EPISODE 16 The War for the Black Hills (Part 1): The Heart of Everything That Is

“The Black Hills is my land and I love it.

And whoever interferes will hear this gun.” Lakota song

“Came to the Hills in 1833… got our gold in 1834. Got all the gold we could carry. Our ponys got by Indians. I have lost my gun and nothing to eat and Indians hunting me.” Ezra Kind

To the Lakota people, the Black Hills of South Dakota were—and still are—‘the heart of everything that is.’ To the United States, they were a goldmine, and Manifest Destiny’s next target. It was for the Black Hills that the Lakota went to war against the United States for the last time.

In this episode:

-We become acquainted with one of this story’s key characters: George Armstrong Custer

-“In years long numbered with the past when I was verging upon manhood, my every thought was ambitious—not to be wealthy, not to be learned, but to be great.” Custer

-Custer’s key role at the Battle of Gettysburg

-Reckless and proud

-AWOL

-Washita

-‘Garry Owen’ was Custer’s version of Apocalypse Now

-The genesis of the hatred between Benteen and Custer

-Raping POWs

-Lack of money makes President Grant a peaceful man

-The Mafia of the railroads

-The Yellowstone expedition and the economic collapse of 1873

-The Thieves’ Road, and Charley Reynolds’ ride  

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices