The expansion of white men west of the Mississippi River, forced the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians back on to reservations. The treaty of 1868 at Fort Laramie gave a permanent home to the Native Americans. In 1874 Custer and the 7th cavalry went on an expedition for scientific purposes. Gold was found in the Black Hills on the Indian reservation, when the news got out, people flooded the area. This increased the hostile feelings betwe

As Custer turned north, Reno had about 175 soldiers that attacked the north end of the village. An eye witness account given by "George Herendon who served as a scout for the 7th Cavalry- a civilian under contract with the Army and attached to Major Reno's command. He said, "Reno took a steady gallop down the creek bottom three miles where it emptied in the Little Horn River. He started to cross, when the scouts came back and called out to him to hold on, that the Sioux were coming in large numbers to meet him. He crossed over, however formed his companies on the prairie in line of battle, and moved forward at a trot but soon took a gallop. The valley was about ¾ of a mile wide, on the left a line of low, round hills, and on the right the river bottom covered with growth of cottonwood trees and bushes. After scattering shots were fired from the hills and a few from the river bottom and Reno's skirmishers returned the shots. He advanced about a mile from the ford to a line of timber on the right and dismounted his men to fight on foot. The horses were sent into the timber, and the men forward on the prairie and advanced toward the Indians. The Indians, mounted on ponies, came across the prairie and opened a heavy fire on the soldiers. After skirmishing for a few minutes Reno fell back to his horses in the timber. The Indians moved to his left and rear, evidently with the intention of cutting him off from the ford. Reno ordered his men to mount and move through the timber, but as his men got into the saddle the Sioux, who had advanced in the timber, fired at close range and killed 1 soldier. Colonel Reno then command the men to dismount, and they did so, but he soon ordered them to mount again, and moved out on to the open prairie. The command headed for the ford, pressed closely by Indians in large numbers, and at every moment the rate of speed was increased until it became a dead run for the ford. The Sioux, mounted on swift ponies, dashed up by the side of the soldiers and fired at them, killing both men and horse. Little resistance was offered, and it was complete rout to the ford. I did not see the men at the ford, and do not know what took place further than a good many were killed when the command left the timber. Just as I got out, my horse stumbled and fell I was dismounted. We stayed in the bush about 3 hours, and I cold hear heavy firing below in the river, apparently about 2 miles distant. I did not know who it was, but knew the Indians were fighting some of our men and learned afterward it was Custer's command. Nearly all the Indians in the upper part of the valley drew off down the river, and the fight with Custer lasted about 1 hour, when the heavy firing ceased. "As soon as it was dark Reno took the packs and saddles off the mules and horses and made breast work of them. He also dragged the dead horses and mules on the line and sheltered the men b

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Approximate Word count = 1943
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)