Battle of the Little Big Horn Trivia Quiz

Answer: Custer led an expedition into the Southern Black Hills.

The Custer Expedition of 1874 into the Black Hills was a direct violation of the Ft. Laramie Treaty of 1868. The result was the 1875-1878 gold rush.
Custer made the most of the expedition which consisted of a company of approximately 1,000, including a 16-piece regimental band mounted on white horses, 100 wagons, scientists, newspaper correspondents, and even President Grant's son.

Answer: Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho

The Indian village located along the banks of the Little Bighorn included Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and a small number of Arapaho. The actual size of the village is unknown, but estimated to have between 900 to 2,000 warriors.

Answer: Maj. Marcus Reno, Capt. Frederick Benteen, & Capt. Thomas McDougall

The second detachment, led by Maj. Marcus Reno, was sent into the Little Bighorn valley to provoke an engagement. This detachment numbered 11 officers, 131 troopers and most of the approximately 35 Sioux, Ree/Arikara and Crow scouts.

The third detachment was led by a company commander, Capt. Frederick Benteen, and numbered five officers and 110 men. Custer ordered Benteen to scout nearby valleys and attack any body of Indians he encountered.

The last group was escorted by Troop B. commanded by Capt. Thomas McDougall. This included the regimental pack train, consisting of seven or eight troopers from each company and this force had two officers, 127 troopers and seven civilian packers.

Answer: Bloody Knife

In 1868, Bloody Knife was assigned as a scout to the 7th Cavalry. He became Custer's favorite scout. Bloody Knife was assigned to Major Marcus Reno during the Battle of the Little Bighorn and was killed by a shot to the head as he was standing beside Reno in the battle.

Answer: Springfield Model 1873

The 7th Cavalry carried the single-shot Springfield Model 1873 carbines. These rifles had a slow rate of fire and tended to jam when overheated. It was reported that some of the Indians were armed with repeating Spencer, Winchester rifles and Henry rifles.

Answer: Maj. Marcus Reno

It was Custer's plan for Reno to attack from the south and draw the Indian attention while he crossed the river and attacked further north from the rear. The plan failed as Reno was overwhelmed and made a disorganized retreat and would finally make his stand atop what is now known as Reno Hill.

Answer: Capt. Thomas Weir

Captain Weir advanced approximately one mile to what is today known as Weir Ridge and could see in the distance Indian warriors on horseback shooting at objects on the ground. By this time though, Custer and his men were probably already dead.

Answer: Capt. Frederick Benteen

Benteen was then summoned by Custer's messenger with the hand-written message "Come on ... big village, be quick...bring pacs".
Benteen's arrival on the bluffs was just in time to reinforce Reno's men and possibly save them from annihilation. Their detachments were then reinforced by McDougall and the pack train.
Despite hearing heavy gunfire from the north, including distinct volleys at 4:20 p.m., Benteen stayed on Reno Hill to reinforce Reno's battle weary men. This action, rather than continuing on toward Custer, prompted later criticism that he had failed to follow orders.

Answer: Henry Reed

Henry Armstrong Reed was the nephew of George Armstrong Custer and was killed along with his 3 uncles at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
He was the favorite nephew of George Armstrong Custer and was often called "Autie" after his uncle.

Answer: Sitting Bull

Sitting Bull was about 45 years old when the Battle of the Little Bighorn occurred. It is known that most of the serious fighting was done by the younger men of the Indian tribes. In most cases warrior status was between the ages of 15 to 40. The older warriors who survived years of inter-tribal warfare and encounters with the U.S. cavalry became more notable for the wisdom that they had acquired over the years.

Many of the older warriors had become leaders as medicine men and chiefs.