At the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana, the Dakota, under the capable leadership of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, lured the United States 7th Cavalry into a well-planned ambush. Well-armed and disciplined Dakota warriors wiped out the commander of the 7th Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel George Armstrong Custer, along with his entire force.
The battle made a lasting impression upon the North-West Mounted Police and later the Canadian militia. Both developed a high regard for the fighting ability of the First Nations of the western Plains.
