FREE ESSAY ON CUSTER'S LAST STAND

CUSTER'S LAST STAND

June 10, 1999
Reading Report No. 1
Custer's Last Stand
Bighead, Kate. An eye for an eye. pps 1-5. Online. Internet. 5 June 1999. Available: 
http://www.stedwards.edu/cfpages/farrall/eye.htm.
The plight of the Native American Indians throughout history is plagued by many battles
and 
episodes of relocation from one reservation to the next. One would have thought that the
Native Americans
were merely puppets that the white man controlled to fit their own needs. However, the
battle 
known as Custer's Last Stand was different. It would seem that the Indian had finally
gained control of 
white man for once by what looked like a victory. Or was it? 
As a Native American woman who matured into an adult during these times of battle and
unrest, 
Kate Bighead recalls the tragedy of Custer's Last Stand. Her portrayal of Custer leads
the reader to think 
that he was not only a general sent to fight her people but a likeable man, especially
among the women. 
Her own cousin, Me-o-tzi, even claimed that Custer was her husband. She turned down
others because she 
believed that he would return for her eventually. It was a fact that she accompanied him
on trips to search 
for Indian trails. This image of Custer would prove to be questionable after the battle
yet to come.
In June of 1876, as camps of Indians set out to move along the Little Big Horn River in
search of 
antelope there was no known threat of battle. This would soon change as a warning would
spread through 
the camps that soldiers were coming. The soldiers were sent in an attempt to round up the
Indians and 
force them to return to their reservations. However, the tribes fought back to defend
themselves from the 
guns of the soldiers. Most were armed simply with a bow and arrow and the Everywhere
Spirit (a battle 
plan in which the Indians crawled along the ground and ended up surrounding the enemy).
This would 
prove to be beneficial to the Indians defense because they could fire and remain
undetected unlike the 
soldiers with their smoking guns.
Towards the end of this short-lived battle, it is said that the soldiers began to take
their own lives 
by shooting themselves with their revolvers. Indians conclude that the Everywhere Spirit
caused them to 
commit suicide by driving them crazy. However some believe that by saving the last bullet
for themselves, 
they could avoid torture by their enemy if captured. It would almost seem as if the
Indians won this battle 
Page 2
with little effort yet the victory was claimed in their favor. 
In conclusion, at the end of the battle, few Native Americans had lost their lives. The
carnage 
mostly consisted of the troops and included their leader, General, George Armstrong
Custer. According 
to Bighead, the women stopped the men from severing his body parts by conveying to them
that he was a 
relative out of respect to Me-o-tzi. As a result, they only cut off one finger. This
battle would not end the 
conflict between the Native American and the white man, it still rages on today in other
forms. From court 
cases to monetary support from the government, it's debatable if the Native American will
ever feel that the 
white man could make things right.
Personal Reaction
In my opinion, the Native American Indian has had to endure many hardships in the past at
the 
hand of the white man. Unfortunately, history cannot be re-written. We can only make
things better for 
the present and future of the Indian and for society as a whole. As with all battles or
wars, there is tragedy 
and loss that cannot be replaced and this one was no different. Soldiers were lost as
well as great Indian 
warriors. I feel that either side would find it hard to claim any gain from this battle
but only great loss.
Custer's Last Stand served as a wake up call to the U.S. government in my opinion. It
clearly 
conveyed the message that the Indian would fight for their rights and freedoms and not
simply comply. 
This account of Custer's Last Stand by Kate Bighead echoes the pain of all Native
Americans. 
She describes the frustration and survival techniques implemented by the Chiefs as a way
of life which is 
the true tragedy in it all. The warriors that were lost were her family and friends. She
lived this battle and 
survived but the pain of loss clearly stayed with her forever.
June 10, 1999
Reading Report No. 1
Custer's Last Stand
Bighead, Kate. An eye for an eye. pps 1-5. Online. Internet. 5 June 1999. Available: 
http://www.stedwards.edu/cfpages/farrall/eye.htm.
The plight of the Native American Indians throughout history is plagued by many battles
and 
episodes of relocation from one reservation to the next. One would have thought that the
Native Americans
were merely puppets that the white man controlled to fit their own needs. However, the
battle 
known as Custer's Last Stand was different. It would seem that the Indian had finally
gained control of 
white man for once by what looked like a victory. Or was it? 
As a Native American woman who matured into an adult during these times of battle and
unrest, 
Kate Bighead recalls the tragedy of Custer's Last Stand. Her portrayal of Custer leads
the reader to think 
that he was not only a general sent to fight her people but a likeable man, especially
among the women. 
Her own cousin, Me-o-tzi, even claimed that Custer was her husband. She turned down
others because she 
believed that he would return for her eventually. It was a fact that she accompanied him
on trips to search 
for Indian trails. This image of Custer would prove to be questionable after the battle
yet to come.
In June of 1876, as camps of Indians set out to move along the Little Big Horn River in
search of 
antelope there was no known threat of battle. This would soon change as a warning would
spread through 
the camps that soldiers were coming. The soldiers were sent in an attempt to round up the
Indians and 
force them to return to their reservations. However, the tribes fought back to defend
themselves from the 
guns of the soldiers. Most were armed simply with a bow and arrow and the Everywhere
Spirit (a battle 
plan in which the Indians crawled along the ground and ended up surrounding the enemy).
This would 
prove to be beneficial to the Indians defense because they could fire and remain
undetected unlike the 
soldiers with their smoking guns.
Towards the end of this short-lived battle, it is said that the soldiers began to take
their own lives 
by shooting themselves with their revolvers. Indians conclude that the Everywhere Spirit
caused them to 
commit suicide by driving them crazy. However some believe that by saving the last bullet
for themselves, 
they could avoid torture by their enemy if captured. It would almost seem as if the
Indians won this battle 
Page 2
with little effort yet the victory was claimed in their favor. 
In conclusion, at the end of the battle, few Native Americans had lost their lives. The
carnage 
mostly consisted of the troops and included their leader, General, George Armstrong
Custer. According 
to Bighead, the women stopped the men from severing his body parts by conveying to them
that he was a 
relative out of respect to Me-o-tzi. As a result, they only cut off one finger. This
battle would not end the 
conflict between the Native American and the white man, it still rages on today in other
forms. From court 
cases to monetary support from the government, it's debatable if the Native American will
ever feel that the 
white man could make things right.
Personal Reaction
In my opinion, the Native American Indian has had to endure many hardships in the past at
the 
hand of the white man. Unfortunately, history cannot be re-written. We can only make
things better for 
the present and future of the Indian and for society as a whole. As with all battles or
wars, there is tragedy 
and loss that cannot be replaced and this one was no different. Soldiers were lost as
well as great Indian 
warriors. I feel that either side would find it hard to claim any gain from this battle
but only great loss.
Custer's Last Stand served as a wake up call to the U.S. government in my opinion. It
clearly 
conveyed the message that the Indian would fight for their rights and freedoms and not
simply comply. 
This account of Custer's Last Stand by Kate Bighead echoes the pain of all Native
Americans. 
She describes the frustration and survival techniques implemented by the Chiefs as a way
of life which is 
the true tragedy in it all. The warriors that were lost were her family and friends. She
lived this battle and 
survived but the pain of loss clearly stayed with her forever.
Bibliography
See report