Custer's Last Stand
At first glance, this might be looked upon as a rather boring grasslands and sky panorama. But it's true worth is all in the detail.
In the foreground, amongst the long grasses, are a number of white markers apparently randomly scattered across the hillside. The one in mid-scene with the black writing on it is the give-away for the cognoscenti.
This is actually "Last Stand Hill," the culmination of the infamous 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. The markers each show where the body of a 7th Cavalry trooper was found after the battle; and, of course, the one with black writing shows where the body of their commander, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer was found.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, known to Lakota as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, and commonly referred to as Custer's Last Stand, was between the combined forces of the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, against the US Army's 7th Cavalry Regiment on 25-26 June 1876 in eastern Montana Territory. It was the most prominent action of the Great Sioux War of 1876, resulting in an overwhelming victory for the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho, led by several major war leaders, including Crazy Horse and Chief Gall, inspired by the visions of Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake). The US 7th Cavalry, including the Custer Battalion, a force of 700 men led by George Armstrong Custer, suffered a severe defeat. Five of the 7th Cavalry's 12 companies were annihilated; Custer was killed, as were two of his brothers, a nephew, and a brother-in-law. The total government casualty count, including scouts, was 268 dead and 55 injured.
The treeline in the mid-distance traces the route of the Little Bighorn river. On the far right can be seen the very neat lines of gravestones in the Custer National Cemetery which accepted burials between 1886 and 1978. The cemetery and National Monument both lie within the lands of the Crow Indian Reservation.
This panorama is scanned from two negatives that were merged in Photoshop.
Custer's Last Stand
At first glance, this might be looked upon as a rather boring grasslands and sky panorama. But it's true worth is all in the detail.
In the foreground, amongst the long grasses, are a number of white markers apparently randomly scattered across the hillside. The one in mid-scene with the black writing on it is the give-away for the cognoscenti.
This is actually "Last Stand Hill," the culmination of the infamous 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. The markers each show where the body of a 7th Cavalry trooper was found after the battle; and, of course, the one with black writing shows where the body of their commander, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer was found.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, known to Lakota as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, and commonly referred to as Custer's Last Stand, was between the combined forces of the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, against the US Army's 7th Cavalry Regiment on 25-26 June 1876 in eastern Montana Territory. It was the most prominent action of the Great Sioux War of 1876, resulting in an overwhelming victory for the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho, led by several major war leaders, including Crazy Horse and Chief Gall, inspired by the visions of Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake). The US 7th Cavalry, including the Custer Battalion, a force of 700 men led by George Armstrong Custer, suffered a severe defeat. Five of the 7th Cavalry's 12 companies were annihilated; Custer was killed, as were two of his brothers, a nephew, and a brother-in-law. The total government casualty count, including scouts, was 268 dead and 55 injured.
The treeline in the mid-distance traces the route of the Little Bighorn river. On the far right can be seen the very neat lines of gravestones in the Custer National Cemetery which accepted burials between 1886 and 1978. The cemetery and National Monument both lie within the lands of the Crow Indian Reservation.
This panorama is scanned from two negatives that were merged in Photoshop.