Lessons learned from the Little Big Horn

Yesterday, TPOL published an article on history and remembering the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn) where Lakota and Cheyenne “weekend warriors” defeated the US 7th Cavalry (“professional soldiers”) killing the talented, ambitious, glory-hungry George Armstrong Custer and another 267 men (including allied AmerInd scouts).

But despite this and other victories, the Lakota and Cheyenne lost the Black Hills War, which were the spoils of victory and conquest for the FedGov and so-called “settler” Americans. (That is, people who are Americans but not enrolled in an AmerInd tribe.)

As lovers of liberty, we can and should learn much from this war and battle. Here are a few thoughts:

1. The FedGov, and Congress in particular, can be blamed for most of that disaster, for several reasons:
   • The Panic of 1873 (created by poor government policies, today would be called a recession or depression) triggered the waves
   • Treaty obligations were not upheld and enforced by congressional action.
   • Congress refused to deal honestly with the Cheyenne and Lakota, and ignored real world conditions.
   • Congress refused to provide adequate resources to the Army and also to allow territories to have adequate military resources.
2. Democracy, even in the version practiced in the 1870s, can be seen being exercised in the post-Lincoln, post-War betweeen the States era, in which popular opinions and demands overrode fundamental human rights. In this case, the rights of all humans, including AmerInd “hostiles.”
3. The Army’s leadership also has much to answer for:
   • Custer’s obvious character faults were well known, but his commander did not properly address those.
   • Custer himself commited many fundamental and deadly errors, including a failure to properly gather intelligence on his enemy, conduct adequate reconnaisance, ensure he had adequate knowledge of the terrain, and wisely deploy his units.
   • In particular, he underestimated the skills and determination of the enemy, their leaders, and their “non-combatants.”
   • He also let political ambition influence him and pushed too hard and too fast, instead of properly coordinating with other Army units.
   • The Army had implemented very poorly-thought-through austerity measures (necessary due to Congress) and failed to have the weaponry and communications that even then were available and had in fact been used in the 1861-1865 war.
   • The training provided to both officers and enlisted troopers of the 7th Cavalry was of poor quality and did not address what they would encounter in the field and combat.
4. We cannot ignore the lessons that the Lakota (and Cheyenne) should have learned, and can learn:
   • The Lakota were themselves invaders and aggressors against other AmerInd nations.
   • They could likely have enlisted other allies, such as the Arapaho, and at least taken measures to make peace with the Crow and Arikara to remain at least neutral.
   • They did not adequately provide for security for their families and possessions. This included recon (scouting) for the approaching US units, maintaining screening forces, and more.
   • After the battle, they did not properly follow through and actually remove the threat: they could easily have pinned Reno and Benteen down and rather quickly have wiped out the remaining battalions of the 7th. And could have then stymied and defeated the other columns in theatre.
   • Instead, they broke into small groups, perhaps even clans (tisopaye) and fled in fear of retribution.
   • They trusted Congress to live up to their word and treaties.

The lessons that lovers of liberty can learn from the Greasy Grass, the entire Black Hills War, and for that matter, all of the Indian Wars:

• Don’t trust Congress.
• Don’t let democracy and public, popular opinion override doing what is right.
• Train, train, train.
• Learn as much about your enemy as possible, and necessary to properly prepare to deal with him. Whether it is the other guy with a gun standing facing you, or the slimy politicians and bureaucrats behond you.
• Don’t assume you are superior in skill and equipment to your enemies: do not underestimate them.
• Oh, and did we mention, Don’t trust Congress?
• Be prepared and capable to deploy more assets to a fight.
• Remember than no battle plan survives contact with the enemy.
• And, don’t trust Congress. Or bureaucrats. Or spiritual leaders. Or politicians!

Again, there are many more mistakes, and many more lessons to be learned and applied. The heroism and tragic events of 150 years ago are an important source of help to us in political and other fights in 2026 and beyond.

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