The Custer and Sitting Bull Debate, Shadows Over the Greasy Grass River

Topographic map depicting locations of key events and camps related to the Northern Cheyenne and Lakota during conflicts, with annotations for various landmarks and geographic features.
Topographic map of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Montana. Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Single Warrior camp locations are marked. Battle site names appear in black or blue. Lakota and Northern Cheyenne movements and actions are shown in red. 7th Cavalry positions and actions are shown in blue. (map by Jim Holly)
Map of the Little Bighorn River area, showing various historical locations and features such as Ford A, Ford B, Ford C, and camp sites labeled for warriors and families.
Color topo map of the Village tribal locations, Fords A, Reno Crossing, Ford B, Ford C and Ford D, and the Custer, Timber and Reno Hill battlefields.

A portion of the Little Bighorn valley floor contained the large multi‑tribal Lakota and Northern Cheyenne village. The Hunkpapa Lakota, the largest tribal group and led spiritually by Sitting Bull, occupied the upper portion of the village—about a half mile below the Timber and roughly a mile and a half above Ford B. Below them on the south side of the valley were the Lakota Blackfeet, while between the river channels lay the Miniconjou (also spelled Minichoujou or Minikonjou). Farther downriver were the Brulé, positioned next to the powerful Oglala. Adjacent to Ford B stood the Sans Arc camp.

The Northern Cheyenne village lay below Ford B, and the lowest encampment in the valley was the Single Warrior camp, situated opposite Crazy Horse Ford (Ford C). Ford A is the location where Major Reno and his battalion made their initial crossing.

New research as of 2026 places the actual Reno ford very near the traditionally accepted Ford A. This updated location was identified after Dennis Fox, brother of Dr. Richard Fox Jr., discovered a Thompson/Tweedy topographic map and correlated it with a pre‑1940 Kenneth Roahen photograph of an early-stage line crossing. Subsequent archaeological survey work uncovered a significant concentration of military artifacts at this revised ford location, strongly supporting the updated interpretation.

The findings are detailed in the article “Reno’s First River Crossing: And Mysteries Created by Newly Discovered Artifacts” by Jason Pitsch, Douglas Scott, and Michael Donahue.

A historical map depicting the layout of Custer Battlefield, featuring topographical details, water bodies, and significant locations marked within the area.
The Marshall 1891 map depicts Major Reno’s Ford A crossing at a location that differs from the modern, commonly accepted ford position. Marshall’s map places the crossing approximately 200 yards upstream from the site now shown on most contemporary maps. This discrepancy has become increasingly significant as new archaeological and historical research continues to refine the understanding of Reno’s movements during the opening phase of the battle. The Marshall map remains one of the earliest cartographic attempts to document the valley and its fords, offering a valuable comparison point against later surveys and modern interpretations..

The Marshall 1891 map shows what was long believed to be Reno’s Ford A crossing just to the right of where Reno Creek empties into the Little Bighorn River. However, the actual Ford A is located slightly to the right of Marshall’s placement. New research as of 2026 has confirmed that the true crossing lies very near the traditionally accepted Ford A location.

This updated interpretation emerged after Dennis Fox, brother of Dr. Richard Fox Jr., discovered a Thompson/Tweedy topographic map and correlated it with a pre‑1940 photograph taken by Kenneth Roahen showing a later stage line crossing the same area. The Roahen photograph, once used for postcards, provided key visual evidence. Subsequent archaeological survey work uncovered a significant concentration of military artifacts near the revised ford location, strongly supporting the updated placement of Reno’s crossing.

These findings are detailed in the article “Reno’s First River Crossing: And Mysteries Created by Newly Discovered Artifacts” by Jason Pitsch, Douglas Scott, and Michael Donahue.

Map of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument showing topography and key features.
(LBHNM topo-map)
Map showing the division of the Seventh Cavalry into three battalions during the Custer Battlefield on June 25, including Custer's Battalion, Reno's Battalion, and Benteen's Battalion, with marked locations and scale.
Routes of Custer’s 3 battalions. The pack train followed the Custer route to Reno Hill. NPS Historical Handbook: Custer Battlefield (Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument)
Map of the Crow Indian Reservation depicting troop movements and positions during the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, including the locations of national monuments and battle sites.
Warrior and military movements at the Custer and Reno battlefields. (LBHNM topo-map)
Historical map of the Custer battlefield at the Little Bighorn, detailing the locations of officers and soldiers who were killed, with an inset showing where their bodies were found.
Early battlefield map and body locations.
Map illustrating the scene of the Little Big Horn Massacre, dated July 14, 1876, featuring geographical contours and labeled points of interest.
Early battlefield sketch of terrain and gravesites.
Major Reno and Capt. Benteen worked together on the first night and day, other times Major Reno gave the orders, but Benteen, Capt. Weir offered their strong beliefs. The warriors poured on shooting and crawling in close trying to overrun this position for 3 days and 2 nights.