FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-108

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (June 25, 2026) – This edition of FWM takes us back to a historic last battle of the US Cavalry in Montana.

Custer’s Last Stand

The Battle of Greasy Grass, as known to the Lakota, or the Battle of Little Bighorn, as known to the “white men,” commenced on June 25, 1876, 150 years ago. 

It ended the next day with the commanding cavalry officer, Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and about half of his 700 men dead.

The US cavalry was invited by Crow chief Blackfoot to help remove the invading Lakota, who in turn were displaced earlier from part of their land by US forces.

The Battle of the Little Bighorn was won by the combined forces of the Lakota, led by Crazy Horse, Arapaho and Cheyenne nations.   It was inspired in a way by Chief Sitting Bull of the Lakota.

Here is Adams’s view of the battle, which took place in southern Montana, from 1896.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps. Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.