The Road to the Battlefield
Terrain Map of the Sioux Campaign of 1876
Pre-Battle Terrain The road leading up to the Battle of Little Bighorn was very treacherous. After their departure from Fort Lincoln, Custer's army had to cross great stretches of mountainous terrain, most notably the Black Hills. In this narrow strip of territory, Custer's men had "to proceed in single file through a narrow pass, lowering our teams by means of ropes down the precipitous descents, and hauling them up again on the opposite sides." The terrain was so rugged that at some points of their journey, they had to rely on steamboats to ferry them upriver. Struggles Before The Battle
Before the Battle, Custer and his men were looking for Sitting Bull, the leader of the Sioux tribe. They knew that the Sioux usually camped near streams west of Fort Lincoln that flowed into North Yellowstone. They marched for over 150 miles in harsh terrain; through deep ravines, sparse vegetation, and torturous canyons. Custer and his men were even forced to camp out for a winter. When they finally discovered the Native American encampment, they were exhausted and discouraged from their struggles. The long-awaited discovery of the Sioux village also made Custer more keen to attack. The men's fatigue and Custer's impatience would contribute to the eventual defeat of Custer and his men. |
The harsh conditions that Custer's men faced while searching for the Native American encampment sapped their bodies and minds, leaving them vulnerable for the coming battle. Native American Encampment on the Little Bighorn RiverDirect Effect of Geography The rough terrain leading up to the battle site drained the men of their energy as well as thinning out their supply lines. This affected the availability of ammunition and the quality of their weapons. Also, the Little Bighorn River concealed the size of the Sioux camp, encouraging Custer to attack. Finally, after a long, hard journey, Custer's troops were not in good condition for a fight, and their impatience led to a hasty attack that they could not win. |