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Battle Of The Little Big Horn Analysis

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On the 25th of June 1876 on the ‘greasy’ grass of Dakota the Battle of the Little Big Horn occurred. Sioux and Cheyenne Indians defiantly left their reservations, outraged over the continued intrusions of whites into their sacred lands in the Black Hills. They gathered in Montana with the great warrior Sitting Bull to fight for their lands. Determined to resist the efforts of the U.S Army to force them onto reservations, Indians under the leadership of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse wipe out Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and much of his 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. This essay with try to determine why the U.S. Army lost this, every so important battle against the Sioux. Many historians debate that it was Custer’s fault that the US Army was defeated. There are many reasons that could be attributed to Custer. He acted alone - even though Gibbon 's last words to him were: "Custer, don 't be greedy. Wait for us. " which shows he was greedy and wanted the glory all for himself. Instead of going round the Wolf Mountains, Custer force-marched his men strait through the mountains. His troops and horses arrived tired after the long march which in battle is not something you want to be. Furthermore he was known as rash and went …show more content…

He thought that decisive charges from different directions would always result in the opponents’ demise. His view of military strategy was simple: gain the upper hand by a surprise offensive, and increase this by catching the enemy in a pincer movement. It was a win at all costs strategy which, unfortunately for Custer and his men, did not consider anything but winning. Custer told Major Reno that he would be right behind them but instead he went back on his own order and tried to outflank the Sioux as he: underestimated them and thought they would flee. Instead they outmanoeuvred and surrounded him. He was hugely outnumbered and was one of the many reasons they

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