As I traveled from Coeur D Alene toward Omaha, I have enjoyed some of the greatest scenery and some incredible history.  We all learned about the little Bighorn Battle with Lt Colonel George Custer but to visit the battlefield site was fascinating.  My sense of the battle is now changed and I came away with thoughts of conflicting cultures.  Sitting Bull was simply attempting to champion the traditional Lakota culture and stop the encroaching westward expansion.

George Custer was a very gifted military leader who as a graduate of the US Military Academy seemed to succeed in all his battles during the Civil War.  He suffered only one injury even as he had 11 horses shot out from under him.  He was assigned to accompany General Terry and the Dakota column in the summer camp of 1876.  His nickname of "Custer Luck" was not meant to be as he and his 262 men were killed by was was believed to be thousands of Lakota and Cheyene on June 25-26, 1876.

The picture above shows the places Custer and many of his soldiers were killed.  Others are scattered around the area in smaller groups.  This battleground is located near Crow Agency MT and was a beautiful valley now silent with the markers.