Tag Archives: Custer National Cemetery

There are many memorial markers throughout the battlefield; red for the Indians and white for the civilians and soldiers. Trails lead to some of them, and others are isolated. Many represent an unknown person who had fallen in that spot.

*Clicking on a photo will give you a closer look!

It is heartbreaking to see these markers everywhere.

In the following photo, you are near Last Stand Hill. As you look towards the tree line and the Little Bighorn River, you are astonished at a very large Indian encampment.

I am sharing photos of the terrain, so that you can get an idea of it. Remember that I said that we visited on July 28…not too distant from the anniversary date of June 25-26. It is summer and it is hot. I found myself overheating even with taking my time to walk and drinking plenty of water.

I am imagining what it must have been like for the warriors and soldiers, and civilians. Can you picture being in full gear, crawling along a rattlesnake and cactus infected ground, and under the full heat of the sun, trying to avoid a bullet or a hatchet? How about the sounds of artillery and the screams of fear and rage? What about the horror of seeing the fallen all around you?

Terrifying.

They were in hell.

Deep Ravine (Crazy Horse Gully and Grey Horse Ravine) where approximately 40 soldiers were killed.

Perhaps as many as 600 warriors pursued Major Reno’s retreat across the river at this spot. Reno’s casualties are 40 men killed and 13 wounded.

Reno Hill, also known as the Reno/Benteen Battlefield where the field hospital was. Soldiers volunteered to make the treacherous trek while under fire, to get water for the wounded.

Medicine Tail Coulee where Custer divided his command.

Warriors pursued Custer’s retreat up Deep Coulee to the high ground.

If you are interested in this period of American history, then you will find it worth your time to visit Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Park.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Park Part 1

See the world around you!

On July 28^th, the Hubster and I visited Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Park in Montana. There is much written about the battle that occurred here on June 25-26, 1876, so I won’t go into that here.

Much is unknown, and is still being researched and debated by archeologists, historians, and scholars.

Not all that fought and died here have been recovered. Many unrecovered and recovered remains are nameless.

I do know that there are no winners here. Many events that occurred in our past are not pleasant. The best that we can hope for is that we have learned from them.

Custer National Cemetery is located here, where many soldiers who participated in various battles and wars over the years are buried.

*Clicking on a photo will give you a closer look!

The park has done an excellent job of guiding you as you walk/drive the paths of this seemingly desolate and endless terrain of bluffs, coulees and ravines.

There are booklets, signboards, and rangers and audio tours to tell you where you are standing and what happened on that spot.

For a quick overview, I’ll begin with the small town of Garryowen where the opening gunshots of the battle were fired only a few hundred yards from where Garryowen’s structures stand today.

(For the lyrics to Garryowen, the 7th Cavalry’s regimental song, click here and here.)

The remains of an unknown soldier, under Major Reno’s or Captain Benteen’s command, was found 50 years after the battle. Following entombment with full military honors, a “Burying the Hatchet” ceremony was held with US government and Indian representatives.

The simple map is a great way to get one’s bearings.

The photo below shows where the Indians were encamped. The trees are lining the Little Bighorn River. The bluffs beyond contain Last Stand Hill.

Driving back to the national cemetery, a short walk from the parking area takes one to Last Stand Hill. The 7th U.S. Cavalry Memorial is here, erected in 1881.

As well as memorial markers for those who fell last upon this hill.

Nearby is the 7th Cavalry Horse Cemetery.

As well as the Indian Memorial, dedicated in 2003.

See the world around you!