Even though the Battle of Greasy Grass ended in Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho victory, the humiliation that the U.S. army faced led to increasing violent action and policy against the Native groups involved. One of the reasons this loss was so embarrassing for the U.S. army was because it took place during the 100th anniversary of the United States (1876). As a result of this humiliating defeat, the narrative was construed in the American imagination to glorify Custer and demonize Native Americans. As can be seen in the lithograph1 that we looked at in class, the battle was construed to make the Native people look bad. In the picture, Native warriors are portrayed as participating in excessive violence (scalping skulls), and overwhelming Custer’s troops with guns. I think that this imagery is meant to make people sympathetic to Custer and view him as a martyr. A more accurate artistic depiction would probably be the Native depictions by Kicking Bull2 and Henry Oscar One Bull,3 which both show the Natives as having clubs and bows, rather than guns. I looked it up, and the Natives had some guns, but mostly killed using clubs and bows4 so the lithograph is not as historically accurate. I think it would be more humiliating for the U.S. if the public knew that they were defeated by clubs and bows, rather than overwhelmed by gunnery. In these two paintings, Native American and U.S. casualties are also depicted, showcasing that though Custer was defeated, there were also losses on the Native side. The lithograph doesn’t show a single Native casualty. Even though the Native Americans won the battle, the overall aftermath of the battle was a defeat. They were not only villainized but increasingly pursued by the military and moved to reservations.5
This battle, the lead-up, and the aftermath reflect acts of Native resistance across the West, and patterns of dishonesty and violence by the U.S. Tensions arose due to the discovery of gold in the Black Hills and the violation of the 1868 treaty. The treaty was violated because settlers and miners trespassed into the Black Hills. The U.S. tried to negotiate and purchase the land but because negations failed, they seized the land. This all ultimately led to war. Settler encroachment on Native land due to the discovery of gold was a factor that led to other wars, such as the Modoc War, Red River War, and Nez Perce War. Increasing removal of Native peoples to reservations and the failure to adhere to treaties were also reoccurring reasons for Native resistance.
- https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_326129 ↩︎
- https://collections.theautry.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=image;hex=CT_1detail2.jpg;link=8936 ↩︎
- https://collections.artsmia.org/art/4708/custers-war-t-at-a-ka-wa-zila ↩︎
- https://www.wired.com/2009/06/dayintech-0625/#:~:text=The%20Lakota%20and%20Cheyenne%20warriors,carried%20by%20the%20cavalry%20troopers. ↩︎
- https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-army-retaliates-for-little-bighorn ↩︎
