On this date in 1876, 36-year old George Armstrong Custer and more than 200 of his fellow soldiers and scouts in the Seventh Cavalry were killed by Lakota (Sioux), Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians in a desolate Montana valley. Here is a brief history of the battle. Here is a blog post about the weaponry of the combatants. I have visited the battlefield twice: in 1964, when I was seven, and in 1989, when I was 32. I'm on the 25-year plan, which means I'm scheduled to return in 2014. With any luck, I'll make it in 2039 as well. I'll be 82. If I live as long as Jack Crabb, I might even make it in 2064, when I'll be 107.
Addendum: Here is a video documentary of the battle.
