Sioux Warrior vs US Cavalryman: The Little Bighorn campaign 1876-77

In 1875, the US Government ordered the Sioux to return to the Great Sioux Reservation, sparking a conflict known as the Black Hills War. This study examines the forces fighting on both sides, casting light on the origins, tactics, armament, and battlefield performance of the US Cavalry and their Sioux opponents.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 19 September 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Following the discovery of gold deposits in December 1875, the US Government ordered the indigenous population of the Black Hills, located in what is now South Dakota and Wyoming, to return to the Great Sioux Reservation. However, when the Sioux refused, the US Army sent forces into the area, sparking a conflict that would become known as the Black Hills War. This fully illustrated study examines a series of engagements in the war, including Rosebud, Little Bighorn, and Slim Buttes, and assesses the forces fighting on both sides. It sheds light on the origins, tactics, armament, and battlefield performance of the US Cavalry and their Sioux opponents at the height of the Indian Wars.

The discovery of gold deposits in the Black Hills in 1875 led to a series of events that would shape the history of the American West. The US Government, seeking to assert its authority over the indigenous population, ordered the Sioux, the native inhabitants of the area, to return to the Great Sioux Reservation. However, the Sioux refused, and the US Army sent forces into the region, sparking a conflict that would become known as the Black Hills War.

The war was a complex and multifaceted conflict that involved a range of factors, including the discovery of gold, the expansion of the American frontier, and the ongoing tensions between the US Government and Native American tribes. The Sioux, led by Chief Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, fought against the US Army for control of the Black Hills and the surrounding territory.

The war was marked by a series of intense battles, including the famous Battle of Little Bighorn, in which Sitting Bull and his forces were defeated by Lt. Col. George Custer and his cavalry. The battle, which took place in June 1876, is considered one of the most significant events in American Indian history and has been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries.

The war also had a significant impact on the Sioux population, as many were killed or forced to flee their homes. The loss of land and resources, as well as the trauma of war, led to a decline in the Sioux population and the loss of their traditional way of life.

Despite the defeat of the Sioux, the Black Hills War was not the end of the Indian Wars in the American West. The conflict continued for several years, with other Native American tribes, including the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Pawnee, also fighting against the US Government. The war ultimately led to the establishment of the Great Sioux Reservation, which was designed to protect the Sioux and their land from further encroachment by the US Government.

The Black Hills War was a significant event in American history that had far-reaching consequences for the indigenous population of the American West. It marked the beginning of a period of conflict and displacement that would continue for many years, and it helped to shape the modern understanding of Native American history and culture.

Weight: 260g
Dimension: 184 x 249 x 3 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472831880