Little Bighorn: Prelude to the Last Stand w/ Jocko & Leif | History Traveler Episode 341

(Part 1 of 4)
When one thinks of the battles in the American West in the late 1800s, the engagement that looms largest is probably the Battle of the Little Bighorn. In the next four episodes of History Traveler, we're joining Jocko Willink, Leif Babin and the team at @EchelonFront to explore the Little Bighorn battlefield to extract the lessons from what became known at Custer's Last Stand.
Learn more about Echelon Front here: echelonfront.com
And if you liked this episode, check out Leif Babin's breakdown of The Battle of the Little Bighorn here: • Navy SEAL Breaks Down ...
This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory...
Support the effort to expand history education on PATREON: / historyunderground
Set yourself up with a 10% DISCOUNT on all Origin gear and nutritional products by entering the code "history10" at www.originusacom and jockofuel.com!!!
Other episodes that you might enjoy:
- A German Village DESTROYED By Artillery Fire in WWII (with a WWII Vet!!!)| History Traveler Ep. 338: • A German Village DESTR...
- Heroes of the Ardennes American Cemetery | History Traveler Episode 337: • Heroes of the Ardennes...
- What's Up With That Knocked Out Tank in Bastogne??? | History Traveler Episode 335: • What's Up With That Kn...
- Attack of the Bloody 28th Along the Hürtgen's Kall Trail | History Traveler Episode 327: • Attack of the Bloody 2...
- Into the Death Factory of the Hürtgen Forest | History Traveler Episode 326: • Into the Death Factory...

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🌟If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out. Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com.

[@terrylanger2564]

Twenty-two years of teaching social studies to seventh and eighth grade students in a New Jersey school district and I can tell you that in all those years only two students ever heard of Custer's Last Stand and another one thought it was the name of a new dessert store, Custard's Last Stand. But every single one knew who Snoop Dog was. Great video, as usual.

[@37BopCity]

Wow, are you serious? Totally sad to hear.

[@terrylanger2564]

@37BopCity Totelly serious. Can't tell you how many of my students did not know the capitol of NJ or the ocean that bordered the east coast of the state.

[@LibCon1980]

Funny I had been aware of the battle when I was probably 8. It wouldn’t surprise if most of the parents of your students probably didn’t know about the Last Stand either.

[@bobbyb.6644]

Last Stand of American History ! Refer to “1984” for Concept ? 😢

[@jeffe9842]

I'm not surprised in the least.

[@terrystephenson984]

You are the first person EVER to cut through the BS and just hit the bullet points of this battle. Well done!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Appreciate that. Got a few more following this one.

[@bobpatty8645]

I'm a retired history teacher with 48 years of teaching. 3/4ths of that time was in U.S. History and presenting the Westward Expansion and the Indian Wars. This is an excellent video that is well presented and hits the mark on all of the facts. I wish that I had this video to use in my classroom. Hopefully, a current teacher can utilize this to educate their students. Another great, well presented video. Keep up the great work!!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you! I really appreciate that.

[@davidsummerville351]

This comment was very helpful. Thank you

[@lloydgoldston3620]

I went cuckoo crazy for everything I could find on this battle last year including Native American oral histories. Your aerial map overlays of the forces arrayed for this battle combined with you pointing out key terrain features, the music that was chosen, and description of the events as they unfolded, and the problems with command leadership leading up to the Battle of Little Big Horn are the best I’ve encountered to date. Can’t wait for Part II to come out to see what you do with it JD. Thanks 🙏

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow! Thank you.

[@Resenbrink]

I guess you've read the fantastic "Son of the Morning Star" by Evan S.Connell then?

[@SandhillDigger24]

Been to the battlefield several times in the 90's. On one of my trips I had the time of my life when I was fellow members of the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association when we spent the night up at the Crow's Nest and the following morning we rode horseback following the trail to Little Bighorn. It is about 15 miles...we stopped along the way at the point where Custer divided his command, the Morass, and Lone Teepee, ending the trips crossing the Little Bighorn River in the exact spot where Reno and his battalion crossed. I could tell you some stories about some of my experience out there. I really enjoy your videos. Glad you finally made it the Montana !

[@charlesmcclellan1095]

Absolutely like the topography shots. Gives a better idea of the layout. Thanks J.D.

[@kenyoung1927]

Headed there in a couple of weeks with my son after a fishing trip. The series will give us a lot more perspective as to the events and timeline. Recently acquired a rifle (Yellowboy) that was presented to Little Soldier (adopted son of SB) by Sitting Bull for his bravery at the battle. Little Soldier is mentioned in several of the books I have read on the events that took place. Thanks for keeping history alive!

[@johnhaley9942]

My great great uncle died with Custer that day The fight was over the Black Hills.Custer lead a expedition to the hills in 74 In which he found gold in Custer creek near Custer SD. The hills at this time was part of the Sioux reservation that basically all of western South Dakota.Grant tried to buy the hills from the Sioux and the Sioux said,hell no but the news got out about the gold people illegally went into the hills for the gold,and that's when all trouble started. The treaty of 68 stated that the scared hills would be theirs till the end of Time 😎😎😎

[@mikerelva6915]

Grant did try to buy the hills and offer a peaceful resolution which would compensate the Sioux, which is more than almost anyone else would do at that time. When the Sioux wanted something tho, they simply took it.....they didn't offer compensation for the horses they rated from the Crow, or the women they stole and.made sex slaves. They simply took it and offered no mercy to those not of their tribe. History does not tell you this tho. Progress was coming and it was unstoppable. Red Cloud was the wisest of all as he went to New York City and saw just how advanced the white man was and that the Native Americans had no shot in the face of such a superior enemy. Crazy Horse refused to even look at the white man's city, he did not want to understand the opposition as Sun Tzu tells you is the most important thing in a war ("know thy enemy"). This battle could have been avoided had Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and others actually saw the imminent force that was coming. Crazy Horse eventually lost his life over this too, same with Red Cloud. Adapting to reality and seeing the facts was the proper response, not war against an enemy you simply could not beat. And inevitably, it was the white man that saved the Sioux who eventually would have starved out....another thing the history books don't tell you as the bison herds were vanishing even without the white man.

[@stewiedog01]

I don't know where you get your historical facts from but some of them are absurd. The ONLY peaceful solution Grant could and should have offered was to have honored the Fort Laramie Treaty. Period. Native American tribes and the US government made over 300 treaties and the government broke every one of them, every one. And a lot of these broken Treaties resulted in the "Indian wars" of the old west including the battle of the greasy grass (Little Bighorn). I'll tell you some REAL facts: all the Sioux chiefs of the seven camp fires turned down the governments land offer because they wanted the government to honor the Treaty of the great Sioux nation. There was no majority vote amongst the seven chiefs to accept the governments offer. It was the government agents who lied to the relatives of the Chiefs to sign in the chief's behalf. That's how the territory of the Sioux was taken - which led to the government creating of the Indian reservations that we have today. It took over a hundred years for the case to go to court. And in 1980 the Supreme Court of the United States voted in favor of the Sioux and ruled that the Fort Lararmie Treaty was broken and their land was taken illegally. A compensation offer was made but the Sioux today refuse it and want the land returned to the tribes. This brings me back to my original point: the ONLY peaceful solution was for Grant to have honored the Fort Laramie Treaty. If he had done that this battle would have never happened. And as far as your comment about women were sex slaves. Do you have any facts to back up this statement? I'll tell you some facts about women in Native American society. Within the Sioux tribes women had more rights and freedom than white women in white society. They were equal to the men. It was the women who took care of the camps. They could marry and divorce whenever they wanted. They even owned the property they shared with their husbands. The men were the protectors, hunters, co-parents and leaders. Native women were important and depended on, they not looked down upon like women in white society in the 1700s and 1880s. Red Cloud became a wise man in his old age but he was also jealous of Tasunke Witko (Crazy Horse) especially when he was chosen to be a shirt wearer and Red Cloud wasn't. Crazy Horse was a great leader AND also a lot younger than Red Cloud. By the 1860-70s bison herds were still in abundance on the northern plains of the US AND in Canada. There was no bison census taken at the time so how would anyone know if they were vanishing? Natural Predation came and went for centuries. The majority of the bison population still vanished because of people hunting them for their hides.

[@mikerelva6915]

@@stewiedog01 so are you denying that if "the white man " chose to make the Sioux go totally extinct they could not have? They made the choice to bring about a peaceful resolution tho, which is more than would have been done had the Sioux been the one with the technology and man power. If the United States so chose to use whatever resources necessary, withstand whatever loss of life, and withstand any bad press and public relations, they easily could have taken out every single tribe. But they chose not to and they chose to be diplomatic and incorporate the Sioux into the country. THAT is my point, even tho post world war 2 history has been rewritten to cast Custer and all European colonialism as wholly bad. As far as Sioux and Natives using women as sex slaves, that is simply what they did. There are countless cases of women being abducted, including Matilda Lockhart who had her nose burnt off her face and was raped and abused so badly she died years after she was captured. In Libby Custer's book she explains how even when she would go out she would be accompanied by a soldier who was instructed to kill the woman vs let them fall in to Sioux hands - why would Custer ask his wife be shot to death vs fall in Sioux hands? Sounds to me like you have totally gobbled up this post World War 2 Wikipedia revisionist history version of 'the Noble Savage'. The Sioux would kill, scalp and torture men they captured, mutilate their dead bodies (see Fredrick Wyllyams), they would use the woman as slaves, rape them or just kill them, and if they couldn't use children they simply mutilated them - and let's not get started on how they treated and were trying to wipe out the Crow. Why else would Curly, Run By The White Man and other Crow be working with Custer? Did the US break treaties? Yes. Did the Native break treaties? Yes. The whole reason the troops were even sent out there was to ensure the Sioux stopped attacking travelers, settlers and obeyed their agreement. History is not black and white, but we should all be thankful that it was Christian Europeans that had the technology and power vs say the Saudis who ran the slave trade and castrated every slave, Muslims who forced you to convert or be killed, the Sioux or virtually anyone else at that time in history. The entire reason any Native American even exists today is because "the white man" chose it so.....they chose peace, they didn't choose war and total domination despite being vastly superior. They could have easily dedicated millons of troops for decades and just genocided the Indians off, given them no casinos, given no reparation, kill all the men as the Sioux did to their beaten enemies, but they chose to be peaceful which is in keeping with the tenets of Christianity. We should all count are blessings for that.

[@mikerelva6915]

@@stewiedog01 and as far as Red Cloud being jealous of Crazy Horse, I don't buy that at all. There are so many tall tales and different renditions when it comes to this event that we do not even know how Custer died or if there was a true survivor. Every tribe and every chief had a different rendition of what took place. No doubt it would suit somes interest to paint Red Cloud as a weak jealous traitor and Crazy Horse (who remained combative and defiant to the end) as the one to be looked up to. The reality is no soldiers had to be lost that day. The Bighorn was a waste of life and Sioux ended up on their reservation anyways. Westward Expansion was IMMINENT and as I stated before, thank God it was. If the Sioux had ruled the world we are still living in the stone age, no iPhones, no internet, no grocery stores to prevent starvation. We should count our blessings that things unfolded as they did and Christians had the power.

[@zekesgirl100]

I have been addicted to the Little Bighorn since I learned to read. Multiple trips there riding both the battlefield and the approaches. Thank you!

[@JoshHonaker-xk2kt]

I think this might be your best segment you have done

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow! Thanks!

[@stflaw]

And that's quite a high bar.

[@JoshHonaker-xk2kt]

@@stflaw you ain't lying

[@J14702]

When you've got Jocko in your video.....yes.

[@JoshHonaker-xk2kt]

@@J14702 Jocko is the closet thing we have. To captain america

[@marybethstramaglia8232]

We don't learn enough of our national history as kids. What you do, JD, is a treasure trove for teachers, and anyone who wants the unadorned story (insofar as it is known). Thank you for bringing these places and stories to life!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Many thanks.

[@alansalazar9543]

After many years of reading about this fascinating disaster I finally drove to see the battlefield this summer. Your video journey brilliantly explains the landscape & leadership challenge. JD, your work on this channel is always exceptional. Bravo.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@StevenJeNova]

We can always learn something. From history.

[@kylewood8327]

Funny, I don’t see that our leaders learn anything from history warfare, they just keep repeating the same blunders ever since WWII.

[@mikehawthorne3374]

J.D. I'm really looking forward to this series.

[@Boromirs_quality]

Hey JD, I want to thank you for being able to see these glimpses of important history and actually going to these locations for all of us to watch. I’ve been struggling recently just getting by , supporting a family , daily stresses of life etc , You’re one of the places I can really escape to and find some solace and happiness being able to see these things through your camera. Thank you sir

[@gcranch9913]

One of my ancestors was a blacksmith in company H and won the Medal of Honor for his bravery in providing covering fire for the men getting water for the wounded and horses. Hope the story of these men is covered as well

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Next episode. 🙂

[@bobs1728]

Visited the battlefield in 2019. The National Park Service originally named it "The Custer Battlefield National Monument". Now it is called the "Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument"".

[@j-bus4262]

My family and I visited the battlefield when I was a kid. I was always a history nut and my parents enjoy it, maybe not as much but still. I remember the headstones the most, all scattered around. As I've grown older it has become much more apparent that it wasn't a battle that Custer lost, but a battle that the Native Americans won. Sadly, the last major win for them. Generations of losing following this battle. None of my ancestors were here at that time, but I try to make it a point to bring up this history when the conversation calls for it and because I live in a state close to it. And I will teach my children about it.

[@lynnmorgan6144]

So excited to see you start a series at the Little Big Horn! It's such a beautiful location, and still very haunting to stand there and think about what happened there. Looking forward to the next three episodes!

[@danferrell674]

This is so good for me since I can't walk anymore. You do it for me! Thanks JD

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

That means a lot to hear you say that. Thank you.

[@stephenrrose]

SWEEP FORWARD! Awesome start Brother! You got me hook, line and sinker! Looking forward to this series! Thank you for keeping History Alive!

[@J14702]

This is pretty cool, because the reason why we preserve the battlefields is for this reason. The National Park Service preserves those fields so that Echelon Front and others can come in and see the landscape as it was and teach our current military the life lessons they can learn from battles fought. Generals and Commanders like Grant, Washington, Lee, Eisenhower, Lincoln, Custer, and many others can teach life lessons even though they are long gone.

[@LizzieWestBathandBody]

I agree on the Battle but Wounded Knee is heartbreaking. ♥️ Thanks for this. The docents really place you there. Highly recommend. It really makes you wonder if they hadn't dropped that pack animal load and if they weren't spotted it might have turned out differently.

[@ToddSauve]

Extremely doubtful Lizzie. There were just way, way too many Indians for the 7th Cavalry, which numbered less than 700 men. There may have been as many as 2000 warriors there and Custer didn't realize he had bitten off way more than he could chew. It was a disaster for a reason.

[@Defender78]

I believe that the 7th would have been able to hold off the Sioux if they were all together, but the fact custer Split his 700 +/- men into 3 groups with his detachment of 270 or so facing the majority of those 2000 warriors Meant he was out numbered and outgunned irretrievably

[@ToddSauve]

@@Defender78 Yes, I agree. Custer never really knew how many Indians were actually on the Little Bighorn, and he simply did not know how big the village was physically. As far as I know, when he rode 4 miles or so up the river and then turned and attacked he was apparently surprised that he had not reached the northern end of the village and was attacking into a concentrated clump of warriors. He was just very badly outnumbered, and so was Reno back at the south end. It is a wonder Reno's force was not annihilated, as well.

[@LizzieWestBathandBody]

@@ToddSauve I guess I should have made my response a little bit more plainly had they not been spotted when they went after the drop load from the pack animals I believe once they saw and were told by the scouts that there were over 10,000 ponies that he would have waited for reinforcements. But he was a very prideful person anyway.

[@ktm4042]

​@@LizzieWestBathandBodyfrom a native perspective, Long Hair and his men were destined to die that day. A few weeks before the battle, wicasa wakan (holy man) Sitting Bull had a vision of soldiers falling upside down into a Lakota camp. It was taken as a foreshadowing of a major victory. Few weeks later, Battle of Greasy Grass and Custer's demise.

[@MrBradleyDavid]

This has the makings of a great series JD. Again, with the active description of the terrain, its more inciteful than reading from a book with an author created map, almost as good as being there. I just finished a firearms course and we had some discussion about the Springfield Trapdoor Carbine. I hope Jocko, Leif and Company talk about the logistics of these firearms verses the lever actions the Tribes had, with the concept of suppression with firepower. With the numbers they had, how far they were spread out, they were just plain outgunned.

[@sharpshooter6635]

1st time at the battle field! I remember that in 1975. Been there 4 times since. Always a unique experience.

[@reloadncharge9907]

Awesome…I spent two days traipsing over the battlefield back in 1976…..crazy, undeveloped at that time….thanks for bringing back these memories! Thanks, andrew

[@jleechadwick]

I have lived about an hour away from there for many years. I have visited the battlefield several times and it is a great place to visit.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Quite the place.

[@bzr4963]

It makes me really happy to see that you've got some more videos from the US starting to trickle in. I found you when you were touring old gravesites from the civil war, visiting president's houses, etc. Don't get me wrong, I've loved your videos on WWII and some of the videos from when you were in Europe, but I found you when you were covering American history. Everything you do is very well done. I love your channel in general, but I'm especially interested in your US history videos.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@barbaramai7610]

I recently read "The Last Stand" by Nathaniel Philbrick, which gives a factual account of the Little Bighorn and surrounding events. Needless to say, I am very excited that you are doing a series on it and look forward to the remaining videos. Nice job, JD.

[@chucker625]

Just sat down with my son and watched this on one monitor while having the map up on another monitor. Great stuff!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

That is awesome!

[@chucker625]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Your work has sparked many father-son conversations about various historically significant topics ranging from the Revolutionary War to WWII and everything in between. There is something about the on-site footage that captures his attention. A 20 minute video takes 2 hours by the time we're done pausing / discussing / digging deeper. Truly great work JD. We love it!

[@hotbug597]

What a great way to learn history. Real people, real places, real events. Thank you so much for taking us on this journey. More, more!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@charlesbiddle7179]

Each and every video of yours is even better than the last, which is no easy feat! Thank you so much for all of the amazing videos and letting me see places ive yet to have the privilage of seeing myself!!

[@SMTraz]

AWESOME episode, such a nice change of pace. Thanks!

[@keithsifford5326]

From Normandy to Little Big Horn DJ does it best. With Jocko thrown in for good measure! 👌

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@StarrySkies80]

This is so great, JD. Thank you! I'm really looking forward to this series. And side note, the Montana scenery is breathtaking!

[@pauldouglas3084]

Really enjoyed the video mate can't wait for the next one

[@marctremblay8087]

Brilliant this is going to be awesome .ive been waiting for this History walk and presentaion. ill be watching out for the updates with full intent .

[@TheLancoHistorySaver]

As Always....thank you for the work you do and the time you spend to bring us these amazing stories and history of our past! can't wait until the next episode!

[@perryj8850]

Awesome!! I'd always hoped you'd cover this story! Gonna be incredible in your hands.

[@OldLugnutz]

My wife and I will probably never get out to visit the battle site, but we do Thank You for letting us follow your travels to the hallowed grounds wherever you go. Great commentary and history lessons.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you for the kind words.

[@mathewmiller8246]

Once again. I love what you are doin.... and thank you for all that you are showing us and our younger generation. Keep up the good work my friend.

[@tomb923]

Thanks for the great presentation as always. I love the fact I get to see and visit in a way to places I would like to visit and probably never make to see in person. Love the stories of the people involved in and were there during the battle. Great story teller.please keep up the good work. Awesome way to learn or relearn history depending on if you don’t know any thing about this battle or even if you know something about the people and the battle.

[@razorramon2786]

JD that was really good. Looking forward to the next one . Keep up the good work. I appreciate the work you put in for all who watch.

[@Obizzil.]

I learned more about this just now than i did in high school , thanks again JD!🇺🇸👍🏻

[@mcvet57103]

Fantastic video. Been to Little Bighorn National Monument several times. One thing I come away with every trip is the amount of suffering, desperation, panic, and violence that occured there. It's almost like a religious experience when you stand where you know many died a violent death. And finally that Custer was a fool who got his men slaughtered.

[@connorsimpson2997]

Been waiting for you to travel here/cover this event. Awesome stuff as always

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@joebones7237]

Excellent video! You do great work and I appreciate the effort you put into making the past come alive. Thank you!

[@Chris-Nico]

Excellent! Back in America 🇺🇸 Must have filmed this last summer.

[@user-kt8yd6we4e]

Great presentation. This event will always be studied and should be, though many folks like to think of contributing factors. Reality is a hard truth. The Army knew for weeks about the size of the native group. Colonel Custer was all about George, period. They had no business being in that position and starting anything without support, which wasn't anticipated that day. IMHO opinion he was thinking about his cowardly action at Washita and thought it would work. Thanks to good soldering from Benteen and Reno, most of the Command was saved.

[@dawn7002]

Such an excellent presentation. I’m from Montana and have been to these sites for many years as a child to adult. I’ve not fully understood it…until now. Really appreciate your in depth and detailed teachings. This is so well done and thank you for the time and energy you put into this. It shows. -Dawn

[@ACupPlayz]

the arial views are breathe taking .. thank you for this experience.. now I need to see it with my own eyes

[@markthoeny1370]

I'm related to major Reno. Can't wait to hear the rest of the story. I know he was labeled a coward and denied burial at Little Bighorn. Looking forward to the next episode

[@EmbraceTheJourney]

looking forward to this entire episode

[@galaxydoeshistory9352]

Love the videos. Would love to see more about the 36th Ulster Division, as well as more Irish units that fought during WW1. I don't see nearly enough about them.

[@stude1953]

Excellent video!! Best explanation of the battle that I ever heard!

[@jerrytoler9789]

Excellent segment! Excited to see the next episode.

[@aircrewphotog]

JD, your videos just keep getting better. You, my friend, set the standard for educating people with well-researched facts and making videos that keep even the most casual viewer stop what they’re doing, pull up a chair and learn something that they didn’t know when they started their day. Please keep up the good work and know that there are those of us that live vicariously through you. BTW, the music on this video is just fantastic!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow, thank you!

[@tinman8518]

Absolutely can not wait until the next episode. Fantastic video. Thanks JD and crew.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@mfreund15448]

Finally, a location I have been to. Beautiful resting place. I have seen the Greasy Grass.

[@thelorriesweeneyable]

Excellent show. Very informative Thank you

[@Chiller11]

This is a fascinating episode that sheds light on one of the most interesting episodes of the 19th century western US history. It’s too bad that the westward migration of the Europeans into the West couldn’t have been accomplished more humanely.

[@celtic2405]

Your battlefield tours are simply fantastic. This really should be a TV format. I don't want to know how much time and money you put into the projects. Thank you very much.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that. Thank you.

[@RexBell303]

The size of the battlefield is astonishing

[@ljoraanstad]

Great video as usual. Gorgeous landscapes as well, although I’m a bit biased because I live out here. My wife’s great grandmother recalls a story that has been passed down of her seeing all of the women on the train coming to Fort Lincoln after the battle to mourn their husbands. She remembers it as being the saddest scene of her life.

[@stevequincy388]

Had a chance to visit the Little Bighorn battlefield a few years ago. It was an amazing, moving experience.

[@jenniferseals3642]

Finally, the Indian side is being told! History is said to be written by the victors. I think the Indians are the victors. They are still alive and telling their history. Thanks for the awesome video!!! Love Jocko and company being there too!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@winkieblink7625]

They don’t teach this stuff in 1-8 school anymore. This battle is so darn interesting…it’s still Amazing to me. Native Americans had EVERY RIGHT TO FIGHT. I’m glad they won this battle.

[@bobhanson6586]

Studied this extensively. Going out at the end of May. Thx for this!

[@oifiismith]

Best Military History channel on YT. Great Video, JD Gary Owens!

[@GhostRider247]

you get to some stunning places JD !!! i'd love to see this place !!! thank you so much !!! ...Shaun.

[@horizon42q]

We stopped there twice during our RV trips out west. I had to go back. The second time we were there when the park opened by ourself. It is just an amazing place. I get very emotional there. Good video. A lot better than my two videos

[@sscinamon]

Very good. Looking forward to this series

[@johncatdaddy8895]

I discovered that Captain Benteen was actually here in my hometown of Columbus, Ga, at the battle of Columbus at the close of the Civil War. He was then with the 10th Missouri Cavalry under Gen Wilson [Wilson's Raid]. Of course, this was 16 yrs later, but it always blows my mind how far people could travel back in these times - this is a long trip by today's standards. The same goes for Gen Benning's troops at the lower bridge at Antietam - he was from Columbus, Ga also, and Maryland is a looonnggg way from Georgia!

[@RedoubtProductions1754]

While I number crunch how I can get myself there in person, I'm gong to enjoy exploring the history of the Little Bighorn vicariously through these next few episodes!

[@Rebel-Rouser]

Best pre battle explanation ive heard yet.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you!

[@cseivard]

Thanks. Fascinating. I am recovering from a stroke.(lived).I learned a ton of facts!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@cavecookie1]

Great vid, good sir! Can't wait for the rest. Nice to see you out west, in my neck of the woods! There's lots and LOTS of history in that general vicinity, besides Custer. There's the Oregon Trail, Ft. Laramie and Robinson, and so much more.

[@ahalstead40]

Yay! Finally a place stateside that I have actually been to! Love your videos, man.

[@rwchidester]

Outstanding. Can’t wait for part two.

[@markc8923]

Jocko has it right back in the 80's 2nd AD we always had three up's and three down's ever thing we did whay did we do right, what do we need to work on what can we learn from

[@wirecutter59]

Glad to see you doing this and I hope you do more sites in the American West.

[@terryeustice5399]

Not but seems like you have done this Little Big Horn episode earlier. Thanks For Sharing. 💯👍👊

[@Andre-qc9nb]

You make some of not only the most educational videos out there, but also some of the most visually appealing videos too. Just great camera work and drone utilization! Phenomenal work and this Little Bighorn series looks like it might be one of your best yet

[@dsbmwhacker]

I grew up a few miles from the Battlefield...well before it was a "controlled" National Monument. We could explore around at will. The US Military built a Fort near my hometown, "Fort Custer was built after the infamous battle. In the 60's my friend and I found the old forts garbage dump...on the property of another friend. We had many adventures as 12 -13 year old archeologists. I collected quite a trove of bullets, cartridges, buttons, bottles, and an occasional "US" Belt buckle. Many uniform scraps, boots and clothing items were found but discarded.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow!

[@MidnightMarauder024]

Thanks for the visit to this great battlefield. I visit often and have read many books and taken tours with historians to the battlefield. As always there will be conflicting information, but I like what I’m hearing. May I suggest 3 books? The Last Stand by Nathanial Philbrick, A Terrible Glory by James Donavan, and Lakota Noon by Gregory Michno. The last gives the native perspective from stories passed down.

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

Looking forward to the next episode,I spent 2 days there and if I'd had a good riding mule I think I would have enjoyed and understood more,im always open to a better understanding.

[@MrEaglesfan40]

Excellent video JD I like the change from WW2 Thank you

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@crabbycoffee6806]

This is a really good video. I've been there a number of times and studied the battlefield and read accounts from both sides of the battle, and I think you're adding to the discourse. Thank you! And I'd encourage anyone who happens to be driving by on I-90 to pull in and check it out.

[@matttippo8325]

Just looking at the beautiful scenery. I live in Australia but t the Bighorn area is gorgeous.

[@JayDamned]

It's true! JD's do in fact have a love for history! - JD

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@mikewatson5281]

Great video really looking forward to part 2

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@ImageProMultimedia]

Dude, you're not human. Well done. Thank you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Not the first time that I’ve been accused of that. 😅

[@timgay9066]

Awesome. Can’t wait for the next episode. Custer has always had my interest. Hope you packed a fly rod .

[@opeth1429]

I've been to the battlefield, and I've studied accounts from the Native Americans and from the US Army. The problems with the 7th Cav started at the top, and this topic is well suited for Jocko and Leif. Well done- USNA '98

[@allengrant]

Thx JD. Can't wait for the next three.

[@Wreckdiver59]

I've listened to a couple of Jocko's podcasts on the battle, so this ought to be a good series that adds to the little bit I already know. Love the map animations 👍 Bet I know who did them 😉

[@irishpride1186]

My favorite content you do is America Civil War. Revolutionary War, any Native American Wars anything In the American 18th and 19th centuries stuff. Would LOVE to see more Civil War content soon! Thanks J.D!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Got some stuff coming up soon that you may like.

[@irishpride1186]

@TheHistoryUnderground looking very much forward to that! Hopefully Civil War as well. 😀Thanks J.D!

[@NickyB0718]

Great video very informative

[@StickFire85]

Love your videos, keep up the great content