Crow Scouts were first used by the United States Army in 1876 during the Great Sioux War. Because the Crow tribe was generally peaceful with the Americans, the army was able to enlist Crow warriors to help track Native Americans they perceived to be hostile. A small group of Crow scouts witnessed General George A. Custer's defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and later some former scouts fought in the Crow War of 1887.