The Sioux War of 1876-77 - Off the Beaten Path

A different video from normal as this one chronicles a road trip to remote sites rarely visited by the public. In the process, I discuss some of the interesting bits of history associated with them, including Fort Buford where Sitting Bull surrendered, the Battle of Cedar Creek, some markers on Custer's route up the Rosebud, and finally Bear Butte the birthplace of Crazy Horse.

[@jimplummer4879]

One of the best series on the Indian wars.

[@janupczak1643]

Do you realize what an incredible gift you give? Taking us places that some of us can only dream about. This was an amazing trip, and I thank you.

[@bustinnutsinslutsbutts]

i just found this guy, i am definitely along for the ride

[@winterrhorse]

What is the meaning of "Charlie Mike"?

[@bob175]

Thank you so much for this video, I have a great interest in the Lakota Wars but living in London and being older I will never get the chance to visit the sites in person, so your films give me the very next best thing. Once again thank you very much.

[@nigeldeforrest-pearce8084]

Splendid Video with Outstanding Production Values. Congratulations on a Job Well Done.

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Thank You!

[@jbolf6]

Loved the view from Bear Butte, very inspiring

[@versacifyy]

This guy has an entertaining presentation. A great Historians voice. Thanks for doin the climb. Wow

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Thank You.

[@brianmccarthy5557]

I believe I went to Fort Buford with my family on vacation once. I've been by the Devil's Tower or Postpile a few times and spent time in Miles City (lots of mosquitoes). My dad was a Western historian so we got around on vacations. So far as I can remember I haven't been to any other of these sites. Now they're on my To-Do list and future travel itinerary. Nice program and very informative, as always. Excellent job, thanks very much!!

[@edmaguire1012]

An amazing video. Very scenic and very informative. Great work!

[@redswingline262]

"I don't know if you can hear it..." while background music plays "but there are prairie dogs..." background music continues. Awesome editing. Good job

[@mickcorbett6724]

Absolutely amazing & so incredibly interesting 🙌🙌 Very spiritual, I can feel the connection native Indians would have had for the land.

[@AirborneSkier]

Outstanding video presentation! Great job on the effective manner you successfully weave the historical context and the topographic details of the land, with the captivating storyline you contribute.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Thanks for the video. Greetings from Australia. Not far from Bondi Beach. Great scenery. 👍

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Outstanding! Australia is on my to-do list.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

@@MilitaryHistory317 you're welcome anytime. The scenery is very varied here, everything from deserts to jungle . Fraser Island in Queensland is my favourite place to visit. The world's largest sand island. Freshwater lakes you can swim in, forest, surf fishing, wild dogs, 4x4 driving. Warm weather.

[@greghilbers4697]

I visited The Little Bighorn Battlefield in August. Then drove to Deadwood and Sturgis. The landscape in this region is so fantastic.

[@walterbrown9651]

I did the same in July!

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

Very interesting and well researched! I’m really glad you took the time to visit all the less well known sites related to the Sioux war and LBH battle. Short’s possible grave is fascinating in its own right. Excellent video!

[@Placard1203]

Wow! Great job. Makes me want to go too. My family raised wheat and barley in the Dakota terr. They spoke of Col. Miles bearcoat. Thanks for taking this trip, I have much more appreciation of this time line in history.

[@kenneth6847]

Some of the best historical contributions of the Internet age.

[@alanwagner6997]

Very nice. Having grown up in SD I’ve had the chance to climb Bear Butte many times. The first time about 50 years ago the butte was nearly covered in pine. Still impressive view of the Black Hills from the top.

[@dsbmwhacker]

I grew up in the Custer Battlefield area. The history of the Indian Wars has always intrigued me. Thanks for your great videos.

[@marcofrank2082]

Thank you so much for taking us with you on this trip. Absolutely stunning scenery

[@robertwaid3579]

As always that episode was Excellent 👍🙂 & very Informative. Thank You so much for Sharing & doing what we Can't do.

[@robcharlesbrownspeechleyan257]

Great Music suites upmarch and view. Thank a lot. They say Sitting Bull and Cody Show was near Toronto once. All best to US in Jesu we trust with SsJos Mary pray peace

[@shipstern100]

Another great video, thanks for sharing

[@lewislindsey1946]

Exceptional! I know history and I know KZbin and never have I seen the two better represented - never. I subscribed.

[@gator83261]

Great video.

[@rvsam4u]

Excellent excellent video! So good I had to say it twice! Subscribed

[@dks13827]

Cory what a great channel............... do the Northfield bank robbery and escape........... it is a fantastic story.

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Thank you. I was planning it for the September reenactment this year, but could not make it. It is on the list to do!

[@dunbar555]

I love your Channel. Been at LBH in 2004. Would like to see all these place this year. Salute from Switzerland

[@johnsabini2330]

How did the US infantry deploy? Where they like dragoons? Travel by horse, dismount to fight?

[@johnzajac9849]

Excellent video, sound, and commentary!

[@rwchidester]

Excellent content. Breathtaking footage from Bear butte.

[@yankeepapa304]

Well done sir. Also...have liked your choice of music in episodes. . ...Some notes about the Gatling guns not being brought along. Some, not in the know, are given to "what if" fantasies. The reality is harsh and clear. Reno, on his scout brought one along, and regretted it... Not like taking along an MG-42. Bad enough when mounted on wheels... Not only hard to take along rough country...but Congress cheap... Horses authorized to be procured to drag them were Cavalry rejects... Just spiffy for hard campaigning. . ...Custer had pack mules rather than wagons in his trip to the Greasy Grass. One might have rigged up something on the mules... (see later "pack howitzers....") but deploying them would have been extremely difficult and time consuming. As the fighting turned out...the gunners likely would have been shot down before they could even finish setting up. On Reno/Benteen hill, (with enough sandbags) they might have served well in a last ditch situation...but terrain not suited for quick deployment and no cover for gunners. . ...In Rhodesia, in 1893, the Maxim Gun (first true machine gun) killed thousands of charging Matabele (Zulu offshoot) warriors. But the Maxim easier to transport and, as it worked out...they had plenty of time to set up in fixed defense. Also...the Matabele used human wave assaults and were willing to take massive casualties in pursuit of victory. The American plains Indians was brave, but Pickett's Charge not anything that he was willing to emulate. . Yankee Papa

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Great summary! I read in Greene's book on the post-LBH campaigns that Nelson Miles HATED the Gatling Guns based on his prior experience. He did not take any with him but chose artillery instead.

[@sandidavis820]

Thank you, from a history nut. I love these videos.

[@mikeroessm5325]

Excellent video, thank you for posting.

[@japhfo]

Subime views. The northern plains country has a stark beauty that has fascinated me ever since the centennial year of '76, when by chance I first "got interested."

[@walterbrown9651]

Fantastic! Thank you again!

[@mikekelly6023]

Thanks man your series has been awesome to watch just found your channel and binge watching all yur videos ! I’m a Canadian with family history attached to Sitting Bull , my great great grandfather was a butcher in southern Saskatchewan and apparently sold and gave meat to Sitting Bull and Sioux

[@INeverMetAGunIDidntLike]

Thank you. As usual, very nice.

[@infantryattacks]

Well done. Thank you.

[@LeesTexan]

It is interesting if you look at a map of the West, you find that between lands the Federal Government owns and the Indian Reservations, combined they control almost 75% of all the lands in the West.

[@SmokinLoon5150]

Nicely done. I appreciate your work. You're narratives (usually 3rd party and without opinionated commentary) are well done as is your camera and drone work. You do things right and by the book, and with permission where needed. :) I did catch one thing though, at around the 9:50 mark. You mention "and then the Lakota Sioux when then arrived in the middle of the 18th century". Can you point to a source for that? I only ask because I've read sources marking the early to middle of the 19th century (1820-1850) being when they settled near the Black Hills (after they pushed the Cheyenne west and Pawnee south). Fur traders, hunters, cartographers, etc., all mention the Cheyenne in the Black Hills during the first visits to the Black Hills, not the Lakota. I'm not challenging you, I'm only asking for clarification. Thanks again for all your work, it is appreciated.

[@MilitaryHistory317]

I enjoy these questions! I took the approach of many of the secondary sources that mention in GENERAL that the Lakota begin their ascendancy in the mid-18th Century. As you state, it appears that their dominance of the Black Hills occurred later. This is an interesting topic for me and if you have some specific dates, I shall try and include them in my Crazy Horse video. One of the things I want to include is why it was so easy to recruit native scouts. This would help provide deeper context.

[@SmokinLoon5150]

@@MilitaryHistory317 I can also vouch for Cheyenne presence in the Black Hills in the early 1800's as I have been on two digs within the Hills (1 just south of Sturgis and another just north of Hot Springs) and another just south of Lusk, WY. All three sites have signs of early to middle 1800's (lack of or very little glass, canning, or manufactured metal from trade w whites, presence of larger TP rings denoting longer stays, etc). Thankfully all three are on private property and all three have not been published publicly yet (but in due time). There was just a spat here in SD about publishing information on the ancient "Indian Fortress" just east of Pierre, and "Crow Creek Massacre" just north of Chamberlain, and how those sites are meant to be "secret" yet there is published info and there are historical markers at both places. Oh... don't forget to visit "Massacre Canyon" along the Republican River in NE. There is always more to the story. ;) Thanks again.

[@daviddigital6887]

This is very interesting to see the actual sites. I've never been lucky enough to visit in person. I can see how the Great Plains were very scary to first settlers. Nothing as far as the eye can see. Sorry that you can't get on the battlefield anymore. I can't believe someone would threaten the Sioux. Sorry man I couldn't resist.

[@Bumpyi64]

"See if I can get my 56-year-old fat ass up this mountain..." 🤣 Great job, Sir!!! 👍

[@Gitarzan66]

As a fellow 56 year old fat ass, I really dig your channel my brutha. Greetings from Stapleton Co.

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Outstanding! Thank You.

[@mkd7961]

beautiful land

[@Iginihechanska]

Great work there man! Hope your 56 year old ass can keep on going for many years to come.

[@twostep1953]

Thanks for doing that; now I don't have to drag my 70-year-old fat belly up that mountain. What was a trackless plains now has roads everywhere.

[@Jay_Hall]

Beautiful and amazing, U are a top gun!! :) This touches me greatly, emotionally, as I have been to many of these places years past. I love all the people involved in this time, the soldiers and Indians and settlers, etc. I must ask, since U are so into this history topic, have you ever had strange and powerful dreams about these times, have U ever experienced any paranormal type things or "experiences" relating to these historical times and battles and characters? I have and so have a few Park Rangers and visitors to these battlefields and such. :) Please speak freely if you have. :)

[@MilitaryHistory317]

Not yet! However, I am going back next spring to take the horse ride with the Crow guides, and also I have been advised that I must go to the Crow Nation on the 3rd weekend of August for the native rally. The trip to Bear Butte created an emotional high that lasted two days.

[@Jay_Hall]

@@MilitaryHistory317 "emotional high",,well said! :)

[@dks13827]

Cory tell us what drone you use. It is nice.

[@MilitaryHistory317]

DJI Mavic 2 Pro.

[@robertschultz6922]

There is no way your 56 years old, maybe thirties or early forties. Your in better shape than me lol

[@yossarianmnichols9641]

As the t shirts state, Custer had it coming. He took women and children as human shields in his previous attack. That is cowardly.

[@INeverMetAGunIDidntLike]

No, that was smart, less bloodshed. Capture the women and children then the wariors would surrender.

[@harold.one.feather]

Another fake lie told by some fellow that never asked the Hunkpapa. I am from Sitting Bull's camp. This fellow is making up stuff