Friday, June 25, 2010

THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER- JUNE 25 & JUNE 26,1876

BLACK BUZZ NEW SERVICE
SPECIAL REPORT
CROW AGENCY, MONTANA
JUNE 25, 2010


Crow Agency, Montana... June 25, and June 26 mark the 134th Battle Anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn River, which was the greatest victory of the Northern Plains Native Americans over the occupation forces of the United States Army, and the obscure Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer of the Seventh Cavalry.
The Native American forces of Chief's Crazy Horse, Lame White Man, Gall, Two Moon, Crow King, Comes-in-Sight, Rain-in-The-Face, and Sitting Bull rendered the most devastating defeat of the U.S. Army occupation forces on the said Northern plains.
Many questions remained as to why Major Reno, and Captain Benteen also of the Seventh Cavalry did not come to the aid or assistance of Custer when it was clearly shown in a Court Of Inquiry that they ( Reno & Benteen) fully heard and had knowledge that Custer was being attacked on all flanks and sides.
* I must note that one Black African runaway slave, Isaiah Dorman, who was appointed as an interpreter to Lieutenant Colonel Custer, was killed by the native warriors who also killed all the Crow and Arikara scouts/interpreters who were attached and fought for the Seventh Cavalry.
Dorman found refuge with the Sioux and took a Sioux wife. His adopted people called him Azimpi which means"teat" but sounds like Isaiah in the guttural Dakota-Sioux pronunciation. It has been reported that moments before he died, it is said the Hunkpapa leader Sitting Bull recognized the Black man and gave him water. After the battle, the Sioux and Cheyenne women and children mutilated all the troopers' bodies to deny them passage to the after world. The Native people left Azimpi's body intact. Unfortunately, Mr. Dorman like the Crow and Arikara Indian scouts were fighting on the wrong side of history, and they would be perceived today as being " sellouts" and in those days they were considered traitors and disloyal by some. Also note that the Arikaras and Crows were mortal enemies of the Sioux and the Lakotas. Some scholars claim that one Crow scout named Curley who was attached to the Seventh Cavalry escaped or fled from the conflict on the 25th of June, 1876.
My poem titled: " The Battle of the Little Bighorn River" is dedicated to my father, James S. Robinson, Jr. a Dakota Sioux, a member of the Council of Three Rivers Pittsburgh Pa, American Indian Center, Inc. (Russel Sims, Executive Director).
My father served as Executive Director of the famed Hill City Municipality, Pittsburgh, PA., and was Superintendent of Police of the Friendly Service Bureau of the City of Pittsburgh. He was also employed as the Executive Director of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Community Center in Butler, PA.
My poem is also dedicated to all the native indigenous descendants/ancestors who fought gallantly, courageously, bravely, heroically, ferociously, and with honor- the Arapahos, Blackfoot Sioux, Brules, Cheyennes, Lakotas, Hunkpapas, Minneconjous, Oglalas, Rosebud Sioux, San Arcs, Tetons, and Uhiapapas. I give special tribute to Chief Crazy Horse, who was never defeated in battle by the U.S. (occupation ) Army.

My Poem: The Battle of the Little Bighorn River- June 25 & 26, 1876

As the Robins will fly
Under the powder blue Montana sky

Chief Crazy Horse said,
This is a good day to fight
And a good day to die
Under the powder blue Montana sky.

Native warriors gathered in full force
And attacked Custer's Troops
Showing little remorse,
The hapless troopers were fighting on their knees
As the fierce Native warriors charged them like a swarm of bees
Custer's troops were Beaten
Like Chopped Liver,
At the Battle of the Little Bighorn River.

The proud Native Tribes
Had their special
Day in the Sun,
But Chief Crazy Horse said
Our struggle has just begun
Fleeing into the Dakotas
On the Run.

By Ronald B. Saunders
June 25, 1998

* All interested persons traveling in the Dakotas, Wyoming, and Montana are encouraged to visit the National Little Bighorn Battlefield and the National Monument located in Crow Agency, Montana 59022, sponsored by the National Parks Service, U.S. Department of Interior.

2 comments:

willard h peschier said...

I have just one point of disagreement with this article. Custer was not an obscure LC. He was a famous general during the Civil War and played a crucial role in the defeat of Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg. With the massive demobilization at the close of hostilities many officers that chose to remain on active duty were required to take a cut in rank. This was particularly the case with so-called breveted officers, which Custer was. He held a general rank during the war.

willard h peschier said...

Mr. Saunders, I have onyl just discovered this blog as a result of my recent aroused interest in the battle of the Little Bighorn, which was brought about by the article in the November 2010 Smithsonian magazine. I am delighted to make your acquaintance electronically and wish you and your blog the very best. I will be watching.


Willard H Peschier