Battle of Pease Bottom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Pease Bottom
Part of the Yellowstone Expedition of 1873
Date August 11, 1873 Location present-day Treasure County, Montana, U.S. territory since May 7, 1868 Result United States Victory
Belligerents
United States	Lakota Sioux
Commanders and leaders
George A. Custer	Sitting Bull
Strength
~500 soldiers	~400 warriors
Casualties and losses
3 killed, 4 wounded	3 killed, 1 wounded

The Battle of Pease Bottom, also known as the Battle of the Bighorn River, was a fight between the United States Army and the Sioux people. It happened on August 11, 1873, near the Yellowstone River in what is now Custer, Montana.

The main groups fighting were the 7th U.S. Cavalry, led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, and Native American warriors. These warriors came from the village of the Hunkpapa medicine man, Sitting Bull. Many of these same warriors would fight Custer again about three years later at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Where the Battle Happened

The land where the Battle of Pease Bottom took place became part of a treaty territory in 1851. The Treaty of Fort Laramie said this area belonged to the Crow Indians. The Lakota tribe agreed to this at the time.

However, many battles in the 1860s and 1870s between the army and the Lakota happened on lands the Lakota had taken from other tribes since 1851. When the Crows agreed to a smaller reservation in 1868, all the Crow treaty land north of the Yellowstone River became U.S. territory. This included the future site of Pease Bottom.

Who Fought in the Battle

The U.S. Army

Lieutenant Colonel Custer and ten companies of the 7th Cavalry were part of the Yellowstone Expedition of 1873. This was a military group led by Colonel David S. Stanley. They were protecting a survey team for the Northern Pacific Railway. The railway was mapping out land north of the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana.

Colonel Stanley's group was large, with about 1,300 soldiers. It included cavalry, infantry, and two cannons. They also had 275 wagons pulled by mules and 353 civilians working on the survey. Twenty-seven Native American and mixed-blood scouts helped the army. Just a week before, the army had been attacked by Lakota warriors at Honsinger Bluff.

The Battle of Pease Bottom was mainly fought by eight companies of Custer's 7th Cavalry. This was about 450 soldiers.

Native American Warriors

The Native American warriors came from Sitting Bull's village. This village was very large, with an estimated 400 to 500 lodges (homes). The warriors included Hunkpapa Sioux led by Gall and Rain in the Face. There were also Oglala Sioux led by Crazy Horse, and warriors from the Miniconjou and Cheyenne tribes. It is thought that between 800 and 1000 warriors fought in the battle.

The Battle Itself

Map showing the battlefield of Pease Bottom (1873) and important Native American territories. The battle site had been U.S. territory for five years.

On the morning of August 11, 1873, Custer's 7th Cavalry was camped on the north side of the Yellowstone River. This area is now known as Pease Bottom. Early that morning, warriors from Sitting Bull's village began shooting at Custer's camp from across the river. By dawn, small fights had started in several places.

After some initial shooting, warriors crossed the Yellowstone River both above and below the 7th Cavalry's camp. They then attacked Custer's troops. The 7th Cavalry successfully defended their camp from all sides. They then counter-attacked with a charge, pushing the warriors back about eight miles from the battlefield.

Around the same time, Colonel Stanley's main army group appeared in the distance. They quickly moved to support Custer's soldiers. During the battle, Second Lieutenant Charles Braden of the 7th Cavalry was seriously wounded. Three other soldiers were also wounded. Braden's leg was shattered by a bullet. He later received the Distinguished Service Cross in 1925 for his bravery in the battle.

The exact number of Native American losses is not known. However, Custer's report after the battle suggested that their losses were much higher than the army's. He estimated that about 40 warriors were killed or wounded in this battle and another one from the day before.

Images for kids

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  Map showing the battlefield of Pease Bottom (1873) and important Native American territories. The battle site had been U.S. territory for five years.