7th Cavalry, US

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Unit of the US Army that took part in many of the significant battles of the Plains Wars of 1860–90 between the USA and the Plains Indians. The 7th Cavalry was present at the Battle of the Washita, Oklahoma, in 1868, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Montana, in 1876, and the Battle of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in 1890. The unit is associated with the actions of Lt-Col George Custer, who led it into action at the Washita and the Little Bighorn rivers. Custer's character, both brave and foolhardy, made the 7th Cavalry one of the most feared regiments on the Plains.

At the Washita River in 1868 Custer led the 7th Cavalry into an attack on a sleeping Cheyenne and Arapaho camp killing 92 women and children as well as 11 warriors. The Cheyenne Peace Chief Black Kettle was also killed. At the Little Bighorn River in 1876, the 7th Cavalry was defeated at the hands of the combined Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho forces led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. Over 260 soldiers, including Custer, were killed or mortally wounded.

In December 1890 the 7th Cavalry was able to avenge this defeat when it was given the task of escorting a group of captured Miniconjou and Hunkpapa Sioux, led by Big Foot, back to the Cheyenne River Reservation. Some of the members of the 7th Cavalry who had survived the Battle of the Little Bighorn were still serving in the regiment. While the Sioux were being disarmed a shot was fired that touched off the Battle of Wounded Knee, and resulted in the killing of over 150 Sioux, of whom almost half were women and children. The role of the 7th Cavalry is central to this massacre. The bitterness felt by its men towards the Sioux warriors who defeated them at the Battle of the Little Bighorn meant they were more likely to open fire on the already defeated Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek. Another regiment may not have been so quick to attack and kill on that day.

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