t
the cold weather delayed the plans. Then, in May, matters were all
arranged. There were to be three columns, to surround the unruly
Sitting Bull.

General George Crook, the famous Indian fighter, was to march into the
Big Horn country from the south with thirteen hundred men; Colonel John
Gibbon was to march in from the west with four hundred men; General
Terry's infantry, and General George A. Custer's Seventh Cavalry, one
thousand men, were to march in from the east.

They were to meet at the Powder River, and capture Sitting Bull.

A great many Indians had rallied to Sitting Bull and his comrade chief
Crazy Horse--an Oglala who commanded the Cheyennes. Sitting Bull was
making medicine. He told the warriors that in a short time there would
be a big fight with the soldiers on the Big Horn, and that the soldiers
would be defeated.

Crazy Horse struck the enemy first. He met General Crook's column and
stopped it. Then he joined Sitting Bull again.

Now in June the Sitting Bull camp upon the Little Big Horn River in the
Big Horn Valley of southern Montana was three miles long and contained
ten thousand people. It had twenty-five hundred good fighters. It was
not afraid, but its people were here to hunt and dance and have a good
time. Although they listened to the prophecy of Sitting Bull, they
really did not expect that the soldiers would find them.

Chief Gall, a fine man, of the Hunkpapas, was head war chief; his aide
was Crow King. Crazy Horse commanded the Northern Cheyennes. The head
of the Miniconjou Sioux was Lame Deer. Big Road commanded the Oglalas.
There were other Sioux also--some Brules, and some Without Bows; and a
few Blackfeet and Arapahos.

General Custer, whose regular rank was lieutenant-colonel, found the
village with his Seventh Cavalry. He had left General Terry, in order
to scout across country; and when his scouts told him that the Sioux
camp was before him, he rode on to the attack.

About noon of June 25th he divided his troops into three columns, to
attack from different directions. The largest column, of five
companies, he led, himself.

Not until that morning did the Sitting Bull people know that the
soldiers were near. There was much excitement. The ponies were
saddled, and the women began to pack their household stuff; but the
warriors did not intend to run away.

Sitting Bull was certain that the white men would be defeated. The
night before, his medicine had