UNITED STATES STAMPS AND POSTAL HISTORY

The Battle of Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Native Americans involved, the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between the combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army. It occurred on 25-26 June, 1876 near the Little Bighorn River in eastern Montana Territory. The battle was the most famous action of the Great Sioux War of 1876-77 and was an overwhelming victory for the Native Americans, who were inspired by the visions of Sitting Bull and lead by Crazy Horse and Chief Gall. The 7th Cavalry suffered a severe defeat, five of the Seventh's companies were annihilated, Custer was killed, as were two of his brothers, a nephew and a brother-in-law. A total of 268 U.S. troops and scouts were killed and 55 wounded. The Native Americans are believed to have only suffered between 36 and 136 killed and about 168 wounded. The Battle of Little Bighorn was the pinnacle of the Plains Indians' power and they had achieved their greatest victory. However, outraged over the death of a popular Civil War hero on the eve of the nation's Centennial celebrations, the nation demanded, and received, harsh retribution. Within a year the Sioux Nation was defeated and broken, "Custer's Last Stand" was their last stand as well.

John S. Hiley was born John Stuart Stuart-Forbes on 28 May, 1849 in Rugby, England to banker Charles Hay Forbes and Jemima Rebecca of Canaan Park, Edinburgh. After Rugby public school and prestigious Edinburgh Academy, he moved to Yorkshire, England and lived with his sister Henrietta and her husband, Reverend Walter Hiley. From here the story takes a twist. Most historians believe he fled to the United States to escape deep gambling debts, but the actual reason is not certain. He left England at age 22 never to return. After various travels he wound up in New York City, where he enlisted for a five year period in the U.S. Army on 20 January, 1872, using the pseudonym John S. Hiley, adopting the surname of his brother in law. He was assigned to the 7th Calvary Company E known as the "Grey Horse Troop" and stationed at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. The "Plains Calvary" was largely comprised of European migrants who joined the U.S. Army to escape privation. Forbes was one of ten Scots assigned to the regiment. He was among the contingent who left on 17 May, 1876 and joined Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer on the Indian campaign, and fell along with the 267 others who died that day. According to the initial battlefield maps prepared by the Army days after the battle, Forbes' body was found only feet away from Custer's. (imagea) (Image)