Closed Captions

Lead park ranger Marvin Dawes (Crow Nation) discusses the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, clarifying historical misconceptions about warfare tactics and troop composition. He traces Crow aboriginal territory from the late 1600s through treaty negotiations, explains why Crow scouts served with the U.S. Army against traditional enemies, and profiles six Crow scouts—including Curly, the youngest at seventeen—who participated in the campaign.

Transcript

0:31 All right, thank you.
0:34 First of all, let's say, uh, good morning. How are you all doing this morning? Why, OK, great, that's great. Um
0:45 As I was introduced, uh, again, uh, my name is Marvin Dawes. I'm with the Liy Corn Battlefield National Monument, uh, and I'm with the Interdivision, uh, the lead park ranger.
0:57 Um, the battle, a little Bighorn, you know, is one of the most talked about battles. It's one of the most famous battles. This battle was a mystery, controversial. Why Well, you know, because. From what today that's called the Reno Creek to the last stand hill, you know,
1:20 there was no survivors there to tell what happened. All 225 soldiers annihilated there. But it's an Indian accounts. But then also, uh, archaeology in the field of archaeology. Uh, archaeologists out here, you know, their, their findings of artifacts, you know, spent cartridge cases, and, uh, we,
1:45 we put those two together and this is what we assume of what happened on that day.
1:51 Uh, throughout the summer, uh, we have programs. 033 topics and those are repeated, you know, throughout the day. Uh, one topic is the battle talk. Which, uh, talk about events that led to the battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, uh, the Battle of Little Bighorn itself,
2:15 then aftermath of the Battle of Little Bighorn. Another program we have is a US cavalry soldier in 1876, uh, talks about the soldiers, uh, in 1876, uh, those that were at the battle at the time of, uh. Of the battle, uh, we talk about their, their way of life, you know, like Hollywood version, you know, you see, uh, big tall handsome soldiers, you know,
2:40 like John Wayne and uh. Uh, Charlton Heston, you know, uh, big fancy blue. Uniforms, yellow stripes, yellow bandana and black hats and all it. Life, life wasn't like that with the soldiers back then.
2:58 Well, the 7th cavalry by the time they reached his area, they were pretty well taggered and uh. By the way, you know, back then when uh. You wanted to join the cavalry, uh, as we see again, movies, you know, John Wayne, you know, back then, uh, these, these two guys wouldn't have made it as cavalry soldiers. Uh, cuz there was a. Height limit back then
3:22 when you want to join the cavalry you couldn't be no more than 58. The average height of a soldier in 1876, the Battle of Bighorn is 56. So if you were over 58 you were made it as a soldier, they'll send you to the infantry. So these two gentlemen would have made it as cavalry. The reason why is because that, you know,
3:45 on these campaigns, uh. The military, the army back then, you know, the cavalry soldier, the horse, you know, there was a weight limit on that horse with the equipment that they had to carry plus the height, the weight of the soldier. That's why the soldiers were, you know. Not that tall. And uh so that's what we talk about, you know, the life, the cavalry soldier in 1876.
4:10 The other program is the Indian village. Uh, this program
4:15 Sort out with the cultural the ways of the Indians, the tribes at the time or in the area at the time of the battle with bighorns, uh, particularly the Plains Indians, uh, their way of life, um, you know, at that time the Indians, the tribes, the Plains Indians, you know, their, their way of life was a buffalo, you know, the buffalo was a mainstay of the tribes at that time.
4:41 The buffalo that provided them with food, shelter, you know, every, every part of that buffalo was used for something.
4:51 And one of the things that I talked about in this uh.
4:55 Indian villages, you know, the tribes that were here at the time of the battle in 1876, a lot of visitors come out and uh. The thing that they have on their mind is this Hollywood version of the Battle of Little Bighorn, you know, Cusser on top of the hill, saber in one hand and pistol in one hand.
5:20 And thousands and thousands of mountain warriors circling around him. You know, um, it wasn't, it wasn't like that. Uh, it didn't count, uh, shining in two moons, so we dismounted and we did our fighting on foot. Once the soldiers or the remaining soldiers reached the top. The bullets that were coming from the soldier's rifles were very deadly. It was like humming
5:43 bees as it was by it's pretty powerful weapon. So every coolie and every ravine that led up to that hill was full of warriors. We crawled, we creeped up towards the top. Every once in a while pop up behind a brush, fire up to the top and go down. So that's how the battle with Bighorn, you know, there's, there's so much
6:06 misconception about this battle and, uh, as, as I mentioned, uh, the tribes. Another thing that visitors come out and uh they see the tribes at that time, various tribes. One of the largest gatherings of the planes, you know, in movies in Hollywood, you'll see the eve of the battle where. These
6:32 Indians dressed in their finest war paints, weapons, dancing around a bonfire in a hooper and Harlan firing their rifles, boom boom, you know, wasn't like that. You know, this, this gathering is uh. In 1875, uh ultimatum. It'll be sent out to all the tribes.
6:55 They were told that all the tribes that were still roaming the plains, they were told that you must return to your agency or reservation. If not, after January 1st, 1876, we will pursue you.
7:13 So a majority of tribes uh return to their agencies or the reservation.
7:21 In the spring, 6 bands under the leadership of Chief Sitting bull refused to go. Back to the agencies are on the agencies. They will tell the government, why should we sign a paper. Or you tell us, you will put us on the land, you will provide us with food, you will take care of us. He said
7:43 pointing to the grounds that this is our land. And the animals, the deer, the antelope, the elk, the buffalo, those are our food they provide us with food, shelter. And pointing to the skies, the heavens, the roof over our home, said this is our home.
8:06 So with that, these bands, they'll they'll head out to the planes as they're called roamers. So in 1876 America was gearing up for the celebration of the centennial year, you know, for the gearing up for the 4th of July centennial. Last thing or at least problems or problems that they want
8:28 us to take care of is the Indian matters Indian policy. So we got these tribes back on the agencies. So in 1876 this three military campaign will be launched.
8:41 So those are tribes that were here and it wasn't a gathering a large gathering. And as chief Sinbo said, last thing on our mind was warfare. Even though we knew That we were being pursued by soldiers, but for the time being, we wanted to roam and hunt the plains freely like our ancestors.
9:02 So in 1876, his campaign was launched pursuing the six bands in Sioux, also the allies of Northern Cheyennes and a handful of rapahole.
9:14 And sitting where we veered off into a little big horn. We knew this was crow country. The old men and women and children grew tired. We veered off into a little big horn, and this is where the soldiers who caught up to us.
9:32 Tribes that were here, you know, questions about. The tribes that were here. About a year ago, uh, this gentleman had asked me a a a question after my program. Said, um. You said you're a crow, and I said, yes, sir, I'm I'm crow, I'm native of this area. And uh also the scouts, the other scouts were aria, and I said yes sir. uh
9:57 why didn't the crow and the rira join the Sioux and the Cheyenne and fight? he said, aren't you all Indians? And then I said, Yes sir, well, we're all Indians. I said why, why didn't they join fight? You know, traditional enemies. You know, as far back as history from Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and when France, England were here,
10:21 they had tribes on their sides as allies, but those tribes are traditional enemies in a tribal warfare. So at that time, the crow and Si traditional enemies, crow orrapo traditional enemies and crow and Cheyenne traditional enemies. Later the crow Shoshone traditional enemies, crow black feet traditional enemies. We had a lot of enemies back then.
10:47 This leads to my uh program, the topic of the crow. At that time, Uh, here in this area, you know the plains. The crow, uh
11:00 Even though we were also a migrant to tribe which we migrated or branched off uh the Hidatsa from Missouri cross the Missouri onto Yellowstone. As far as I remember, uh, through our, uh. Ancestor, uh, you know, uh, stories, uh, that were told to us by our ancestors
11:25 and as far back as I remember. The cruel Aboriginal. Territory at that time as far back as the late 1600s. Was uh present day uh Milk River area from uh Montana, North Dakota area cutting back across, uh, towards present day uh. Glacier Park, uh,
11:48 King Mountain area, uh, there's a lullaby in the crow, uh, lullabies were, uh, also a story of a young child, uh, grandmother who, uh, singing a lullaby saying that my child, you know, born in, uh, Orama King Mountain, uh, today, you know, King Mountain Glacier Park. So those are the stories that we, you know,
12:13 the, uh, lullabies, those who know how we know where the row aboriginal territory was, and then from there straight down to, uh, Yellowstone, present day Yellowstone Park.
12:26 Come back into Wyoming. Uh, down below Buffalo, uh, Thermopli area, then straight over towards Black Hills and then back up towards the Milk River. So that was the Aboriginal territory through oral history of the crow. Now those names, those areas were mentioned in a lot of the oral history and as I mentioned, uh, lullabies and also songs, sacred songs,
12:50 and that's how we know. And then in 18 as the time came out when the Europeans came, a lot of changes. And uh this is where we start to see Fort Laramie treaties, treaties that were signed. Government, the tribes, then we see the territories designating uh each tribe, the head man or the chief.
13:14 As they had come together, they would state their aboriginal territory or where the ter territory was. One of the earnest chiefs, uh, away Kulawa's chief sits in the middle land.
13:28 Sit where my 4 poles sit is where my home. Today, the present area of uh the Three Forks area to the Milk River and then down here, uh, Wyoming and then uh on this side. Uh, Wyoming back into Yellowstone is what he was worth the crow territory at that time. And then from there,
13:49 from the 1851 treaty to 1868 on up 1872. Um
13:57 Each treaty that was signed every time, you know, the government would take away land here, there. So at one time the Crow Aboriginal territory was about. 33 million acres to what I mentioned earlier to today, 2.2 million acres, the Cronian reservation.
14:21 And You know we're we're fortunate, you know, the crow today that. We still obtain our aboriginal territory. We're fortunate that you know a lot of people think that just because the crow scouted for the government for Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Cusser.
14:43 That is why we're given this land. No, that was not the case, as I mentioned, Aboriginal territory. Again, uh, a couple years ago, one of my programs. This guy uh who was, you know, walked up to me and you know he was, he was pretty ticked off, you know, he. I said, uh, you mentioned your,
15:08 your row and I said yes sir I'm, I'm crow. As well, he said, you know. I believe the Sue and Cheyenne should be the ones living here. So they're the ones that were here, they fought for this land. They should be put here on this land. This should be their land, not you, not the crow. And I want to know why are you crows here? Is it because you scouted for Custer?
15:32 And I kind of look back and then people were starting to gather around me and pointing a finger at me and I said, OK, wait a minute. I said, let me tell you how we got this land. I said the Fort Laramie treaty. You know, all the tribes of the plains were gathered. Each headsman in chief was told to come forward. So the government going down the line.
15:56 You know, issuing land to the tribes. First they would tell the Shoshones who lived down here in Wyoming, the rap hole. But so you can live in South Dakota area and Cheyenne's down here and Blackfeet and Cinibals up here top Montana going down Nesper is over here in western Montana.
16:19 Going around and finally it came to the crow. So, but this land here so this land here is very handsome it's very beautiful, and we're gonna give it to the one of the most handsomest tribes, the plains, and that's a crow. Guy kind of laughed, you know, went back. In The late or Late 1700s, about 1800s,
16:42 1 of the first explorers that came to the plains and their first contact with the tribes with the crow and in their journals they wrote. The most handsomest tribes that we came uponmen were the men of the Crow tribe or the Crow Crow people and I, I kind of threw, uh, threw that on him. So again, you know, the crow, uh, here at the time of the battle,
17:07 the Crow Aboriginal territory in 1876. The army Would start to use tribes as scouts. Also for the tribes at that time when With the Portland treaties, you know, designate or, uh, put on the agencies, some of them could no longer hunt or some of them
17:32 couldn't even weren't allowed to carry firearms anymore. A lot of things had changed. The impact of the Europeans with Fort La treaties. So in order to maintain their their warriorship uh in 1868. In one of the treaties, uh.
17:54 The treaty pro uh prohibited to take arms against their enemies. Uh, so that means that they could not carry the firearms, meaning that they could no longer go out and raid, you know, capture horses and, uh, capture weapons from the enemies which. Gave them the warriorship, you know, meaning that they
18:17 to gain status to be warriorship and uh they couldn't do that. So in order for them to to maintain that warriorship that you know status this is when the army uh.
18:31 In 18
18:35 In 1866, the Army Reorganization Act. Said that Indian scouts were enlisted men who while they were not soldiers were nevertheless declared by the attorney general of the United States to be part and partial of the army. The service of Indians was provided for by the Act of Congress approved.
19:00 June 22, 1866, the language law, uh, of the law as it appears in uh section 1112. Of the revised status 1873 being as follows. Now this is what the tribes, you know, in order to maintain that warriorship. Where they no longer could go out, you know, their enemies so they joined the army
19:25 to maintain this warriorship and this uh.
19:30 Act continues. The president is authorized to enlist a force of Indians not exceeding 1000. Who shall act as scouts and territories in Indian country. They shall be discharged when the necessity for their service shall cease or at the discretion of the department commander. It was further provided by the law that
19:54 Indian scouts so enlisted or employed by the president were entitled to receive the same pay and allowance as cavalry soldiers. Which at that time and for many years.
20:08 Thereafter these. Soldiers or the Indians serve as scouts are paid $13 a month, the same as the enlisted soldiers. On this campaign in 1876, you know, the crow. Who uh were being pushed back. Towards the west
20:31 back further in their aboriginal territory as I mentioned earlier, you know, the Sioux would come in, the Cheyennes, uh, the rap holes. So at that time, the South, the east area, the east territory of the uh, crow territory was literally occupied by the Sioux. At that time, the crews would face crisis, you know, so this was a time for them.
20:55 To join the army because they knew that the army, the United States Army was here to remove their traditional enemy, the out of the territories and take them back. So that was an opportunity for them to join with the army. Also, the, the Rickros, they too, uh, General Alfred Cherry out of Fort Abraham Lincoln in his campaign,
21:19 he had acquired a Rhara scouts. The same as the raw, like the crow when the suit came in, they literally robbed the Ricras of their food, capturing or, you know, uh, stealing children and, you know, women, so they, they too that was an opportunity for them, you know, to join as scouts because like the crow
21:43 they knew the government army was here to remove their traditional enemy. So this campaign that was launched, you know, we see the crow. Um Fort Ellis present day uh Bozeman, Montana at that time the row, uh, in the area of, uh, what we now call the Mission Creek, uh, this was where the first agency was. And uh from there
22:08 the detachments of uh scouts under Lieutenant James Bradley will be the detachments of Indian scouts total about 50 in numbers. As they headed down the Yellowstone later, the majority of them will head with or ride down towards the mountains to join up with General Crook, uh,
22:33 one week before the Battle of Rosebu, uh, or the Battle of Little Bighorn, the Battle of Rosebut, um. This 67er battle that was fought there present day outside Sheton, Wyoming. The crows did fought in that battle. Here the detachment of uh or the uh commanding officer uh. General Cher uh
22:58 Colonel John Given and General Cherry will meet present day uh Rossebu, Montana, and this is where they'll send Custer down the Rosevelt with tall companies of the 7th cavalry, and in that command we'll see 6 Crow scouts. And these crow scouts are uh. Curly white man runs him, white swan. Perry Mackinson,
23:23 um. Half yellow face, uh, these will be the scouts. Attached to the 7th cavalry. Now as they marched down. But rosebud Early morning they arrived behind what we now call the Wolf Mountains, uh, about 4 or 5 a.m. Now these scouts will serve as
23:49 These are the eyes and the ears of the command and the crow, you know, they, they knew this area. Uh, traveling at night. You know, they knew what area they knew what what was out there. Um,
24:04 In the records of uh this campaign, the events uh. Later, um From the record of events stated that uh these scouts performed a duty in the field of Colonel Gibbons wing of the Yellowstone expedition until June 21st. When uh Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Custer's command arriving
24:28 opposite camp near mouth of the Rosebud. 6 of the scouts were detached to the company to his command. They participated in the attack upon the Sioux village in the valley of the Little Bighorn on June 25th. 5 being with Major Reno and 1 with Custer. When 1 was wounded, 4 had headed out from the field.
24:54 The one remaining with Major Reno.
24:58 These 4 scouts or 5 scouts will be uh with attached to Major Marcus Reno and uh except for one crow scout Curly uh who at the time of the battle, um. By the way, Curly, uh. The time of the battle was 17 years old. Uh, he was the youngest of the Crow scouts. Um, the other 5 would remain with Reno's command.
25:22 Curly would ask uh Cusso's command if he stayed with his command and permission granted and there um they'll head up towards what we know called Weird Point today, the highest point that, uh, you see up there from there into the medicine tail, medicine tail coolly. And from there is where. Curly said
25:44 later on the anniversary who was out here said this is where I last saw Cusser, and Curly was considered as uh one of the survivors of the only survivor of the battle of Little Bighorn. Uh, Curly was told that, uh, this is not your fight. You must leave, uh, who was told by, uh, the chief scout, uh, Mitch, Mitch Boyer.
26:09 Um, I mentioned earlier or I read earlier that, uh, where it says they participated in the attack upon the Sioux village. Actually they didn't participate, you know, they were released once the village was, was located. Um, 2 of them will be heading out towards the other side of the bluff in, uh, where there was a large horse herd. Uh,
26:32 the other 4 would remain up on top of the bluff.
26:37 So these uh scouts from uh. We talk a little bit about the history of the crow to this point to uh to these 44 Crow scouts who uh served in the military with the army status, uh being uh recognized as soldiers being paid the same pay as a soldier which was uh $13 a month
27:02 and when they're on this campaign they got an extra 40 cents per day. Average uh day of the campaign that time was from 225 or uh. About uh
27:19 About 225 days to 125 days. So you know, times, uh. 40 cents plus what they get paid. So after this campaign later, uh, they, they would be, you know, collecting, you know, pension or if they passed on, uh, family, the wife was likely to see that that pension.
27:44 Um
27:47 I like to read a little bit about uh the scouts, they uh. They're born and what they're served as scouts, uh, first of all, uh, Curly, who, uh, ranked his rank was private, uh, Indian scout.
28:03 Uh, he was born in 1856 at the Little Rosebud Creek near the Rosebud area. Um, who was with Custer's column on June 25th, possibly witnessed the fight of the Custer column and later carried the news to the streamer far west. Later, Curly uh. would be interviewed, you know, after this battle,
28:27 he was one of the most popular. Uh, when after this battle, you know, they, uh, media would come out. They wanted to interview somebody about this battle and of course the last scout that was with Cussler Curly, so he had a lot of, you know, uh, he had a lot of tension back then he was, he was like a celebrity. And uh
28:51 It was stated that later some of the Crow scouts got a little jealous because of he got so much attention and uh. These interviews uh later consisted of uh. Lieutenant James Rowe, you know, with, uh, Thomas LaForge, the interpreter, interviewing Curly on, uh, the battle, uh.
29:14 Curly uh passed away in uh May 21st, 1923. And uh he's he's buried at the Libercorn Battlefield National Monument.
29:29 This guy white man runs him who uh ranked private who was with also Cus's command um earlier. Accompanied Sir George Gore on the western hunting trip in 1856 with the Custer column then. On June 25th, he was here at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Um
29:51 White man runs him was also later interviewed by uh Colonel Tom McCoy in the Grahams uh book uh Custer's Myth. Um, white man runs him, passed away on June 2nd of 1929, uh, is buried at, uh, Los Grass. And
30:15 Perry Marasson
30:18 Uh, private Born Unknown, uh, served in the army detachment of Indian scouts, um, who participated or was in the area at the time of the battle. And died and passed away on October 9. 1922, uh,
30:40 buried at Saint Anne's Cemetery in Los Grass and goes ahead ranked private Indian scout with Custer's Cum, uh, who was on top of the bill, um. He is also, uh, when he passed away on May 31st, 1919, uh, he's buried at the Custer Battlefield National Cemetery.
31:05 And
31:08 The last at least, uh, scalp. Who was also in charge of the scouts, by the way, uh, under Mitch Boyer was half yellow face. Now there's a little story about half yellow face who um. Was not recognized even to today where a lot of people think that he should received or be recognized. Half yellow face, uh,
31:33 his rank was private. Uh, was in a valley and on the hilltop with Major Marcus Reno. Uh, he was in, uh, infantry with Lieutenant James Bradley. Uh
31:49 When Reno reached a hilltop, uh, they, uh, set up the 2nd day, uh, water carrier, um, volunteers to go down the river, bring up water for the wounded. Um, in this. Um, little, little deal where um. The soldiers went down under the protection of sharpshooters on the side. Um,
32:13 fill up canteens and brought up to the top. Once they reached the top, uh, one of the soldiers, a young soldier by the name of Madden, uh, was shot in the hip. Madden rose down the hill. By that time, everybody was back up on top. Uh, nobody didn't want to go down there and save Madden. Half yellow face uh up on top, he'll drop everything without
32:38 uh sharpshooter and he'll run down the bottom there. And he'll pick up half yellow face, throw him on his shoulder, and he'll walk up to the top. Uh, half yellow face saves Madden.
32:52 Later, uh, the Army DC, uh, the army, uh, decorating these water carriers and the volunteers and the sharpshooters Congressional Medal of Honors, all those soldiers were mentioned. But nothing was mentioned of half yellow face.
33:13 A lot of people feel today that half face should be recognized for his heroic bravery at that time.
33:24 The battle of little bighorn, you know, those I mentioned uh.
33:29 Well, that, you know, just a little bit about the crow, uh, the Aboriginal territory, the crow and how the crows came to be here, um.
33:40 Today, as I mentioned, you know, 2.2 million acres and all the lands that were taken away, you know, section here, there. You know, we're we're fortunate that um that we're still here in our uh territory. Um
34:00 Even though lands are taken here and there. You know, you see the Bighorn Mountains, the Bighorn Lake, they are in the Cronin reservation. Uh, there's a little story about the Koran reservation, uh, the, the Bighorn Mountains and the Bighorn River, you know, named after the Bighorn sheep. And We're fortunate that those are still in the Crow reservation.
34:25 And I like to think um. All of you here There's um. I hope, uh, Shed some light on our story about the battle and also the curl. At this time, uh, we have a few minutes if you have any questions, um. Go ahead and see some answer some questions here.
35:00 Well,
35:04 And Crow would say it means it's good.
35:08 It means it's good to see you dishbachi. They have a good day. I hope, thank you very much. Alright, and thank you Marvin Dawes with the National Park Service from Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument. So, um, we'll give him a little round of applause for his efforts today. Thank you for coming out. We appreciate it.
35:28 Our next program will begin in about 20 minutes. We will haveha's bull tail and he will be speaking on the row way of life, so feel free to come again for that.

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Marvin Dawes on the Battle of Little Bighorn and Crow Nation History

Marvin Dawes

Crow

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Marvin Dawes on the Battle of Little Bighorn and Crow Nation History

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