to plan a campaign down the Yellowstone Valley on the theory that crook is coming up from the Salt delays by given forced crook into a sole operation of Sheridan's winter campaign and as he prepared to move against the Indians his personal aide lieutenant John Bork confided in his diary that we are now on the eve of the bloodiest Indian war the government has ever been called upon to wage the war with a tribe that has waxed bad and insolent on government bounty and has been armed and equipped with the most improved weapons by the carelessness of the Indian agent on March 16th working up the Powder River Krupp gave Colonel Joseph J Reynolds the command of a strike force of nearly 400 men with orders to attack a large village supposed to be nearby crook would rendezvous with Reynolds at the mouth of lodgepole Creek after the battle Reynolds inept handling of his command led to the escape of nearly all the villagers and left four troopers dead and several wounded on March 26 crooks column returned to Fort Fetterman for General Crook then began to refit his command for an extended campaign to the Indian the most important point of crooks check on the Powder River was to convince all Indians that the ultimatum from Washington meant that they were marked for extermination and their lands procedure by the white man the dreaded day had come when they must fight for survival in bitter desperation they began gathering into larger camps for self-preservation general Sheridan's Witter campaign had turned into a spring campaign now involving three forces the first prong of the campaign was directed by Colonel John Gibbon commanding the Montana column the second prong was headed by General Alfred Terry commanding the Dakota column from Fort Lincoln and the third prong would be General George crooks weilman column from Fort Fetterman now freshly outfitted the first to take the field was Gibbons Montana column with 450 men leaving from fort Ellis Montana early in April to march down the yellowstone river and blocked the indians possible escape to the north scouting for Gibbon were 25 crow Indians mortal enemies of the Sioux general Alfred H Terry's Dakota column marched out of Fort Lincoln on May 17th this force consisted of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer's impressive 7th cavalry together with infantry to guard the Train of 150 supply wagons the 7th cavalry numbered about 700 the entire column more than 935 Arikara Indians also enemies of the Sioux wrote as Scouts refitted General Crook finally moved north for the second time on May 29th nearly two weeks after Terry and Custer crypt led more than a thousand men near the head of the Tong River the command paused to await the arrival of Crow and Shoshone Indian allies as the military columns converged on the Indian country the northern bands moved slowly up rosebud Creek early in June they paused for a Sun Dance the annual Rite of tribal renewal and spiritual rededication during the ceremony Sitting Bull experienced a vision saying he saw many dead soldiers falling upside down into our camp the spring grass not only fattened the ponies of the rolling bands but also set in motion the annual spring movement of their kinsmen from the agencies this year the reservation groups went away and anger over the white man's attempt to force the sale of the Black Hills and the government's war against these roaming bands as the Indians moved up to rosebud and across to the Little Bighorn they kept Scouts ranging in all directions they did not want to be surprised again as at Powder River on June 16 Scouts brought word of soldiers coming from the south an estimated six to fifteen hundred warriors rode forth to make certain the soldiers did not get too close to their village the scouts have spotted general crooks column as the command halted for mid-morning coffee on June 17 the soon Cheyenne warriors poured down the slopes into the Rosebud Valley and nearly over and the surprised soldiers the actions of the civilian Packers and Indian allies along with the recall of the advanced cavalry battalion saved crook from disaster after six hours of fierce fighting the attackers pulled on and returned to their village badly mauled crook returned to his base camp he would not move again until he received reinforcements and supplies ignorant of rooks repulse at the Battle of the rosebud Terry and Gibbon met in the Yellowstone an extended Scout by major Marcus a Reno had found the trail of the Sioux and Cheyenne now two weeks old leading up the rosebud on the evening of June 21st Terry and Gibbon gathered with Custer and other officers aboard the supply steamer far west to brief Custer of Terry's plan according to Terry's plan Custer would lead the seventh Cavalry up the Rosebud on the Indian Trail the exact whereabouts of the Indians wasn't known but the general impression after the report of the advanced scout by major Reno was that they would be found in the valley of the Little Bighorn Custer's movements would have to be governed by circumstances as he found it meanwhile Terry would accompany given in his column back up the Yellowstone in the Bighorn to enter the Little Bighorn Valley from the north Terry and Gibbon would probably reach the mouth of the Little Bighorn On June 26 mark Kellogg a reporter for the Bismarck Tribune and correspondent for the New York Herald accompanied Custer's command unsteadily making entries in his ledger he kept a running account of the campaign he was amazed to find over 260 soldiers were a foreign birth from England to Russia with over 95 making up the largest group from Ireland some soldiers spoke little English and many were inexperienced with their carvings some of these recruits from the far-flung reaches of the world paid the price of death for their tickets to adventure and some became heroes later as they risked everything to bring water to the wounded and dying on a dusty Montana hilltop mark Kellogg along with the men you see here will die less than three days Kellogg's notes in these last few days were never recovered discarded by the new owner of his saddlebags Bucknell Thomas come Peter killed in battle on June 25th born Cincinnati Ohio age 26 enlisted 1875 Harris David W private born Indianapolis Indiana age 24 awarded Medal of Honor for bringing water to the wounded at great danger to his life and under a most galling fire from the enemy mask George be private died Hilton born Pittsburgh Pennsylvania age 22 King John blacksmith Horne Basel Switzerland age 22 killed in battle on June 25th Baker William H private born Polk County Illinois age 27 died Hilltop at noon on June 22nd 1876 Custer pushed the regiment hard following the Indian traders snaked its way up the Rosebud Valley June 22nd 12 miles June 23rd 33 miles June 24 and 28 miles suddenly late on June 24th the Indian Trail changed dramatically it was Biggers guard in all directions across the valley and most ominously fresher the two-week-old trail was now overlaid with signs no more than two days old Custer decided on a night march to the divide between the Rosebud and the Little Bighorn valleys there on June 25th he would hide the regiment and send scouts to look for the Indians he would attack at dawn on June 26 the day Terry and Gibbon had hoped to be at the mouth of a Little Bighorn in less than a week Sitting Bull's village grew from 400 lodges to nearly a thousand six separate tribal circles of food and more and Cheyenne crowded the Little Bighorn Valley their teepees extending for three miles along the river shouted some 7,000 people strategists from Sheridan down to Custer had expected to find 800 fighting men the village contained at least 2,000 at daybreak on June 25th Custer scaled a peak and the wolf mountains known as the crow's nest from here he surveyed the country to the west the crow Indian scouts tried to point out a big village in the Little Bighorn Valley 15 miles to the west Custer could not see it but look to the day's reconnaissance to pinpoint its location almost at once word reached him that parties of Sioux had been spotted near the soldiers breakfasting below to Custer this meant that he had been discovered if he delayed even a day the Indians would escape instantly he decided that he must find the village at once an attack it is 12 o'clock June 25th Custer halts at the crest a good divided between the rosebud and Little Bighorn Valley and forms the seventh Cavalry in two battalions three companies under captain Frederick W Benteen are ordered to scout to the left far enough to make certain that no Indians were in the Little Bighorn Valley above where Custer would strike it major Reno took command of three companies and Custer himself of five one company reinforced by six men and a sergeant from each of the twelve companies remained in the rear to guard the mule train which carried extra rations and ammunition with their battalions and followed by the pack train Custer and Reno moved down opposite sides of Reno Creek on the Indian Trail as captain Benteen begins his Scout moving to the left benteen's Scout to the left was to be brief he was ordered to move to a nearby Ridge and send an advance detail to the top to ascertain the village in the distant Bighorn Valley Benteen was to move rapidly rejoin Custer as quickly as possible and report his findings after only a few minutes Custer had advanced far enough to see that this Ridge would give Benteen no view of the valley he sent a messenger with orders for Benteen to proceed to the next ridge later he sent a second message with similar instructions having gone only three and three-quarter miles seeing only one Ridge after another Benteen broke off to scout to rejoin Custer's trail and then watered his horses at a morass for 20 to 25 minutes at the impatience of the officers with him lieutenant Winfield Scott Edgar Lee Company D of benteen's battalion remarked well fifth time this Boston Custer the generals younger brother wrote by leaving the pack train is now hurrying up enjoying the Jim Beattie plan he gave me a cherry salutation as he passed and then with a smile on his face rolled off to his death Reno was motioned over to Custer's side of the creek as they approached a deserted village Custer was eagerly expecting useful information about the Indians from Benteen and also lieutenant Charles a Varnum and lieutenant Luther are hares Indian scouts the single TP marked the village from which warriors had moved out to stop crook in the rosebud battle reports by the scouts from the bluffs immediately to the right of the lone TP confirmed the village near the Little Bighorn but currently running away reaching the flat post of a Little Bighorn Scouts reported the village was breaking up and Indians were running like Devils it was a case of attack Now or Never Custer promptly gave Reno the charge order Reno would later state as unit cooking to me and said the village was only three or so miles above and running away to move forward and that rapid a pace of prudence into charge afterwards and that the whole outfit was important when Reno's battalion reached the Ford it was surprised to see that the Indians were not running away but coming out to fight the immediately sent word to custard that I have everything before me and that they are strong some minutes later he said another trooper to Custer with the same message adjutant William crook having also written for the river turned back at this time to tell Custer of the changing events Custer was in the rear moving at a reduced speed expecting Benteen to come on Mitch Boyer the half Sioux Scout so familiar with the territory led three Scouts to Reno hill while halted to water his horses trust to received the message for magic and cook it was this unexpected news that triggered Custer's immediate move down the east bank of the Little Bighorn then up the sloping Ridge following which Boyer's small group to Reno Hill Reno halts after fording the Little Bighorn River and company's a G and M 140 men plus a contingent of scouts adjust equipment and prepare to charge down the valley it is now shortly after 3:00 p.m. the companies were formed up in columns of four and move down at a brisk trot will take nearly 15 minutes to cover the two miles from the crossing into the village unknown Torino but cited by other officers and them custard from the vantage point on the high bluffs witnessed the charge down the valley for the first time he was aware of the immense size of the Indian force finally the order to charge was given throwing the columns into a frontal line a charge that was short-lived I was asleep in my Lodge at the time the Sun was high I heard the alarm I did not think it possible that any white men would attack me so strong as we were the Indians held a round to get the women and children and old ones time to get out of the way the less able warriors and woman caught horses and got them ready and we drilled the first attacking party back the Indians were not running away but swarming out to meet Reno small contingent Reno quickly ordered his men to dismount and form a skirmish line every fourth trooper held four horses reducing Reno's fighting strength 297 officers and men strung out in a line anchored on the right by timber skirting the river it extended to the left the crossed the bottom and only a few hundred yards separated Reno's skirmishers in the village a half mile wide and three miles long with between 1,000 to 1,200 lodges and 2,000 desperate warriors where was custard my Hunkpapa Sioux occupying the first circle to be trained began to turn the left flank of the open skirmish line Reno ordered companies gene then a and M to fall back to the woods the skirmishers after less than 30 minutes are in danger of being surrounded Reno gives the command amount as he gave the order a large group of Sioux fired point-blank at Reno's position the Scout bloody knife only a few feet from Reno was shot to the head spattering blood into Reno's face shaken Reno ordered the troops to dismount and then to mount again and kicking the size of his rearing horse broke through the timber into the open valley followed by the confused troops many men were left behind in the confusion not hearing the orders some like the famous Scout lonesome Charlie Reynolds and lieutenant Donald McIntosh were cut down trying to catch up as the Indians were hurting Reno's shattered detachment toward the river with sheer weight in numbers the suit turned Reno to his left forcing him to cross the river far from his original crossing and the help then teamed to provide all the way coops were herded like Buffalo some clubbed from the saddles others like Isaiah dormer needs a black interpreter had their horses shut them under them and on foot would quickly run down [Music] horses piled up at the forest crossing point coupes were shot in the water from all sides lieutenant Benjamin Hodgson being hit and a foot was saved by holding on to a stirrup and being dragged by another trooper only to be shot and killed upon reaching the far bank the surgeon dr. James n de wolf and his orderly Elihu Clair of K company started up a ravine to the left both were shot down and scalped and playing you the frame massive crews [Music] we know had lost 29 men before the crossing was behind them [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] breno scattered remnants many without mounts demoralized and spent gained the high ground of renal Hill officers such as lieutenant Varnum hastily gathered the panicked troops and organized the defense of their tentative position it is now for 10:00 p.m. but what has become of Custer having caught his first glimpse of the Sioux village on Reno Hill Custer saw that it was impressively large and it's still standing lodges gave convincing evidence that it would fight Reno's three companies still charging down the valley were clearly headed for trouble the supporting flank attack was not yet feasible for the steep Bluff several hundred feet high blocked Custer's access to the river he could only reduce speed to a controlled trot and continue to seek a suitable crossing place at this time he ordered sergeant Daniel canipe of Company C to head back to the pack train with others for McDougald to bring the pack train straight across to the high ground and to come quickly that there was a big Indian camp a little ahead groomed the north running sharpshooters Ridge Custer trotted half mile to reach a point opposite the center of this Ridge and there entered the shallow head of Cedar Coulee from the bluff in front of sharpshooters Ridge Custer learned that Reno unable to push his charge into the village itself had halted to deploy a skirmish line Reno should thus be able to hold out for a time which Custer now needed for he could also see that the highest steep Bluffs extended for at least another 3/4 mile to where a point which blocked his view beyond Custer's column descended Cedar Coulee for half a mile to conceal the troops at the bend of Cedar Coulee about 3:20 p.m. Custer small side rip then began immediately climbing 1/4 mile Northwest he we're a peak around 325 with him were adjutant crook and Scouts Mitch Boyer and Curley there he could check on Reno's fight get a full view of the village and a good look at a potential river crossing leaving at 3:30 he descended the 1/4 mile to rejoin the column during this time Custer released all five of his Scouts to seek safety in the rear which Boyer never accepted the offer and kept Curley with him for some time after the other three crows had turned back computer John Martin of benteen's own company was singled out to follow connives back trail and deliver a message to his captain since Martin was an Italian immigrant with little fluency in English adjutant Cooke hastily scribbled a message for him to carry Benteen come on big village be quick bring packs signed ww cook PS bring packs [Music] cusco promptly moved down cedar cooling confident that Reno could hold out for a time and expecting that his orders would soon bring Benteen and ammunition to reinforce his own movements here we must begin our speculation or from this point on only the testimony of the crow Scout Curley and recent archeological findings enable us to speculate as to the fate of Custer's command Custer halted on reaching up for Medicine tail Coulee he then moved a little way down the main Coulee and halted again during this interval Mitch Boyer and Curley lingered for nearly 30 minutes in the vicinity of where Ridge to observe everything that went on they then rode north along the east rim of where peak Coulee to intercept Custer in the main Kulii bringing him to a halt the first halt may have been extended by the sight of a courier coming at a trot on the back trail probably from Benteen but it proved to be Boston Custer at the second halt the grave news Mitch Boyer and Curley brought Custer and upper medicine tail Coulee at 4:00 p.m. confronted Custer with another hard decision the defeat and headlong retreat placed Reno's battalion in grave danger more in need of health than able to give it the warriors who would accomplish this feat would now be free to counter a second attack Custer strength now numbered 13 officers 193 enlisted men three Scouts and two citizens for a sobering total of 211 it is now approximately 20 minutes before the onset of Custer's heavy fighting Custer divided his force sending a detachment down medicine tail Coulee to the river while he took the remainder out of the Coulee to its north rim there can be no doubt that the grave news brought by Boyer triggered this division captain George W Yates commanding Company F and first lieutenant Algernon Smith's gray horse troop company e were to faint an attack on the village at Ford be drawing warriors from Reno's endangered battalion allowing Reno to regroup and safety hopefully he might then join the pack train if not then team and provide backup for Custer's attack any firing by Yates should also attract all the rear units like a magnet as well as divert the Indians attention to Ford be a weak faint against a strong enemy entails risk which can be minimized by a pre-arranged disengagement and reunion with the main force while Yates's battalion was maneuvering Custer's larger battalion could seize a holding position on the high north rim of Medicine tail Coulee where it could wait a little longer for reinforcements and ammunition via Cedar Coulee this high rim overlooked the valley enabling Custer to keep an eye on Yates's activity and the Indians reaction to it he could follow the disengagement and no one to affect the reunion hopefully with reinforcements both the feint in the holding position were temporary measures however for victory demanded an aggressive attack it might be preferable to cross the river unopposed below the village and charge back up the flat west bottom to strike it this would demand that the reunion also be made to the north downriver Yates's battalion descended medicine tail Coulee to Ford B in columns of force and proceeded north along the bottom strip not chewing on inmate Donna they came on us like a thunder book I never before saw such men so brave and fearless of the white warriors we retreat it until our men got all together and then we charged upon them with a cry this is a good day to die every man whipped another man's horse and we rest right upon them firing at Ford B was light and brief without halting the troops moved downstream Yates's battalion then made a right oblique away from the river up the West rise of deep Coulee crossing deep Coulee at the next cut back toward higher ground for some distance all without opposition it was Yates's movement downstream from Ford B that enabled mounted warriors from the village to cross there without opposition some who crossed there rode up deep Coulee and then turn left up its branch ravines to appear on Yates's right flank others crossed its suitable points much farther downstream and turned right up the beans to emerge on Yates's left flank Yeats was making a bold show and the village was reacting by rushing mounted warriors out toward the river deploying skirmishers on foot the h's battalion covered another quarter miles in less than fifteen minutes some of the Indians crossing at Ford B were coming up medicine tail Coulee at its north branch directly toward customers defensive position at about 425 p.m. his alerted men pinned them down in ravines and gullies with heavy gunfire these Indians must have come largely from the village though some may have left the Vino fight early for it was Custer's firing that triggered the exodus from the Upper Valley of the Warriors who had defeated Reno Custer's plan to relieve Reno was proving too great a success even without reinforcements it was now time for Custer to join Yates with little opposition he trotted half a mile across the shallow Branch Coulee to reach the crest of nigh cartwright Ridge trotting along the ledge he reached the east rim of deep Coulee although suffering some casualties custom negotiated a crossing of deep Coulee and affected a junction with Yates near Calhoun Hill it is 4:45 p.m. in a final act of compassion knowing all was lost Boyer sent Curley the 18 year old Crow Scout to report imminent disaster to General Terry Curley would make it to the far west at the mouth of the Little Bighorn River giving an emotional account to the disbelieving command this left the loyal Scout Mitch Boyer alone with Custer's command he chose to remain and fight on wounded and without his horse he was overwhelmed by the crushing hordes of Sioux and Cheyenne by the time custards five companies reunited near Calhoun Hill they were all under attack the Indians were still largely between the troops and the river war were swarming up every minute and would reach fifteen or sixteen hundred making the odds approach eight to one the terrain was equally unfavorable it was all Knowles ridges and ravines enabling the nimble Indians to move around at will under cover to strike from any direction and even isolate units of troops the cavalry on the other hand moved on horseback but did their hard fighting on foot relegating some two holding horses which thus became vulnerable to Stampede on suitably defendable ground they could hold their own as long as ammunition lasted but no such ground was in sight it is possible that the tagging began its movement along the perimeter of a large broken rectangle in a counterclockwise direction a stand by some units enabled others to proceed ahead to a defensive knoll this yielded a trail marked by heavy concentrations of casualties with gaps between five PM just over 200 men entered the perimeter near Calhoun Ridge where close to 30 men were killed over a period of time while guarding the rear the survivors may then have proceeded along Custer Ridge where probably another 80 men were killed again this may have included rearguard action and even a reverse direction salty from Custer Hill to give relief close to 90 survivors may have reached Custer Hill to make a defensive stand for approximately 34 that were killed while fighting here Indians were seen approaching from the northwest and to counter this threat the remaining 60 or so men were deployed down along the ridge forming the North perimeter over 40 men were killed on this North perimeter and the few survivors having been forced across deep ravine may have fled in scattered fashion to be killed one by one the soon Cheyenne now turned their eyes to the south and Reno's command Benteen had finally reached Reno shattered remnants at 4:20 p.m. staying with Reno who was now under no pressure at all due to the action of Yates's battalion at Ford be pulling all action from Reno and directing it toward Custer's command Benteen and Reno felt it necessary to close ranks and await the pack train despite the sound of volley firing beyond where point that some officers and men thought was a clear signal by Custer to come to his aid captain where after a heated argument with Reno struck out with his company and rode to the sound of the firing computer Martin recalled we have a lot of firing down the river it gave us for half an hour it sounded like a big fight was going on and the men thought it was gas the ribbon Damien we wanted to hurry and join them but they would not let us go captain we're had some work with wiener and it would tell he was excited and he was his arms and gestures and pointin down the river then we have some holes and kept a weird jump on his course and started down the river all alone but his calcium runaway captain where's left reno hill with only his own company to advance toward an invisible Indian battle audibly and godless it is 5:25 p.m. corporal George W Wiley of company Dean described events that we're pointed he's been a horse won over the mr. Ridge with God on plan cam we're dead that's custom over there and he wanted to go over it dr. Flanagan said here cap you better take a look at these glasses I think those are Indian we're did so and change mom as all over lieutenant Edgar Lee saw Indian shooting as though it objects on the ground and one part of the hill on the custer field was blacked with Indians [Music] during this sighting benteen's three companies had reached will Ridge it is 5:35 p.m. lieutenant Edward s Godfrey commanding company K remarked I will adjust three distinct stationary groups an individual Horseman moving about and to tell they were Indians here the facial shock most the great distance off and beyond the large group on the hill you concluded Custer had been the host and at the hiring McCarty job for the mare guard my receives the booth his first clouds of dust appeared and a horseman converged for our position Benteen retreated from where ridge with his company leaving the other three companies to fend for themselves it is 6:00 p.m. back at the relative safety of Reno Hill Benton and Reno set up a defensive perimeter in the meantime lieutenant hare had delivered the retreat orders to the three advanced companies digging in with anything they had the combined battalions built breastworks for they're exposed positions at dawn on the 26th the hilltop position was under siege running the gauntlet known as water carrier ravine valiant soldiers were partially successful in bringing much-needed water to the wounded and dying troopers twenty-six medals of Honor would come from their efforts the entrenched soldiers fought off chargers and sniping throughout the 26th with light losses stragglers left in the woods the 25th rarely made their way to Reno Hills that night below the bluffs of Reno Hill that same night stories were told and retold of the killing of long hair and the soldiers these are the words of chief runs the enemy we were all hidden along there it's over here and look up and saw that the Cheyenne hadn't made a circle around the costume they soon then made a charge from the rear side shooting into the man and they returned the fire was so strong that he soon had to retreat back over the hill again the Indian is modern and got down into the quarry shooting at the soldier from all sides some of this soldiers make arrests down to the ravine towards the river and a great roll of smoke saying to go down very vain here from the river met this over and all the who were not killed him back again to here but they were he in numbers then the soldiers ran together in a group and then race ordered and trillions were all mixed up you could not tell one from the other when the last soldier was killed the smooth road of life among above our head and the soldiers were piled one on top of the other dead and here and there an Indian with a soul [Music] sittin bull' came to us and said for us to let these soldiers go they have fought bravely let us go from this Valley more soldiers will come soon let us take our women and children away from this place of death [Music] you [Music] the morning of the 27th on the Indian camp gone that same morning Gibbons advance party relieved the hilltop defense total killed four Reno's defense and Valley fight including those who died of wounds later was 58 the Indian accounts vary on the number of warriors killed but seem to be near 50 for the engagements of Custer and Reno combined many more dying of wounds later total 7th cavalry dead 268 officers and Men put all our people then and now the day they kill longer will be the high point of all plane changes for a time the soldiers lays out the white locust had been stopped but so would double and not all generation to come would look back on this day when the plane Indians came together one last time and proudly proclaimed to the grandfather spirit this is a good day to die [Music] [Music] more you [Music] you [Applause]

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Id: lgV9bQNNNBY

Length: 57min 21sec (3441 seconds)

Published: Wed May 03 2017