Black Elk’s full account of the Battle at the Little Bighorn, June 25-26, 1876

Crazy Horse demonstrated his formidable prowess on the Rosebud that day, defeating Three Stars and proving he could have easily wiped out the soldiers if he had chosen to do so. With his strategic genius and the potential to summon more warriors from nearby villages, Crazy Horse could have easily crushed the soldiers at daybreak after the initial fight.

He led the Hunkpapa, Oglala, Minneconjou, San Arc, Blackfeet, Shahiyela, Santee, and Yanktonai tribes in defending their land. They desired nothing more than to be left alone in their own country. The soldiers, however, sought to annihilate them, resulting in heavy casualties on the soldiers’ side.

Before the battle, the Native American village was situated in the Greasy Grass valley, with the Hunkpapas closest to the south, followed by the Oglalas, Minneconjous, San Arcs, Blackfeet, Shahiyelas, Santees, and Yanktonais to the north. The Greasy Grass, flowing from the Bighorn Mountains, bordered the village on the east and featured some timber. On the other side of the river, there were bluffs and hills, with gullies cutting through them. To the west, there were lower hills where the Native Americans grazed their ponies.

During the battle, a man named Rattling Hawk was wounded but was miraculously cured by the medicine man Hairy Chin. Young boys, including the narrator, were painted and dressed as bears to assist in the healing ceremony. While undergoing the ritual, the narrator experienced a heightened sense of awareness and a foreboding feeling that something terrible was about to occur.

As the battle drew near, the village prepared for defense. The narrator’s father instructed him to help with the horses and keep an eye on the camp. However, the boys decided to go swimming, and the narrator, feeling unwell, had a sense of impending doom. Suddenly, they heard the crier’s warning that the soldiers were approaching, prompting everyone to rush to gather the horses.

Amidst the chaos, the narrator’s older brother rode off to join the Hunkpapas, inadvertently leaving his gun behind. The narrator was tasked with catching up to him and delivering the firearm. As they rode, they witnessed the soldiers’ arrival, creating a cloud of dust. The soldiers appeared massive and fierce on their large horses, firing their weapons. The narrator’s brother veered toward the brushy timber, and the narrator followed suit.

In the safety of the woods, the Native Americans faced the soldiers’ gunfire, with bullets hitting the trees above them. The narrator’s thoughts turned to his vision, empowering him and convincing him that his people, resembling thunder beings, would triumph over the soldiers.

Suddenly, the cry of “Crazy Horse is coming!” resounded, accompanied by the deafening “Hokahey!” shouts and the piercing sound of eagle bone whistles. The valley became engulfed in dust and smoke, obscuring visibility and amplifying the noise of the battle. The soldiers’ horses retreated into the brush, while the Native Americans surged forward, shouting and riding toward the soldiers.

Unable to penetrate the chaotic front lines due to his small size, the narrator did not kill anyone during the skirmish. The soldiers were soon driven into the river, followed by the Native Americans. The water turned into a battleground, with men and horses fighting amid a hailstorm of gunfire. Eventually, they emerged from the river, with the victorious Native Americans stripping dead soldiers and donning their clothes.

After the battle, the narrator returned to his mother, who joyously acknowledged his first scalp. He joined the women in singing and cheering for the men still fighting across the river.

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