Custer's Last Stand

Another advantage of a Road Trip... Side Trips!   We took a detour to The Battle of the Little Bighorn to learn about Custer's Last Stand.

This national monument memorializes one of the last armed efforts of the Northern Plains Indians to preserve their ancestral way of life.  On two hot June days in 1876, more than 260 soldiers of the U S Army were defeated at the hands of several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors.   Among the dead were Lt. Col. Custer and every member of his immediate command.   

It was difficult for the kids to understand that although the Indians won this battle, they subsequently lost the war against the military and the efforts to end their nomadic way of life.  Driving through Montana, it was common to see many Native Americans and Indian Reservations and both kids had a lot of questions.

I'm really glad we made this side trip.

 At the mass grave site for the soldiers.