Great Secrets of Our National Parks
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By: TW Editors 06/01/2008
Little Bighorn Battlefield, MT
Cheyenne Suicide Boys
A surprising act by Cheyenne warriors, kept secret for nearly 100 years, finally got its due recognition. In 2005, John Doerner, chief historian at Little Bighorn Battlefield, placed the final markers commemorating the role the Cheyenne Suicide Boys had played during the June 25, 1876, battle.
The suicide pact actually first came to light in 1967, when Stands In Timber published the Cheyenne version of events after spending half a century gathering eyewitness accounts. His own grandfather had fought in the battle.
His book records four Northern Cheyennes—Little Whirlwind, Cut Belly, Closed Hand and Noisy Walking—taking a vow to fight until they died. The Cheyennes credited the Suicide Boys’ hand-to-hand combat charge into Custer’s column as the likely reason why Custer and his men fell, instead of surviving like many did at Reno Hill.
Since Little Whirlwind charged after Reno’s command from afar and was killed by an Arikara scout, his marker is placed at the Reno site. Noisy Walking and Closed Hand’s markers are placed between the Visitor Center and Last Stand Hill. Cut Belly’s marker is near Stone House, as that is where his wounded body was carried, only for him to die later.
Contrasting the white military gravestones, red granite headstones honoring each of the Suicide Boys bear the inscription: “A Cheyenne warrior fell here on June 25, 1876, while defending the Cheyenne way of life.”
And now you know...the rest of the story.
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