Final answer:
The Battle of Little Bighorn began with an aggressive attack by Colonel Custer's forces against a large Native American encampment, defended by warriors from various tribes. It resulted in a massive loss for the U.S. Army and was later understood as an act of self-defense by Native Americans. Historical interpretations, including detailed drawings by Red Horse, provide a clearer picture of the battle's events.
Step-by-step explanation:
What Started the Battle of Little Big Horn?
The Battle of Little Bighorn was ignited by Hunkpapa Lakota Chief Sitting Bull's call to defend Native American lands. On June 25, 1876, Colonel George Custer of the U.S. Army's Seventh Cavalry attacked what he thought was a small Native American encampment near the Little Bighorn River.
However, the territory was occupied by a large, united force of Lakotas, Cheyennes, and Arapahos. The Native American warriors, numbering nearly three thousand, fiercely defended their ground, resulting in the death of Custer and 262 of his men and support units.
This encounter marked the single greatest loss of U.S. troops to Native American forces during the era of westward expansion. Later historical interpretations and the detailed depictions by Red Horse, a Sioux sub-chief who participated in the battle, provide clear evidence that the Native Americans were acting in self-defense against an unprovoked attack.
Despite the magnitude of the battle's impact, subsequent suppression of the Native-American insurgency followed, including the tragic event at Wounded Knee. Historian's evaluations of Red Horse's illustrations offer a trusted description that further informed our understanding of the battle, depicting the devastating outcomes and the intense combat that took place.