Battle of the LIttle Bighorn

June 24 – It was a bit nippy when I got up this morning and I ended up in the recliner with a

Wild Bill

cup of coffee and my Indian blanket around me.  The high was expected to be 78, so that’s perfect weather.  After breakfast we loaded our chairs and cushions in the car, along with my tote cooler with drinks and my backpack with snacks and our books.  I had some postcards and a package to mail and we hoped to stop in town at the post office this morning before heading to the battleground.  Luckily one of the ladies that volunteers here was going to the post office and offered to take my package.

We thought we were leaving early to the location of the Battle of the Little Bighorn but by the time we passed the road and drove out of the way, stopped and asked directions and got there, we timed it very well.  We got to park right behind the first set of grandstands.  There were a few booths set up with snacks, drinks, native crafts and food.  We chatted with some vendors who are Crow Indians and decided it was best to eat early or there would be a huge line.  We arrived at 11:30 and the main program wasn’t to start until 1.  At 1 there were still cars lined up to get in.  Cars were parked all over the field behind us.

Shooting on the run

What else would a person eat at a Native American event but an Indian Taco?  It’s really a taco but on Indian Fry bread.  We sat with an Elder of the Crow people and I could barely get Bill away from him as he really enjoys talking about the culture and native history.  At 12:15 they started with some introductory events which are also history/storytelling live exhibits.  Some were how the children and women were the food gatherers of nuts, berries and edible plants, then the use of wolf dogs to pull the travois.  The braves would ride

Part of the Calvary

bareback and doing the hunting for the tribe and a mountain man who shoots a target/animal with a bow and arrow from a moving horse.  A large herd of horses were driven into the center area in front of the stands and the riders had total control of the animals.  They would drive them in a circle and then face them to the stands and turn them to the side stands.  That was truly a magnificent display of horses.  Later they introduced the people portraying the famous tribal leaders who were present at the Little Big Horn as well as Lt. Colonel Custer, Major Benteen and Major Reno who were the 3 troop commanders, acting on the orders of Custer.  The guy who played Custer is considered the current most expert on the life and times of Custer.  The local Crow and other tribes portray the Indians and members of the US Cavalry School were the Cavalry.

There was a tribal song  played prior to the battle sequence and  the National  Anthem.  We 

followed the history of the Native Americans from their crossing the Bering Straits, to early life on the plains, through the first western expedition of Sacagawea with Lewis and Clark, to treaties signed, then treaties broken, to battles because immigrants were going west when they learned of gold, ending with the Battle of the Little Bighorn.  The reenactment was on the Real Bird Crow Indians property which is on the Little Big Horn River where a portion of the battle took place.  Further up the far side of the river is the Little Big Horn National Battlefield Park.  There were several battles, each by the 3 separate units and not all 3 were right where we were but one was for sure.

History tends to repeat itself and once again Custer and most of his 3 troops were slaughtered. Everyone has an opinion of Custer and I’m not a fan.  He was known to be extremely arrogant and self centered.  I will concede that up until this battle, he was excellent at military strategy, but this time he was lured in and paid the piper, well, paid the Indian. We really enjoyed the event with all the education and the horses.

We stopped in GarryOwen to visit the Custer Museum.  The museum is a private collection and is mostly original photographs of the tribe chiefs during the “Custer” timeframe.  There

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

was native clothing, military clothing, swords and a lot of Custer related articles and information.  The thing we enjoyed most was the 45 minute documentary about the battle. It won second place at the Sundance Movie Festival and it was excellent.  The gentleman narrating it was compelling and forceful as he explained the locations and movements of the troops as well as the Indians during the battle.  Of course he used a number of maps that were better than anything we’ve seen in print or at the National Park.  In the front of the building, which also has a gift shop, is a monument to the Unknown Soldier at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.  It was where the saying, “bury the hachet” was coined.  One of the surviving Chiefs and Lt. Godfrey, shook hands and buried a hatchet in the base of the tomb to signify the battle was over and peace was ahead.

OK, by now I was really maxed out on the battle and ready for something else.  We drove into Hardin, about 15 miles up in the interstate where there was a sidewalk celebration.  We got there a little late for most of the activities but watched the egg toss and the water balloon toss and checked out some shops and looked at some crafts.  We had talked about going to the rodeo at 7, so thought we better get dinner early and go to the grocery store after as it would be closed by the time the rodeo ended.  We ate at The Ranch House Grill.  The staff was very attentive but the place could have been a bit cleaner.  I had to ask her to wipe our table that was covered with crumbs and grated cheese.  The food was good but the best part was the deal on ice cream.  They only offered vanilla or huckleberry (it’s the big thing in this part of the country and is seasonal, you can get everything huckleberry) and it’s $1 a scoop.  We both got the huckleberry (when in Rome), and it was a huge serving but we were not complaining.  It was very good and we savored every bite.

We drove a mile down the main street to the nice new IGA and I got what we needed and a bottle of Montana Riesling that maybe we didn’t need, but I did!  We decided not to go to the rodeo after all as it was $12 per person and we we’d already spent $55 on admissions today.  Plus we were both wearing down after sitting in the sun this afternoon.

Since we ate dinner so early after we watched some TV and I worked on my journal, blog and  bills (the fun stuff), Bill made some popcorn for a snack.  It was cooling down again overnight so we were hoping for a good nights sleep in the coolness of the night.