"Mysteries at the Museum" Battle of Little Bighorn: Mysteries at the Museum Specials

1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:12,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 2 00:00:21,221 --> 00:00:24,824 [ Shouting ] 3 00:00:28,296 --> 00:00:30,696 I'm heading back to the Wild West, 4 00:00:30,698 --> 00:00:33,699 to the most famous battle of the American frontier... 5 00:00:33,701 --> 00:00:36,368 [ Shouting ] 6 00:00:36,370 --> 00:00:37,770 [ Gunfire ] 7 00:00:37,772 --> 00:00:40,373 ...to investigate the defeat of a celebrated general, 8 00:00:40,375 --> 00:00:42,441 George Armstrong Custer. 9 00:00:42,443 --> 00:00:46,445 Heralded as a fearless leader, Custer became an icon 10 00:00:46,447 --> 00:00:50,249 whose astonishing legend is still with us today. 11 00:00:50,251 --> 00:00:52,918 He was the best cavalry leader we had at the time 12 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,721 in the Union Army, bar none. 13 00:00:57,992 --> 00:01:01,327 But how much of his story is actually true? 14 00:01:01,329 --> 00:01:03,262 How did this distinguished general 15 00:01:03,264 --> 00:01:06,331 lose such a pivotal battle and his life? 16 00:01:06,333 --> 00:01:08,667 There's a story here that still haunts 17 00:01:08,669 --> 00:01:11,002 the American consciousness even today. 18 00:01:11,004 --> 00:01:14,940 What really happened here on this battlefield? 19 00:01:14,942 --> 00:01:17,609 And what were the consequences of that fateful day? 20 00:01:17,611 --> 00:01:21,681 [ Shouting, gunfire ] 21 00:01:21,683 --> 00:01:23,682 I'm Don Wildman. 22 00:01:23,684 --> 00:01:26,151 I've explored the world's greatest mysteries, 23 00:01:26,153 --> 00:01:29,355 examined rare artifacts and epic monuments. 24 00:01:29,357 --> 00:01:30,889 That is unbelievable! 25 00:01:30,891 --> 00:01:34,092 Now, I'm digging deeper into some of the most perplexing 26 00:01:34,094 --> 00:01:36,562 and famous cases in history. 27 00:01:36,564 --> 00:01:39,098 My goal -- to get closer to the truth. 28 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:40,766 Let's burn this place down. Let's burn it down. 29 00:01:42,169 --> 00:01:44,903 This is "Mysteries at the Museum: 30 00:01:44,905 --> 00:01:47,038 Battle of Little Big Horn." 31 00:01:52,313 --> 00:01:55,847 June 25th, 1876 -- 32 00:01:55,849 --> 00:01:58,584 One of the most notorious battles in US history 33 00:01:58,586 --> 00:02:01,187 took place on this very site. 34 00:02:01,189 --> 00:02:04,056 This was the time of the American frontier. 35 00:02:04,058 --> 00:02:07,026 Pioneers venturing deeper into the Wild West 36 00:02:07,028 --> 00:02:09,928 were coming into conflict with tribes of Native Americans, 37 00:02:09,930 --> 00:02:12,664 who were forced to defend their way of life. 38 00:02:12,666 --> 00:02:14,667 These conflicts were collectively known 39 00:02:14,669 --> 00:02:17,269 as the Indian Wars. 40 00:02:17,271 --> 00:02:19,138 The 7th Cavalry of the US Army, 41 00:02:19,140 --> 00:02:22,674 commanded by the enigmatic George Armstrong Custer, 42 00:02:22,676 --> 00:02:26,412 fought an alliance of tribes led by legendary chiefs, 43 00:02:26,414 --> 00:02:30,349 including Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. 44 00:02:30,351 --> 00:02:34,019 The story goes that Custer and the men in his immediate command 45 00:02:34,021 --> 00:02:36,155 ended up surrounded on a hill. 46 00:02:36,157 --> 00:02:40,959 Rather than retreat, they bravely made their last stand. 47 00:02:40,961 --> 00:02:45,030 Custer and all the men in his battalion were killed. 48 00:02:45,032 --> 00:02:48,834 The Battle of the Little Bighorn still fascinates people today, 49 00:02:48,836 --> 00:02:50,636 and thousands of visitors flock here 50 00:02:50,638 --> 00:02:52,971 to the battle site each year. 51 00:02:52,973 --> 00:02:55,040 Historians have spent decades 52 00:02:55,042 --> 00:02:57,643 debating the sequence of events of that day, 53 00:02:57,645 --> 00:02:59,912 but what do we really know about the battle, 54 00:02:59,914 --> 00:03:04,650 and how much of what we know is fact and how much is fiction? 55 00:03:04,652 --> 00:03:06,919 Why did the battle take place? 56 00:03:06,921 --> 00:03:08,854 How did Custer die? 57 00:03:08,856 --> 00:03:11,457 And why is one of the most talked about conflicts 58 00:03:11,459 --> 00:03:15,895 in American military history one where the US lost? 59 00:03:22,937 --> 00:03:25,804 The key to uncovering what really happened 60 00:03:25,806 --> 00:03:28,674 is understanding the people involved. 61 00:03:28,676 --> 00:03:30,409 Who was George Custer? 62 00:03:30,411 --> 00:03:32,678 And who were the famed 7th Cavalry 63 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,347 who fought and died that day? 64 00:03:35,349 --> 00:03:37,282 To find out, where better to go 65 00:03:37,284 --> 00:03:39,952 than the annual reenactment of the battle? 66 00:03:39,954 --> 00:03:42,020 But the only way to ride with the 7th Cavalry 67 00:03:42,022 --> 00:03:45,690 in the reenactment is to complete the necessary training. 68 00:03:45,692 --> 00:03:47,626 Time to sign up for the Army. 69 00:03:49,363 --> 00:03:52,030 Mark? How are you doing? I'm Don. 70 00:03:52,032 --> 00:03:53,899 Good to meet you, Don. How you doing? 71 00:03:53,901 --> 00:03:56,502 Mark Jacobsen has been taking part in battle reenactments 72 00:03:56,504 --> 00:03:57,770 for 30 years. 73 00:03:57,772 --> 00:03:59,437 Everybody stays here... 74 00:03:59,439 --> 00:04:00,973 This is the only place where people can ride 75 00:04:00,975 --> 00:04:02,441 on the battlefield and train 76 00:04:02,443 --> 00:04:05,043 to be a US Cavalry trooper on the frontier. 77 00:04:05,045 --> 00:04:07,112 These guys know everything there is to know 78 00:04:07,114 --> 00:04:09,248 about Custer and the cavalry he commanded. 79 00:04:09,250 --> 00:04:10,649 Okay... 80 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,720 Born in 1839, George Custer rose to fame 81 00:04:15,722 --> 00:04:18,857 by fighting for the Union Army in the American Civil War. 82 00:04:18,859 --> 00:04:22,294 Fearless in battle, he quickly made a name for himself 83 00:04:22,296 --> 00:04:24,663 as a valiant leader. 84 00:04:24,665 --> 00:04:27,999 Twelve years later, he was leading the 7th Cavalry, 85 00:04:28,001 --> 00:04:30,803 the cavalry I'm joining today. 86 00:04:30,805 --> 00:04:32,471 So I'm getting the whole uniform? 87 00:04:32,473 --> 00:04:34,873 You get the whole uniform. Fantastic. 88 00:04:34,875 --> 00:04:37,009 I mean, you've got to feel the sweat... [ Laughs ] 89 00:04:37,011 --> 00:04:38,878 ...in order to be part of this whole experience. 90 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:40,079 Yeah, exactly. 91 00:04:41,883 --> 00:04:43,816 That's the intent, you know. 92 00:04:43,818 --> 00:04:46,485 This represents what the troopers would have been wearing 93 00:04:46,487 --> 00:04:49,754 in 1876 on the Little Bighorn campaign. 94 00:04:49,756 --> 00:04:52,825 What you have here is a modified version 95 00:04:52,827 --> 00:04:55,227 of what they were issued in the Civil War. 96 00:04:55,229 --> 00:04:57,496 So my first point is, 97 00:04:57,498 --> 00:04:59,631 this feels like it's going to be incredibly hot. 98 00:04:59,633 --> 00:05:01,901 Why would they issue this in this kind of heat? 99 00:05:01,903 --> 00:05:04,570 You know, a trooper in the 19th-century 100 00:05:04,572 --> 00:05:08,173 Indian-fighting Army was issued one uniform 101 00:05:08,175 --> 00:05:10,709 to last them from 110 degrees in the shade... 102 00:05:10,711 --> 00:05:13,312 I see. ...to 30 degrees below zero in the winter. 103 00:05:13,314 --> 00:05:14,579 Yeah, yeah. That was what you got. 104 00:05:14,581 --> 00:05:16,248 All right. 105 00:05:22,189 --> 00:05:24,189 This annual reenactment of the battle 106 00:05:24,191 --> 00:05:27,593 has been taking place for 3 decades. 107 00:05:27,595 --> 00:05:30,996 More than 150 riders and reenactors participate, 108 00:05:30,998 --> 00:05:34,333 and hundreds of people gather to view the spectacle. 109 00:05:34,335 --> 00:05:37,536 Incredibly, the event is held on the very same site 110 00:05:37,538 --> 00:05:39,338 as the original battle, 111 00:05:39,340 --> 00:05:42,808 and relatives of the actual fighters take part. 112 00:05:42,810 --> 00:05:44,342 This is living history, 113 00:05:44,344 --> 00:05:46,478 and attention to detail is everything. 114 00:05:50,418 --> 00:05:53,485 All right. Ta-da! 115 00:05:53,487 --> 00:05:55,553 [ Exhales ] 116 00:05:55,555 --> 00:05:56,822 Yeah. What do you think? 117 00:05:56,824 --> 00:05:58,623 Excellent. You're looking great. 118 00:05:58,625 --> 00:06:01,427 -How close to real is this? -You're spot on. 119 00:06:01,429 --> 00:06:02,828 This was the uniform. 120 00:06:02,830 --> 00:06:04,563 I am reporting for duty, sir. 121 00:06:04,565 --> 00:06:05,831 All right. Very good. 122 00:06:05,833 --> 00:06:07,299 Well, let's go get you on a horse. 123 00:06:07,301 --> 00:06:08,834 Uh-oh. There's that too. 124 00:06:13,774 --> 00:06:15,307 Oh, is this my horse? 125 00:06:15,309 --> 00:06:17,042 This is Trinity, your horse. 126 00:06:17,044 --> 00:06:19,044 Nice ride. 127 00:06:19,046 --> 00:06:21,180 WILDMAN: The cavalry was a branch of the Army 128 00:06:21,182 --> 00:06:23,315 that fought on horseback. 129 00:06:23,317 --> 00:06:27,453 The 7th Cavalry had been created just after the Civil War. 130 00:06:27,455 --> 00:06:30,789 Custer and his cavalry's task was to patrol the Plains 131 00:06:30,791 --> 00:06:33,858 for raiding Native Americans and protect white pioneers 132 00:06:33,860 --> 00:06:36,261 as they moved further west. 133 00:06:36,263 --> 00:06:38,930 So in order to graduate Cavalry School, 134 00:06:38,932 --> 00:06:42,601 battle reenactors must first prove they can ride a horse. 135 00:06:42,603 --> 00:06:44,135 -Okay. I'm on a horse. -All right. 136 00:06:44,137 --> 00:06:46,272 [ Laughs ] Let's see if you can make him go. 137 00:06:52,613 --> 00:06:55,280 Roughly one in three of Custer's troops 138 00:06:55,282 --> 00:06:56,882 at the Battle of the Little Bighorn 139 00:06:56,884 --> 00:06:58,350 were raw recruits, 140 00:06:58,352 --> 00:07:01,553 who had joined the Army just months beforehand. 141 00:07:01,555 --> 00:07:04,089 Nearly half had been born overseas, 142 00:07:04,091 --> 00:07:07,559 and many had barely even ridden a horse. 143 00:07:07,561 --> 00:07:09,828 This was a time when millions of German, 144 00:07:09,830 --> 00:07:12,898 Irish and other Europeans were emigrating to the US 145 00:07:12,900 --> 00:07:14,966 in search of a better life. 146 00:07:14,968 --> 00:07:16,768 A lot had enlisted in the Army 147 00:07:16,770 --> 00:07:19,637 because they couldn't find any other work. 148 00:07:19,639 --> 00:07:20,906 Okay, Don. 149 00:07:20,908 --> 00:07:22,641 Now we're going to bring in two other riders, 150 00:07:22,643 --> 00:07:24,710 and we're going to sandwich you in a formation. 151 00:07:24,712 --> 00:07:26,645 -Okay, good. -Okay? 152 00:07:26,647 --> 00:07:28,446 -Bring in the cavalry. -Bring them in! 153 00:07:36,590 --> 00:07:39,725 It's one thing to worry about, you know, finding gas... 154 00:07:39,727 --> 00:07:41,660 [ Laughs ] you know, for your vehicles. 155 00:07:41,662 --> 00:07:45,263 These are vehicles that need to be grazed, watered, rested. 156 00:07:45,265 --> 00:07:47,265 Exactly. It is a whole other level of management 157 00:07:47,267 --> 00:07:50,535 as to how to move a military unit across a space. 158 00:07:50,537 --> 00:07:53,671 Exactly. Okay. Well, let's go to the next step. 159 00:07:53,673 --> 00:07:55,340 Let's issue you some weaponry. 160 00:07:55,342 --> 00:07:57,476 Ah, the gun. 161 00:07:57,478 --> 00:07:59,077 -Yeah, the hardware. -Off we go. 162 00:08:05,085 --> 00:08:07,453 Look at this arsenal. 163 00:08:07,455 --> 00:08:10,422 Wow, an array of weaponry. 164 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:17,496 So if I was a recruit coming into town, as I am, 165 00:08:17,498 --> 00:08:19,231 what would I typically be issued? 166 00:08:19,233 --> 00:08:20,833 Okay. You'd report to your company, 167 00:08:20,835 --> 00:08:22,434 and the company had a stack of arms, 168 00:08:22,436 --> 00:08:24,636 and they'd issue a carbine. One of these. Okay. 169 00:08:24,638 --> 00:08:27,705 -One of those. -This is my gun. 170 00:08:27,707 --> 00:08:30,976 And am I going to get extensive training on this, or no? 171 00:08:30,978 --> 00:08:33,779 Unfortunately, there was not a lot of extensive training. 172 00:08:33,781 --> 00:08:36,114 All right. 173 00:08:37,651 --> 00:08:39,718 WILDMAN: Marksmanship training in the Frontier Army 174 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,054 was almost nonexistent. 175 00:08:42,056 --> 00:08:44,123 There was no formal target practice, 176 00:08:44,125 --> 00:08:47,793 and recruits were given just 20 rounds of ammunition per year 177 00:08:47,795 --> 00:08:49,595 to practice with. 178 00:08:49,597 --> 00:08:52,397 Most of the reenactors here have a lot more training 179 00:08:52,399 --> 00:08:55,133 than the actual troops did. 180 00:08:55,135 --> 00:08:58,270 So how do I get good at this? 181 00:08:58,272 --> 00:09:02,074 We're going to issue your very own pistol and cartridge belt. 182 00:09:02,076 --> 00:09:04,142 Oh, well, that's a dangerous thing to do, but thank you. 183 00:09:04,144 --> 00:09:05,811 -All right. -[ Laughs ] 184 00:09:05,813 --> 00:09:07,478 -All right. Like so, yeah? -Very good. 185 00:09:11,418 --> 00:09:15,087 All right, well, I look the part, but can I do it? 186 00:09:15,089 --> 00:09:16,355 That's the question. 187 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,961 WILDMAN: More than 270 troops of the 7th Cavalry 188 00:09:22,963 --> 00:09:24,562 were killed along with Custer 189 00:09:24,564 --> 00:09:27,432 at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. 190 00:09:27,434 --> 00:09:29,568 One of the theories for the high casualties 191 00:09:29,570 --> 00:09:33,238 is that newer recruits didn't know how to use their weapons. 192 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,374 Today, it's a different story. 193 00:09:35,376 --> 00:09:37,675 In order to graduate from Cavalry School, 194 00:09:37,677 --> 00:09:40,445 battle reenactors need to know how to handle a gun. 195 00:09:40,447 --> 00:09:41,914 -Good. -Nice to see you. 196 00:09:44,384 --> 00:09:45,784 This is a reproduction 197 00:09:45,786 --> 00:09:49,721 of an 1873 Colt Single Action Army revolver, 198 00:09:49,723 --> 00:09:52,524 the very pistol issued to the 7th Cavalry. 199 00:09:52,526 --> 00:09:54,459 -Whenever you're ready. -All right. 200 00:09:57,398 --> 00:09:58,597 I'm getting there. 201 00:09:58,599 --> 00:10:01,066 [ Gunshots, hammer clicking ] 202 00:10:04,404 --> 00:10:06,905 All right. Same thing. 203 00:10:09,276 --> 00:10:10,676 It's harder than you think. 204 00:10:10,678 --> 00:10:13,278 It is harder than you think, and imagine doing this 205 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,749 on a horse with people shooting arrows at you! 206 00:10:17,751 --> 00:10:20,552 I mean, the unbelievable factors these guys are doing. 207 00:10:20,554 --> 00:10:23,488 It's not just my fault. It's hard! 208 00:10:23,490 --> 00:10:26,625 Many of the people who take part in the reenactment 209 00:10:26,627 --> 00:10:28,693 have been trained in the modern military, 210 00:10:28,695 --> 00:10:30,562 and their experience shows. 211 00:10:30,564 --> 00:10:32,030 Show me how it's done. 212 00:10:33,233 --> 00:10:36,034 [ Gunshots ] 213 00:10:38,305 --> 00:10:40,172 There you go. 214 00:10:40,174 --> 00:10:41,373 Excellent aim. 215 00:10:41,375 --> 00:10:42,507 -Thank you. -Nice work. 216 00:10:46,447 --> 00:10:48,780 By today's standards, many of Custer's men 217 00:10:48,782 --> 00:10:51,516 were undertrained raw recruits. 218 00:10:51,518 --> 00:10:54,119 The older troops had gained experience in the Civil War, 219 00:10:54,121 --> 00:10:56,120 just as Custer himself had, 220 00:10:56,122 --> 00:10:57,589 but the more recent recruits 221 00:10:57,591 --> 00:11:00,392 were hardly the best of the best. 222 00:11:00,394 --> 00:11:03,728 With my limited training, I'd fit right in. 223 00:11:03,730 --> 00:11:05,596 Trooper Wildman, post. 224 00:11:08,402 --> 00:11:13,138 Trooper Wildman, be it hereby known that on the 25th of June, 225 00:11:13,140 --> 00:11:15,474 you graduated from the US Cavalry School, 226 00:11:15,476 --> 00:11:17,475 Custer's Last Ride Adventure. 227 00:11:17,477 --> 00:11:21,012 You've earned the right to wear the colors 228 00:11:21,014 --> 00:11:23,215 of Custer's favorite battalion. 229 00:11:25,552 --> 00:11:27,352 Thank you, sir. 230 00:11:34,828 --> 00:11:36,895 I feel like I have a pretty good understanding 231 00:11:36,897 --> 00:11:39,631 of what it was like to train with the 7th Cavalry 232 00:11:39,633 --> 00:11:41,499 and to be one of Custer's men, 233 00:11:41,501 --> 00:11:43,235 but what about the man himself, 234 00:11:43,237 --> 00:11:46,505 their famous commander who was leading them to their fate? 235 00:11:46,507 --> 00:11:49,174 Who was George Armstrong Custer? 236 00:12:10,797 --> 00:12:12,864 The Battle of the Little Bighorn is remembered 237 00:12:12,866 --> 00:12:16,001 by most people as the infamous last stand 238 00:12:16,003 --> 00:12:18,003 in which George Custer was massacred 239 00:12:18,005 --> 00:12:20,138 by Native American warriors, 240 00:12:20,140 --> 00:12:22,874 but who was this general, this man? 241 00:12:22,876 --> 00:12:25,877 What brought him to this region, to this fight, 242 00:12:25,879 --> 00:12:28,747 and how much of his legend is really true? 243 00:12:34,220 --> 00:12:37,422 It's time I meet the man I'm following into battle. 244 00:12:37,424 --> 00:12:41,960 General Custer, nice to meet you. 245 00:12:41,962 --> 00:12:44,096 Steve Alexander has been playing the role 246 00:12:44,098 --> 00:12:47,298 of George Armstrong Custer for most of his life. 247 00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:50,702 He even bought the house that Custer himself once lived in. 248 00:12:50,704 --> 00:12:52,504 Yeah. You can call me Steve, 249 00:12:52,506 --> 00:12:54,772 but every day I'm General Custer. Really? 250 00:12:54,774 --> 00:12:56,375 I wake up in General Custer's house. 251 00:12:56,377 --> 00:12:59,577 That's pretty wild. 252 00:12:59,579 --> 00:13:05,049 So General George Custer, what's the intrigue for you? 253 00:13:05,051 --> 00:13:08,586 Well, I've always had a hankering to come out West, 254 00:13:08,588 --> 00:13:11,723 and the West is epitomized in those heroes 255 00:13:11,725 --> 00:13:14,059 such as Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickok, 256 00:13:14,061 --> 00:13:16,527 and General Custer. Mm-hmm. 257 00:13:16,529 --> 00:13:21,466 He was an accomplished military man during the Civil War. 258 00:13:21,468 --> 00:13:24,936 He had a great deal of nerve and veracity 259 00:13:24,938 --> 00:13:28,807 that put him in charge of 60 successful cavalry charges, 260 00:13:28,809 --> 00:13:31,209 11 horses shot from under him... Hmm. 261 00:13:31,211 --> 00:13:33,611 ...saying, "Come on, men, follow me," 262 00:13:33,613 --> 00:13:35,013 not, "Go get them, boys." 263 00:13:35,015 --> 00:13:36,348 Yeah. He was on the front, 264 00:13:36,350 --> 00:13:39,084 and he rose through his profession at the age of 23, 265 00:13:39,086 --> 00:13:42,620 becoming the youngest Union general at that time. 266 00:13:42,622 --> 00:13:45,223 By 25, he was a major general, 267 00:13:45,225 --> 00:13:46,958 the youngest in the history of our country. 268 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:48,827 He was the best cavalry leader 269 00:13:48,829 --> 00:13:52,230 we had at the time in the Union Army, bar none. 270 00:13:53,834 --> 00:13:55,233 WILDMAN: George Custer took part 271 00:13:55,235 --> 00:13:57,702 in many major battles of the Civil War, 272 00:13:57,704 --> 00:13:59,170 and quickly rose through the ranks 273 00:13:59,172 --> 00:14:01,973 to become a successful general. 274 00:14:01,975 --> 00:14:04,709 In the 1870s, he was reinventing himself 275 00:14:04,711 --> 00:14:07,712 as a premier fighter in the Indian Wars. 276 00:14:07,714 --> 00:14:09,714 These kinds of wars had been happening 20 years -- 277 00:14:09,716 --> 00:14:12,183 But they had been perfected by General Custer, 278 00:14:12,185 --> 00:14:14,519 and that's why he was the foremost Indian fighter 279 00:14:14,521 --> 00:14:15,654 on the frontier. 280 00:14:19,059 --> 00:14:21,726 Was he always sort of a romantic figure? 281 00:14:21,728 --> 00:14:24,863 He had a charismatic appeal that even when his wife 282 00:14:24,865 --> 00:14:27,131 and him walked down the streets of Monroe, 283 00:14:27,133 --> 00:14:29,401 people would want to walk with him and talk with him. 284 00:14:29,403 --> 00:14:31,469 He had a celebrity status. 285 00:14:31,471 --> 00:14:34,806 Back then, we didn't have Kardashians... 286 00:14:34,808 --> 00:14:36,942 [ Laughs ] ...or Paris Hilton. 287 00:14:36,944 --> 00:14:39,878 It was all the military people... 288 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:41,412 -Sure. -...maybe politicians, 289 00:14:41,414 --> 00:14:44,482 but no one captured the imagination 290 00:14:44,484 --> 00:14:46,151 of the American people 291 00:14:46,153 --> 00:14:49,621 except for the West and men like General Custer. 292 00:14:57,497 --> 00:15:01,299 So how exactly did this famous, accomplished general 293 00:15:01,301 --> 00:15:02,968 meet his end? 294 00:15:02,970 --> 00:15:06,438 What happened to him on that fateful day? 295 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:10,909 June 25th, 1876, saw one of the worst defeats 296 00:15:10,911 --> 00:15:12,911 in US military history. 297 00:15:12,913 --> 00:15:15,980 Right here on the banks of the Little Bighorn River, 298 00:15:15,982 --> 00:15:18,983 the lives of two famous and esteemed leaders, 299 00:15:18,985 --> 00:15:21,987 George Armstrong Custer and Sitting Bull, 300 00:15:21,989 --> 00:15:24,522 came crashing together in a battle 301 00:15:24,524 --> 00:15:26,791 that would go down for the ages. 302 00:15:30,330 --> 00:15:32,264 On the morning of June 25th, 303 00:15:32,266 --> 00:15:34,599 Custer and the troops of the 7th Cavalry 304 00:15:34,601 --> 00:15:36,334 were camped along the Little Bighorn, 305 00:15:36,336 --> 00:15:39,204 the river from which the battle takes its name. 306 00:15:39,206 --> 00:15:41,339 They were part of a larger military effort 307 00:15:41,341 --> 00:15:43,608 to search for Plains Native Americans, 308 00:15:43,610 --> 00:15:45,877 who had defiantly left their reservations, 309 00:15:45,879 --> 00:15:48,413 and force them back. 310 00:15:48,415 --> 00:15:51,549 Today, I'm preparing for my own battle. 311 00:15:51,551 --> 00:15:53,151 In just a couple of hours' time, 312 00:15:53,153 --> 00:15:55,954 an enormous performance is going to take place. 313 00:15:55,956 --> 00:15:59,758 Weeks of preparation will culminate in a huge reenactment 314 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,727 of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. 315 00:16:02,729 --> 00:16:04,762 Okay. Let's talk about today's battle plan. 316 00:16:04,764 --> 00:16:06,297 We've got a lot to do. 317 00:16:06,299 --> 00:16:09,634 We're going to make some changes and go over our safety factors. 318 00:16:09,636 --> 00:16:11,970 WILDMAN: During the reenactment, I'll be riding into battle 319 00:16:11,972 --> 00:16:16,507 with Custer himself, as a member of his battalion. 320 00:16:16,509 --> 00:16:18,442 Man, there's a lot going on today. 321 00:16:18,444 --> 00:16:21,780 I mean, this is actually a kind of nervy situation, 322 00:16:21,782 --> 00:16:24,449 because the pressure of battle is enhanced 323 00:16:24,451 --> 00:16:25,984 by the pressure of performance. 324 00:16:25,986 --> 00:16:27,452 This is a whole thing, you know? 325 00:16:27,454 --> 00:16:29,921 They do this every year, and we got to get it right. 326 00:16:39,132 --> 00:16:40,798 WILDMAN: On the morning of the battle, 327 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,401 Custer's scouts report that they've found an enormous 328 00:16:43,403 --> 00:16:44,869 Native American village, 329 00:16:44,871 --> 00:16:48,206 housing perhaps thousands of warriors. 330 00:16:48,208 --> 00:16:51,809 They also report that the calvary may have been spotted. 331 00:16:51,811 --> 00:16:54,412 Custer could not bear the thought of the villagers 332 00:16:54,414 --> 00:16:56,747 scattering and escaping capture, 333 00:16:56,749 --> 00:16:59,283 and so, instead of waiting for more troops, 334 00:16:59,285 --> 00:17:01,619 he decides on an immediate advance. 335 00:17:01,621 --> 00:17:04,488 This decision may have cost him his life. 336 00:17:04,490 --> 00:17:06,091 [ Men chattering ] 337 00:17:06,093 --> 00:17:09,227 Here we go. Mounted up. 338 00:17:09,229 --> 00:17:14,165 Dividing his forces in three, Custer sends Major Marcus Reno 339 00:17:14,167 --> 00:17:17,101 and his men to charge the village from the south. 340 00:17:17,103 --> 00:17:19,304 Captain Frederick Benteen is ordered to prevent 341 00:17:19,306 --> 00:17:22,374 the Natives' escape to the southwest. 342 00:17:22,376 --> 00:17:23,908 Custer and his troops 343 00:17:23,910 --> 00:17:26,911 would attack the village from the east. 344 00:17:28,982 --> 00:17:32,850 As planned, Reno's battalion of over 170 soldiers 345 00:17:32,852 --> 00:17:34,652 attacks the southern end of the village. 346 00:17:34,654 --> 00:17:37,588 -Ready! Aim! Fire! [ Shouting ] 347 00:17:37,590 --> 00:17:40,791 Though initially surprised, warriors from the village manage 348 00:17:40,793 --> 00:17:43,461 to fend off Reno's assault. 349 00:17:43,463 --> 00:17:45,797 Reno is forced to retreat. [ Shouting continues ] 350 00:17:45,799 --> 00:17:49,868 Those of you who want to live, follow me. 351 00:17:49,870 --> 00:17:52,536 WILDMAN: Reno and his men retreat from the village. 352 00:17:52,538 --> 00:17:55,339 Benteen still lags far behind. 353 00:17:55,341 --> 00:17:58,743 Perhaps Custer thought that help was just around the corner, 354 00:17:58,745 --> 00:18:00,544 but it wasn't. 355 00:18:00,546 --> 00:18:04,015 Custer and his men are alone in their advance. 356 00:18:04,017 --> 00:18:10,822 What happens next will go down in history. 357 00:18:14,027 --> 00:18:15,627 [ Shouting ] 358 00:18:15,629 --> 00:18:18,496 WILDMAN: The Battle of the Little Bighorn is underway. 359 00:18:18,498 --> 00:18:21,299 Although separated from most of his 7th Calvary, 360 00:18:21,301 --> 00:18:24,635 George Custer is preparing to attack. 361 00:18:24,637 --> 00:18:26,303 So we're getting ready now. 362 00:18:26,305 --> 00:18:30,775 This is the gathering place for when we move over to the bluffs 363 00:18:30,777 --> 00:18:32,510 and get ready to charge down. 364 00:18:32,512 --> 00:18:33,845 This is all about setting up 365 00:18:33,847 --> 00:18:35,647 for the last stand, and, you know, 366 00:18:35,649 --> 00:18:37,114 these guys are very serious. 367 00:18:37,116 --> 00:18:38,917 We are all set here like we would be 368 00:18:38,919 --> 00:18:40,118 in a military situation, 369 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:42,587 waiting for our commander to tell us when to go. 370 00:18:42,589 --> 00:18:44,789 It gets very serious at this point. 371 00:18:44,791 --> 00:18:47,525 I'm very anxious. 372 00:18:49,129 --> 00:18:50,729 Custer and his men 373 00:18:50,731 --> 00:18:53,331 charge towards the village from the east. 374 00:18:53,333 --> 00:18:57,068 Lakota and Cheyenne together cross the river and slam 375 00:18:57,070 --> 00:18:58,536 into the advancing soldiers, 376 00:18:58,538 --> 00:19:00,739 forcing them back. [ Shouting ] 377 00:19:00,741 --> 00:19:03,808 At the same time, another force of warriors, 378 00:19:03,810 --> 00:19:06,010 largely under Crazy Horse's command, 379 00:19:06,012 --> 00:19:07,812 swiftly moves downstream, 380 00:19:07,814 --> 00:19:10,081 enveloping Custer. [ Shouting, gunfire ] 381 00:19:10,083 --> 00:19:13,084 They begin pouring in gunfire and arrows. 382 00:19:13,086 --> 00:19:14,952 [ Shouting fades ] 383 00:19:19,158 --> 00:19:20,959 Move forward! Get going! Get him up there! 384 00:19:20,961 --> 00:19:23,027 Get him up there! [ Men shouting ] 385 00:19:23,029 --> 00:19:26,230 This is scary. Here they come. 386 00:19:26,232 --> 00:19:28,966 [ Shouting continues ] 387 00:19:28,968 --> 00:19:31,169 It's unbelievable how real this feels. 388 00:19:31,171 --> 00:19:32,437 [ Shouting continues ] 389 00:19:32,439 --> 00:19:34,238 Ready. 390 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,507 [ Whooping, shouting ] 391 00:19:36,509 --> 00:19:39,444 WILDMAN: Custer and about 50 of his men are cornered 392 00:19:39,446 --> 00:19:43,314 on what is now called Last Stand Hill. 393 00:19:43,316 --> 00:19:47,919 Hundreds of Lakota and Cheyenne warriors surround them. 394 00:19:47,921 --> 00:19:51,322 As the fight progresses soldiers, some on foot, 395 00:19:51,324 --> 00:19:52,656 others on horseback, 396 00:19:52,658 --> 00:19:55,727 break out in a desperate attempt to get away. 397 00:19:55,729 --> 00:19:59,464 Custer is trapped, outnumbered, outskilled, 398 00:19:59,466 --> 00:20:02,466 and with no hope of rescue. 399 00:20:02,468 --> 00:20:04,602 This is his last stand. 400 00:20:04,604 --> 00:20:06,871 [ Gunfire, shouting ] 401 00:20:06,873 --> 00:20:09,874 Shots fire. Arrows shoot through the air. 402 00:20:09,876 --> 00:20:12,810 Men fight with everything they have. 403 00:20:12,812 --> 00:20:16,580 But one after another, they fall, including me. 404 00:20:16,582 --> 00:20:20,151 [ Shouting, echoes ] 405 00:20:20,153 --> 00:20:23,288 In as little as an hour after their first attack, 406 00:20:23,290 --> 00:20:28,226 Custer and all 210 men of his men lay dead. 407 00:20:32,232 --> 00:20:33,831 All right. Mount up! 408 00:20:35,368 --> 00:20:37,768 Reno, Benteen and the rest of their men 409 00:20:37,770 --> 00:20:39,437 continue fighting for another day. 410 00:20:39,439 --> 00:20:41,239 [ Shouting, echoes ] 411 00:20:41,241 --> 00:20:43,241 When the battle was finally over, 412 00:20:43,243 --> 00:20:45,843 more than 270 officers and troops 413 00:20:45,845 --> 00:20:47,979 were dead or fatally injured. 414 00:20:49,449 --> 00:20:50,849 There were similar numbers of killed 415 00:20:50,851 --> 00:20:53,317 and wounded on the Native American side, 416 00:20:53,319 --> 00:20:55,653 and since this was a village that was attacked, 417 00:20:55,655 --> 00:20:58,656 women and children were among the dead. 418 00:20:58,658 --> 00:21:01,525 Both Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse survived. 419 00:21:01,527 --> 00:21:03,594 [ Men shouting ] 420 00:21:03,596 --> 00:21:05,396 [ Groans ] 421 00:21:05,398 --> 00:21:07,665 The thing is, you can't prepare for battle. 422 00:21:07,667 --> 00:21:09,934 I mean, that's what's going on. You can prepare all you want. 423 00:21:09,936 --> 00:21:11,936 You can train for discipline and so forth, 424 00:21:11,938 --> 00:21:14,005 but when the warriors are coming at you, 425 00:21:14,007 --> 00:21:16,407 when the hatchets are flying, forget about it. 426 00:21:16,409 --> 00:21:18,610 It's every man for himself. 427 00:21:21,681 --> 00:21:24,015 When news of the battle's outcome spread, 428 00:21:24,017 --> 00:21:29,087 people could not believe what they were hearing was true. 429 00:21:29,089 --> 00:21:32,357 How could George Custer, the famous Civil War general, 430 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,560 have been defeated by so-called savages? 431 00:21:37,364 --> 00:21:38,896 The reenactment of the battle 432 00:21:38,898 --> 00:21:40,698 follows the widely accepted version 433 00:21:40,700 --> 00:21:43,033 of what took place that day, 434 00:21:43,035 --> 00:21:45,503 but is this really what happened? 435 00:21:45,505 --> 00:21:48,973 Is this a truthful portrayal of those involved, 436 00:21:48,975 --> 00:21:51,108 especially the man with whom the battle 437 00:21:51,110 --> 00:21:53,244 has become inextricably linked? 438 00:21:59,786 --> 00:22:03,254 Many a history book paints a picture of George Custer 439 00:22:03,256 --> 00:22:06,523 as this fearless, relentless, ambitious fighter 440 00:22:06,525 --> 00:22:08,859 who dies valiantly in battle, 441 00:22:08,861 --> 00:22:11,128 but is that the whole story? 442 00:22:11,130 --> 00:22:13,063 I'm on my way to meet someone who is going to help me 443 00:22:13,065 --> 00:22:15,867 dig a little deeper into who this guy really was. 444 00:22:24,677 --> 00:22:27,278 [ Faint chattering ] 445 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:28,546 -Chris? -Hey, Don. 446 00:22:28,548 --> 00:22:29,881 How you doing? 447 00:22:29,883 --> 00:22:31,615 Welcome to Garryowen, the Custer Battlefield Museum. 448 00:22:31,617 --> 00:22:33,885 Thank you very much. This is really neat. Thanks. I... 449 00:22:33,887 --> 00:22:36,019 WILDMAN: Chris Kortlander is the founding director 450 00:22:36,021 --> 00:22:39,824 of the Custer Battlefield Museum in Garryowen, Montana. 451 00:22:39,826 --> 00:22:42,025 He has been involved in preserving and collecting 452 00:22:42,027 --> 00:22:45,763 rare Western Americana for decades. 453 00:22:45,765 --> 00:22:48,900 Today, he's giving me an exclusive look at an object 454 00:22:48,902 --> 00:22:52,169 that speaks to the true character of George Custer. 455 00:22:54,975 --> 00:22:56,707 Look at these. 456 00:22:56,709 --> 00:22:58,242 Oh, my goodness. 457 00:22:58,244 --> 00:23:02,312 These are General George Armstrong Custer's 458 00:23:02,314 --> 00:23:04,581 beaded gauntlets, purportedly stripped off 459 00:23:04,583 --> 00:23:07,518 his dead corpse on Last Stand Hill. 460 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:09,253 Unbelievable. Can I touch it? 461 00:23:09,255 --> 00:23:10,988 -Would you like to try one on? -Really? 462 00:23:10,990 --> 00:23:13,591 -I'd love to. -Absolutely. 463 00:23:13,593 --> 00:23:15,259 So you're putting on 464 00:23:15,261 --> 00:23:18,262 George Armstrong Custer's gauntlets. 465 00:23:18,264 --> 00:23:21,265 Crazy. What's with the big stars? 466 00:23:21,267 --> 00:23:24,068 So you can see a little bit of ego getting involved here? [ Laughs ] 467 00:23:24,070 --> 00:23:27,338 Beaded red, white and blue stars for general. 468 00:23:31,678 --> 00:23:34,879 WILDMAN: Although everyone knows Custer as a general, 469 00:23:34,881 --> 00:23:37,882 he actually reverted back to the regular rank of captain 470 00:23:37,884 --> 00:23:40,218 when the Civil War ended. 471 00:23:40,220 --> 00:23:42,754 He was later promoted to lieutenant colonel, 472 00:23:42,756 --> 00:23:45,556 but his time in the Army was turbulent. 473 00:23:45,558 --> 00:23:49,093 He was once even court-martialed and temporarily suspended 474 00:23:49,095 --> 00:23:53,497 for deserting his post to visit his wife. 475 00:23:53,499 --> 00:23:58,302 He wanted everybody to know that he was once a general, 476 00:23:58,304 --> 00:24:00,838 even though he died here as a lieutenant colonel. 477 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:02,372 -They're very bold. -They are. 478 00:24:02,374 --> 00:24:04,509 This guy was a character, 479 00:24:04,511 --> 00:24:07,045 one of the biggest characters of American history. 480 00:24:07,047 --> 00:24:08,645 Why is that? 481 00:24:08,647 --> 00:24:11,181 Well, you know, in the Civil War he never lost one battle. 482 00:24:11,183 --> 00:24:13,851 Okay. He was able to wear any uniform that he wanted. 483 00:24:13,853 --> 00:24:16,521 He even created his own uniforms. Okay. 484 00:24:16,523 --> 00:24:19,256 And he was the most photographed person of the 19th century, 485 00:24:19,258 --> 00:24:21,425 even more than any United States president. 486 00:24:26,399 --> 00:24:30,268 Custer was an incredibly ambitious man, right? 487 00:24:30,270 --> 00:24:33,871 I mean, how does he go from being such an ace military man 488 00:24:33,873 --> 00:24:36,073 to being caught up in one of the worst disasters 489 00:24:36,075 --> 00:24:38,342 of American military history? 490 00:24:38,344 --> 00:24:40,544 He was a hero in the Civil War. 491 00:24:40,546 --> 00:24:43,414 This was the Indian Wars, totally different ball game. 492 00:24:43,416 --> 00:24:46,217 -Okay. -In fighting indigenous natives 493 00:24:46,219 --> 00:24:49,020 defending their homeland here at the Little Bighorn... 494 00:24:49,022 --> 00:24:50,087 Mm-hmm. 495 00:24:50,089 --> 00:24:51,422 ...he didn't know what he was doing... 496 00:24:51,424 --> 00:24:53,891 Okay. ...when he came into this battle. 497 00:24:53,893 --> 00:24:56,294 Give me some adjectives about George Custer. 498 00:24:56,296 --> 00:24:59,496 Vain, arrogant, overachieving, 499 00:24:59,498 --> 00:25:01,833 ambitious, not trusting... Mm-hmm. 500 00:25:01,835 --> 00:25:03,034 ...flamboyant. 501 00:25:03,036 --> 00:25:06,370 [ Laughs ] This is a -- This is a character. 502 00:25:08,908 --> 00:25:13,511 Custer's image was heavily manicured after his death. 503 00:25:13,513 --> 00:25:16,580 Buffalo Bill Cody chose the charismatic Custer 504 00:25:16,582 --> 00:25:18,916 as a starring hero of his world-famous 505 00:25:18,918 --> 00:25:21,385 Wild West Show. 506 00:25:21,387 --> 00:25:23,988 And Custer's widow, Elizabeth Bacon Custer, 507 00:25:23,990 --> 00:25:25,723 spent the rest of her long life 508 00:25:25,725 --> 00:25:30,461 defending her late husband's reputation as a gallant warrior. 509 00:25:30,463 --> 00:25:32,663 Custer came to be thought of as a brave 510 00:25:32,665 --> 00:25:35,933 and courageous icon of the Wild West. 511 00:25:35,935 --> 00:25:38,335 -And there is the man. -There he is. 512 00:25:38,337 --> 00:25:39,937 How amazing. 513 00:25:39,939 --> 00:25:42,139 This is the final moment of the battle. 514 00:25:42,141 --> 00:25:45,476 This is what one artist's rendering is. 515 00:25:45,478 --> 00:25:47,278 It's probably one of the most historically inaccurate 516 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:48,946 paintings I've ever seen. 517 00:25:48,948 --> 00:25:50,681 First of all, he didn't have a rooster hanging around. 518 00:25:50,683 --> 00:25:52,883 -It's just being there. -Or Custer holding 519 00:25:52,885 --> 00:25:56,219 a pair of Colts with a map case in his pocket and a saber. 520 00:25:56,221 --> 00:25:58,422 He left all the sabers at Fort Abraham Lincoln. 521 00:25:58,424 --> 00:26:00,424 There you go. I mean, this speaks to the -- 522 00:26:00,426 --> 00:26:02,760 the many misunderstandings of this legend, doesn't it? 523 00:26:02,762 --> 00:26:05,830 Absolutely, and it just keeps on perpetuating today. 524 00:26:09,769 --> 00:26:14,839 So was Custer a valiant hero or a vainglorious adventurer? 525 00:26:14,841 --> 00:26:16,507 Depends on who you ask. 526 00:26:16,509 --> 00:26:18,910 The real answer may be a bit of both. 527 00:26:18,912 --> 00:26:20,378 One thing's for sure. 528 00:26:20,380 --> 00:26:23,981 He was a larger-than-life figure and an experienced leader, 529 00:26:23,983 --> 00:26:26,584 but why was he out West in the first place? 530 00:26:26,586 --> 00:26:29,453 What was his mission? What was he looking for? 531 00:26:29,455 --> 00:26:32,323 To find out, I'm going underground. 532 00:26:51,544 --> 00:26:54,278 WILDMAN: I've traveled out West to investigate 533 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:56,013 the Battle of the Little Bighorn, 534 00:26:56,015 --> 00:26:58,616 Custer's famous last stand. 535 00:26:58,618 --> 00:27:02,620 But what brought George Custer to this area to begin with? 536 00:27:02,622 --> 00:27:04,422 [ Groans ] 537 00:27:04,424 --> 00:27:06,757 -Wow. Hey, Gary. How you doing? -Hey, welcome. 538 00:27:06,759 --> 00:27:08,359 -Thank you. -Nice to see you. 539 00:27:08,361 --> 00:27:10,628 Into your subterranean lair, huh? Yes, sir. 540 00:27:10,630 --> 00:27:13,964 Gary Enright is a local historian and author. 541 00:27:13,966 --> 00:27:17,902 He knows exactly what brought Custer to this region. 542 00:27:17,904 --> 00:27:19,837 So where are we? 543 00:27:19,839 --> 00:27:22,306 Well, we're in an underground mine shaft. 544 00:27:22,308 --> 00:27:24,708 -And what do they mine here? -Gold. 545 00:27:24,710 --> 00:27:27,245 Gold, and lots of it. And lots of it. 546 00:27:29,782 --> 00:27:31,648 WILDMAN: In the mid-1870s, 547 00:27:31,650 --> 00:27:33,717 rumors of abundant gold in the area 548 00:27:33,719 --> 00:27:35,185 were starting to spread, 549 00:27:35,187 --> 00:27:37,455 and with the country under financial strain, 550 00:27:37,457 --> 00:27:41,992 the lure of treasure was too strong to resist. 551 00:27:41,994 --> 00:27:44,996 In 1874, two years before the battle 552 00:27:44,998 --> 00:27:46,863 that would come to define him, 553 00:27:46,865 --> 00:27:49,066 the US government ordered Custer to lead 554 00:27:49,068 --> 00:27:51,736 a thousand-man expedition to this very area 555 00:27:51,738 --> 00:27:54,071 in search of the precious metal. 556 00:27:54,073 --> 00:27:57,408 It was challenging, sparsely populated terrain, 557 00:27:57,410 --> 00:27:59,010 but after just a few days, 558 00:27:59,012 --> 00:28:02,413 gold was discovered in creeks and rivers. 559 00:28:02,415 --> 00:28:04,749 Almost immediately, white prospectors 560 00:28:04,751 --> 00:28:07,818 began to pour into the Black Hills. 561 00:28:07,820 --> 00:28:12,356 Custer was now unknowingly on a path to his own demise. 562 00:28:12,358 --> 00:28:15,859 They found more gold than they had anticipated, 563 00:28:15,861 --> 00:28:18,829 and from there blossomed 564 00:28:18,831 --> 00:28:22,967 a multi-billion dollar industry in the Black Hills 565 00:28:22,969 --> 00:28:25,369 when Homestake Mine was installed. 566 00:28:25,371 --> 00:28:28,572 So you can really draw a direct line between the day 567 00:28:28,574 --> 00:28:31,509 they found gold with Custer in 1874 568 00:28:31,511 --> 00:28:33,176 and the day Custer dies... 569 00:28:33,178 --> 00:28:34,845 Yeah. ...in his last stand? 570 00:28:34,847 --> 00:28:37,648 They're directly related. Absolutely directly related. 571 00:28:37,650 --> 00:28:40,651 There is no question about it, that one follows the other. 572 00:28:40,653 --> 00:28:41,718 Wow. 573 00:28:43,989 --> 00:28:45,322 WILDMAN: But there was a problem. 574 00:28:45,324 --> 00:28:48,192 The Black Hills belonged to the Native Americans. 575 00:28:48,194 --> 00:28:50,660 In 1868, 576 00:28:50,662 --> 00:28:53,263 a treaty was signed guaranteeing ownership 577 00:28:53,265 --> 00:28:55,799 of the Black Hills to the Lakota. 578 00:28:55,801 --> 00:29:00,137 In return, white settlers would populate the surrounding land. 579 00:29:00,139 --> 00:29:02,273 The Black Hills are incredibly sacred 580 00:29:02,275 --> 00:29:04,975 for many Native American tribes. 581 00:29:04,977 --> 00:29:08,545 Custer and his men were desecrating hallowed ground. 582 00:29:08,547 --> 00:29:11,148 There was a treaty in 1868, 583 00:29:11,150 --> 00:29:12,883 Fort Laramie Treaty, right? Yep. 584 00:29:12,885 --> 00:29:14,819 Which dictated that this whole area 585 00:29:14,821 --> 00:29:16,419 belonged to Native American tribes. 586 00:29:16,421 --> 00:29:17,755 That's true. 587 00:29:17,757 --> 00:29:20,624 So when white people start coming in to find gold, 588 00:29:20,626 --> 00:29:22,426 they are officially trespassing. 589 00:29:22,428 --> 00:29:24,295 They were trespassing on Indian land 590 00:29:24,297 --> 00:29:26,230 that was guaranteed to them by treaty. 591 00:29:26,232 --> 00:29:27,898 Wow. That's pretty nasty. 592 00:29:27,900 --> 00:29:31,502 WILDMAN: The discovery of gold changed everything. 593 00:29:31,504 --> 00:29:34,238 The American government reneged on their promise 594 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,173 and broke the Laramie Treaty. 595 00:29:36,175 --> 00:29:37,641 They claimed the Black Hills 596 00:29:37,643 --> 00:29:40,644 and all the gold within were theirs. 597 00:29:40,646 --> 00:29:42,980 Any Native American found on these lands 598 00:29:42,982 --> 00:29:45,383 was to be captured or killed. 599 00:29:50,923 --> 00:29:55,125 George Custer was a complicated and multifaceted man 600 00:29:55,127 --> 00:29:59,130 who unquestionably made his indelible mark upon history, 601 00:29:59,132 --> 00:30:01,598 but Custer wasn't the only legend 602 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:03,534 at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. 603 00:30:03,536 --> 00:30:06,670 What about his great opponent, the equally iconic 604 00:30:06,672 --> 00:30:09,339 Native American Chief Sitting Bull? 605 00:30:09,341 --> 00:30:11,007 Who was Sitting Bull, 606 00:30:11,009 --> 00:30:14,878 and what role did he play in this fabled conflict? 607 00:30:17,350 --> 00:30:20,350 Sitting Bull was one of the most famous and important 608 00:30:20,352 --> 00:30:22,553 Native American chiefs. 609 00:30:22,555 --> 00:30:25,622 He was a respected holy man who was renowned for his bravery 610 00:30:25,624 --> 00:30:27,224 in battle. 611 00:30:27,226 --> 00:30:29,626 By the time of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, 612 00:30:29,628 --> 00:30:32,029 Sitting Bull was 45 years old 613 00:30:32,031 --> 00:30:33,964 and had become more of a spiritual leader 614 00:30:33,966 --> 00:30:35,966 than a mounted fighter. 615 00:30:35,968 --> 00:30:38,035 But although he didn't fight in the battle, 616 00:30:38,037 --> 00:30:40,637 he still played a crucial role. 617 00:30:40,639 --> 00:30:42,239 To find out what this was, 618 00:30:42,241 --> 00:30:46,176 I'm on my way to meet someone perfectly placed to tell me. 619 00:30:48,581 --> 00:30:52,316 [ Vocalizing ] 620 00:30:56,589 --> 00:30:58,589 -Ernie. -Hey. 621 00:30:58,591 --> 00:31:00,157 Don Wildman. Nice to meet you. 622 00:31:00,159 --> 00:31:02,259 How you doing, man? It's good to meet you. It is an honor. 623 00:31:02,261 --> 00:31:04,862 So you are related to Sitting Bull? 624 00:31:04,864 --> 00:31:07,597 My great-grandfather, right. Your great-grandfather, that's amazing. 625 00:31:07,599 --> 00:31:09,399 And I'm just trying to tell his story. 626 00:31:11,671 --> 00:31:14,605 So Sitting Bull is known, in history... 627 00:31:14,607 --> 00:31:15,872 Right. 628 00:31:15,874 --> 00:31:18,208 ...as a great leader of the Lakota tribe. 629 00:31:18,210 --> 00:31:20,344 What Sitting Bull was, was when you're chosen to be 630 00:31:20,346 --> 00:31:22,145 an itancan, we call that, 631 00:31:22,147 --> 00:31:25,683 and it translates to a chief, what that means is 632 00:31:25,685 --> 00:31:28,686 an itancan is a man who's a caretaker of the people. 633 00:31:28,688 --> 00:31:30,221 Okay. 634 00:31:30,223 --> 00:31:32,155 He takes the whole village and puts it on his shoulders. 635 00:31:32,157 --> 00:31:33,757 -Mm-hmm. -And he feeds them. 636 00:31:33,759 --> 00:31:35,025 He cares for them. 637 00:31:35,027 --> 00:31:36,627 He protects them. He does everything. 638 00:31:36,629 --> 00:31:40,163 So Sitting Bull was an extraordinary human being. 639 00:31:40,165 --> 00:31:43,367 Yeah, well, you know, in the eyes of the people 640 00:31:43,369 --> 00:31:46,370 that followed him or the others, he was. 641 00:31:51,711 --> 00:31:54,111 WILDMAN: As many of his fellow Plains Native Americans 642 00:31:54,113 --> 00:31:56,313 moved to reservations in order to abide 643 00:31:56,315 --> 00:32:00,250 by the Fort Laramie Treaty, Sitting Bull refused. 644 00:32:00,252 --> 00:32:01,451 He became a symbol 645 00:32:01,453 --> 00:32:04,321 of the resistance against the white man. 646 00:32:04,323 --> 00:32:06,790 His leadership had attracted scores of people 647 00:32:06,792 --> 00:32:08,459 who had fled the reservations, 648 00:32:08,461 --> 00:32:12,796 creating an extensive village from a variety of tribes. 649 00:32:12,798 --> 00:32:15,866 This is the village that Custer would face. 650 00:32:17,670 --> 00:32:20,604 [ Singing in Native American language ] 651 00:32:20,606 --> 00:32:22,873 WILDMAN: Just weeks before the fateful battle, 652 00:32:22,875 --> 00:32:24,208 Sitting Bull took part 653 00:32:24,210 --> 00:32:27,143 in a ceremony of particular importance, 654 00:32:27,145 --> 00:32:31,214 a Sun Dance, where he received a momentous vision. 655 00:32:31,216 --> 00:32:33,083 Tell me about the Sun Dance, 656 00:32:33,085 --> 00:32:35,485 the significance of it and how it happens. 657 00:32:35,487 --> 00:32:41,025 The Sun Dance signifies the person who commits 658 00:32:41,027 --> 00:32:43,426 to give his blood, sweat and tears 659 00:32:43,428 --> 00:32:45,562 for the survival of the people. 660 00:32:45,564 --> 00:32:47,898 They took 50 pieces of flesh from each arm. 661 00:32:47,900 --> 00:32:50,834 That's 50 small pieces of flesh? Yeah. He cut them out. 662 00:32:50,836 --> 00:32:53,436 As a result of the Sun Dance, Sitting Bull has a vision. 663 00:32:53,438 --> 00:32:55,038 What was that? 664 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:58,842 He had a vision of the soldiers falling into camp upside down. 665 00:32:58,844 --> 00:33:00,978 He said, "They look like grasshoppers." 666 00:33:07,186 --> 00:33:10,254 WILDMAN: Sitting Bull's vision predicted a huge battle 667 00:33:10,256 --> 00:33:12,723 and a great victory for his people. 668 00:33:12,725 --> 00:33:15,993 They were elated, and that same day, a new carving 669 00:33:15,995 --> 00:33:20,064 is said to have appeared here at Deer Medicine Rocks. 670 00:33:20,066 --> 00:33:23,467 It reflected exactly what Sitting Bull foresaw -- 671 00:33:23,469 --> 00:33:26,136 the death of American soldiers. 672 00:33:26,138 --> 00:33:29,873 However, Sitting Bull's vision came with a warning. 673 00:33:29,875 --> 00:33:33,544 If his people were to take any of the normal spoils of war -- 674 00:33:33,546 --> 00:33:36,413 the clothing or personal effects of the fallen -- 675 00:33:36,415 --> 00:33:38,548 they would be punished. 676 00:33:38,550 --> 00:33:42,953 The battle would be a great test of Sitting Bull's people. 677 00:33:42,955 --> 00:33:46,156 Was this really a great victory for the Native Americans? 678 00:33:46,158 --> 00:33:49,426 How much of Sitting Bull's vision came true? 679 00:33:49,428 --> 00:33:56,967 And what exactly happened at the Battle of Little Bighorn? 680 00:34:09,448 --> 00:34:11,781 The Battle of the Little Bighorn is remembered 681 00:34:11,783 --> 00:34:14,585 as a shocking defeat for the US military, 682 00:34:14,587 --> 00:34:19,056 a valiant final struggle between Custer and his few remaining men 683 00:34:19,058 --> 00:34:22,726 and an army of fierce Native American warriors, 684 00:34:22,728 --> 00:34:25,261 but is this really what happened? 685 00:34:25,263 --> 00:34:27,331 What went wrong that day, 686 00:34:27,333 --> 00:34:31,068 and could it all have been very different? 687 00:34:37,076 --> 00:34:38,742 Steve, nice to meet you. 688 00:34:38,744 --> 00:34:40,210 Great to meet you. Steve Adelson. 689 00:34:40,212 --> 00:34:41,545 Thank you, sir. 690 00:34:41,547 --> 00:34:44,148 WILDMAN: Steve Adelson is an author and historian 691 00:34:44,150 --> 00:34:47,951 who has spent years studying this battle. 692 00:34:47,953 --> 00:34:51,622 Why do you think this battle still fascinates so many, 693 00:34:51,624 --> 00:34:53,490 you know, still to this day? 694 00:34:53,492 --> 00:34:57,428 Well, I think there's a story here that still haunts 695 00:34:57,430 --> 00:34:59,963 the American consciousness, even today. 696 00:34:59,965 --> 00:35:04,101 People come here from all over the world, and they stand here, 697 00:35:04,103 --> 00:35:07,237 and they look out, all these markers, 698 00:35:07,239 --> 00:35:09,172 you know, monuments, 699 00:35:09,174 --> 00:35:12,309 and they try to imagine what it must have been like... 700 00:35:12,311 --> 00:35:13,610 -Exactly. -...in the end. 701 00:35:16,515 --> 00:35:18,849 So what went wrong in this battle? 702 00:35:18,851 --> 00:35:21,852 Let's look at what Custer was trying to do. 703 00:35:21,854 --> 00:35:24,321 First of all, he's afraid the village is going to run. 704 00:35:24,323 --> 00:35:26,190 Mm-hmm. These warriors aren't going to fight. 705 00:35:26,192 --> 00:35:27,591 This village is going to flee. Yep. 706 00:35:27,593 --> 00:35:29,926 That's his biggest concern, is it's going to get away. 707 00:35:29,928 --> 00:35:31,528 Sure. 708 00:35:31,530 --> 00:35:34,398 By dividing his command, in his mind, 709 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:37,734 he thinks he's going to keep them from escaping. 710 00:35:37,736 --> 00:35:39,670 There's also an element of -- 711 00:35:39,672 --> 00:35:41,405 you could call it arrogance. 712 00:35:41,407 --> 00:35:45,943 Because these people are perceived 713 00:35:45,945 --> 00:35:47,744 as ignorant savages. Mm-hmm. 714 00:35:47,746 --> 00:35:51,414 How can they possibly stand up to the vaunted 7th Calvary... 715 00:35:51,416 --> 00:35:53,150 Sure. ...and George Armstrong Custer? 716 00:35:53,152 --> 00:35:56,220 Yeah. Custer said, "We can whip anything we come across." 717 00:35:57,489 --> 00:35:59,289 WILDMAN: Custer's Native American scouts 718 00:35:59,291 --> 00:36:01,625 tried to warn him that there were hundreds, 719 00:36:01,627 --> 00:36:04,695 maybe thousands of warriors in the village below, 720 00:36:04,697 --> 00:36:06,630 but Custer didn't listen. 721 00:36:06,632 --> 00:36:10,434 The draw of heroically capturing so many Native Americans 722 00:36:10,436 --> 00:36:13,369 must have been stronger than fears of a resistance. 723 00:36:13,371 --> 00:36:15,705 He had scouts that were telling him about this, right? 724 00:36:15,707 --> 00:36:18,709 He has scouts. When they see the village, 725 00:36:18,711 --> 00:36:21,445 they have mixed opinions as to what to do. 726 00:36:21,447 --> 00:36:23,247 Some of them say, "Attack." Yeah. 727 00:36:23,249 --> 00:36:25,249 "Attack. The village will run." 728 00:36:25,251 --> 00:36:27,584 But others warn him, "Don't go down there." 729 00:36:27,586 --> 00:36:29,653 Uh-huh. "Don't go down there, too many Ota, 730 00:36:29,655 --> 00:36:31,788 too many Ota Sioux, soldier Sioux." 731 00:36:31,790 --> 00:36:33,389 -Okay. -"Don't go down there." 732 00:36:33,391 --> 00:36:36,526 -And he does. -And he does. 733 00:36:38,463 --> 00:36:40,463 Steve, tell me about the fighting capabilities 734 00:36:40,465 --> 00:36:41,798 of these Indian warriors. 735 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:43,066 They were outstanding. 736 00:36:43,068 --> 00:36:46,536 In fact, warrior training began very early on 737 00:36:46,538 --> 00:36:48,204 in a young boy's life. 738 00:36:48,206 --> 00:36:50,874 They were extraordinary horsemen. Mm. 739 00:36:50,876 --> 00:36:52,943 They were excellent with their weapons. 740 00:36:52,945 --> 00:36:55,945 In fact, they were the best light calvary in the world. 741 00:36:55,947 --> 00:36:57,548 I've never heard that. That's interesting. 742 00:36:57,550 --> 00:36:59,016 And then you couple it with the fact 743 00:36:59,018 --> 00:37:00,617 that this is their terrain. 744 00:37:00,619 --> 00:37:03,086 This is all the world that they know so well. 745 00:37:03,088 --> 00:37:04,421 Absolutely, absolutely. 746 00:37:04,423 --> 00:37:07,891 And we can compare this to the Vietnam War and Afghanistan. 747 00:37:07,893 --> 00:37:09,158 Sure. 748 00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:11,295 You're fighting a people who know the territory 749 00:37:11,297 --> 00:37:13,230 like the back of their hand. 750 00:37:17,036 --> 00:37:18,902 WILDMAN: There are many rumors and theories 751 00:37:18,904 --> 00:37:21,638 surrounding Custer's death. 752 00:37:21,640 --> 00:37:24,807 Some suggest that the battle was over so quickly, 753 00:37:24,809 --> 00:37:28,511 Custer must have been immediately overwhelmed. 754 00:37:28,513 --> 00:37:30,981 There was simply no time for a coordinated, 755 00:37:30,983 --> 00:37:33,650 romanticized last stand. 756 00:37:35,521 --> 00:37:38,989 So as close as you know, how did Custer die? 757 00:37:38,991 --> 00:37:40,390 What were those circumstances? 758 00:37:40,392 --> 00:37:42,059 Well, he had two wounds. 759 00:37:42,061 --> 00:37:45,595 The head wound would have been instantaneously fatal, 760 00:37:45,597 --> 00:37:47,330 and he had a -- A gunshot? 761 00:37:47,332 --> 00:37:51,067 Yes, a gunshot, and he had a gunshot wound to the chest, 762 00:37:51,069 --> 00:37:56,206 which by and large would eventually be fatal. 763 00:37:56,208 --> 00:38:00,077 This was pandemonium, I mean, and panic among those troops. 764 00:38:00,079 --> 00:38:03,614 Yes. Eventually the whole entire structure collapsed, 765 00:38:03,616 --> 00:38:05,882 and there was chaos. Yeah. 766 00:38:05,884 --> 00:38:08,218 So there was officially a last stand? 767 00:38:08,220 --> 00:38:09,619 There was a last stand. 768 00:38:09,621 --> 00:38:12,155 Now, where the last of the fighting took place 769 00:38:12,157 --> 00:38:13,957 is debatable, 770 00:38:13,959 --> 00:38:16,026 but there definitely was a last stand. 771 00:38:19,631 --> 00:38:21,431 WILDMAN: Sitting Bull warned his people 772 00:38:21,433 --> 00:38:24,034 not to touch the bodies of the dead soldiers, 773 00:38:24,036 --> 00:38:25,502 as his premonition of the battle 774 00:38:25,504 --> 00:38:29,039 warned that great punishment would await them if they did. 775 00:38:29,041 --> 00:38:31,574 They did not heed his warning. 776 00:38:31,576 --> 00:38:35,778 Guns, money, horses and clothing were taken from the fallen, 777 00:38:35,780 --> 00:38:39,716 and a large number of their bodies were mutilated. 778 00:38:39,718 --> 00:38:41,184 Archaeological evidence, 779 00:38:41,186 --> 00:38:43,519 oral histories from the Native American victors, 780 00:38:43,521 --> 00:38:46,689 and written accounts from the 7th Calvary who survived 781 00:38:46,691 --> 00:38:50,527 provide a detailed vision of what happened that day. 782 00:38:50,529 --> 00:38:53,597 But there are some things we will never know. 783 00:38:53,599 --> 00:38:56,133 What about the legacy of this battle? 784 00:38:56,135 --> 00:38:57,601 What happened in the aftermath, 785 00:38:57,603 --> 00:39:00,003 and what were the long-term implications, 786 00:39:00,005 --> 00:39:04,340 and why does a battle that took place over 140 years ago 787 00:39:04,342 --> 00:39:06,743 still have relevance today? 788 00:39:18,356 --> 00:39:20,957 WILDMAN: By training with the US Calvary, 789 00:39:20,959 --> 00:39:22,559 riding into battle, 790 00:39:22,561 --> 00:39:26,296 and meeting with a living descendant of Sitting Bull, 791 00:39:26,298 --> 00:39:27,831 I have discovered so much 792 00:39:27,833 --> 00:39:30,500 about the Battle of the Little Bighorn, 793 00:39:30,502 --> 00:39:32,635 but what happened afterwards? 794 00:39:32,637 --> 00:39:36,439 What effect did this battle have on the country and on history? 795 00:39:38,777 --> 00:39:40,443 The answer may lie here 796 00:39:40,445 --> 00:39:42,512 in the Black Hills of South Dakota, 797 00:39:42,514 --> 00:39:45,581 the gold-laden lands that led to war. 798 00:39:45,583 --> 00:39:47,050 The Battle of the Little Bighorn 799 00:39:47,052 --> 00:39:49,853 is remembered as Custer's Last Stand, 800 00:39:49,855 --> 00:39:53,457 but it was also the beginning of the last stand of the Lakota 801 00:39:53,459 --> 00:39:55,792 and the end of the Indian Wars. 802 00:39:55,794 --> 00:39:57,594 Although the Battle of the Little Bighorn 803 00:39:57,596 --> 00:40:00,864 was a decisive victory for the Native American tribes, 804 00:40:00,866 --> 00:40:02,866 their triumph was fleeting. 805 00:40:06,472 --> 00:40:09,806 With the loss of the famous Custer, General Phil Sheridan 806 00:40:09,808 --> 00:40:11,875 now had all the leverage he could wish for 807 00:40:11,877 --> 00:40:13,810 to put more troops in the field 808 00:40:13,812 --> 00:40:16,880 and end the Indian Wars for good. 809 00:40:16,882 --> 00:40:18,948 New recruits signed up in droves, 810 00:40:18,950 --> 00:40:22,819 calling themselves Custer's Avengers. 811 00:40:22,821 --> 00:40:24,955 Native American hunting grounds were invaded 812 00:40:24,957 --> 00:40:28,492 by Army forces determined to wipe out the buffalo herds 813 00:40:28,494 --> 00:40:32,362 and confine the Native peoples to reservations. 814 00:40:32,364 --> 00:40:33,830 Without buffalo to hunt, 815 00:40:33,832 --> 00:40:36,833 their traditional way of life would be impossible. 816 00:40:39,705 --> 00:40:42,839 Crazy Horse, who helped lead the victory against Custer, 817 00:40:42,841 --> 00:40:46,109 surrendered within one year of the fight. 818 00:40:46,111 --> 00:40:47,978 Sitting Bull fled to Canada, 819 00:40:47,980 --> 00:40:50,781 but surrendered to US authorities 4 years later 820 00:40:50,783 --> 00:40:54,251 in order to save his people from starvation. 821 00:40:54,253 --> 00:40:56,586 By 1890, all Native Americans 822 00:40:56,588 --> 00:40:58,655 were either living on reservations, 823 00:40:58,657 --> 00:41:01,191 had fled the country, or were dead. 824 00:41:08,066 --> 00:41:10,600 The sacred Black Hills were taken by the US 825 00:41:10,602 --> 00:41:12,135 without compensation, 826 00:41:12,137 --> 00:41:16,139 and gold was mined for over 100 years. 827 00:41:16,141 --> 00:41:18,075 Sioux Nation tribes continue today 828 00:41:18,077 --> 00:41:22,546 to fight the US government in court for these lands. 829 00:41:22,548 --> 00:41:26,349 The Battle of the Little Bighorn was a brutal and bloody affair 830 00:41:26,351 --> 00:41:30,453 in which hundreds of men, women and children lost their lives. 831 00:41:30,455 --> 00:41:33,289 And over 140 years later, 832 00:41:33,291 --> 00:41:36,093 people are still captivated by this catastrophe. 833 00:41:36,095 --> 00:41:39,162 And the man who led the Last Stand 834 00:41:39,164 --> 00:41:41,564 is firmly planted in history. 835 00:41:41,566 --> 00:41:44,101 Although he paid the ultimate price, 836 00:41:44,103 --> 00:41:47,571 perhaps the bound and determined George Armstrong Custer 837 00:41:47,573 --> 00:41:50,239 got, in the end, what he really wanted -- 838 00:41:50,241 --> 00:41:52,042 a lasting legacy. 839 00:41:56,915 --> 00:41:58,581 There's a phrase about the Little Bighorn 840 00:41:58,583 --> 00:42:00,650 that's particularly poignant. 841 00:42:00,652 --> 00:42:03,920 Two great cultures met on a barren plain. 842 00:42:03,922 --> 00:42:05,588 One lost the battle. 843 00:42:05,590 --> 00:42:07,924 The other lost everything. 844 00:42:07,926 --> 00:42:09,860 [ Clicks tongue ] Let's go. 844 00:42:10,305 --> 00:43:10,173