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What happened to George Armstrong Custer and the U.S. 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

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A Cheyenne River Sioux dancer in colorful traditional regalia performs during the Grand Entry at a powwow, with an American flag and other participants in the background. — Oceti Sakowin A member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe performing during the Grand Entry at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Fair Rodeo and Powwow, Eagle Butte, South Dakota, September 4, 2016.

At the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876, Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer and the U.S. 7th Cavalry suffered a catastrophic defeat against a large force of Oceti Sakowin (Sioux) and Northern Cheyenne warriors.12

Seeking to prevent the escape of the Indigenous bands, Custer divided his regiment into three battalions, a tactical error that left his forces unable to support one another. While army intelligence had estimated the opposition at 800 warriors, Custer actually faced approximately 2,000 fighters who were well-armed and determined to defend their families.13

Custer and the 210 men under his immediate command were completely annihilated in a desperate engagement that became known as "Custer’s Last Stand." The battle was a definitive victory for the Indigenous forces, though it ultimately triggered an intense military response from the U.S. government that forced the surrender of most Oceti Sakowin bands. The event remains a subject of significant historical controversy and myth.132