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

The Far West Paddleboat at the Yellowstone River depot

AI‑generated image. The Far West paddleboat delivered vital campaign supplies to General Terry, ferried troops to the Lakota-held south bank, and served as Terry’s floating headquarters for councils and planning. After the battle, she steamed upstream to the mouth of the Little Bighorn River, where she received the wounded and carried them downriver. (picture is a later version of the original paddleboat)

General Terry's camp and The Far West paddleboat on the Yellowstone River

AI‑generated image. General Terry’s Yellowstone River Camp with The Far West paddleboat docked delivering soldiers, horses, supplies and a place for meetings. This will be the kickoff point for Custer to travel up Rosebud Creek following the Sitting Bull’s trail. General Terry and Colonel Gibbon will take The Far West up the Bighorn River and the Little Bighorn River, if navigable to approach Sitting Bull from the downstream direction.

A group of soldiers in blue uniforms hauling artillery up a rocky hillside near a canyon, with a horse and water in the foreground under a partly cloudy sky.
AI‑generated image. As a rebuke for Custer’s earlier attempt to operate independently, General Terry assigned Major Reno to lead a reconnaissance toward the Powder River, where Sitting Bull’s village was believed to be located. Reno, who had been lobbying unsuccessfully to replace Custer as regimental commander, received explicit orders: the mission was to scout only, avoid contact, and report immediately once the village was found.
Map showing the rivers and geographical features of the Yellowstone region, including Billings, Forsyth, Miles City, and Powder River, with a scale indicating about 830 miles across.
AI‑generated image. Reno’s route carried him up the Powder River, then across to the Tongue River, where he encountered only old camps. He then exceeded his orders by moving onto Rosebud Creek, where the Lakota were already traveling down the lower valley toward the Little Bighorn. Reno soon turned back to the Yellowstone and reported to Terry. The commander was furious, believing Reno had nearly blundered into Lakota scouts and risked scattering the village, which could have unraveled the campaign’s battle plan. Custer, however, was angry for the opposite reason, sharply criticizing Reno for failing to seize what he believed was an opportunity to strike the village immediately.
A ceremonial gathering inside a teepee featuring a shirtless Native American man suspended above a fire, surrounded by an audience of dressed participants, with smoke rising and cultural artifacts visible.
AI‑generated image. Sitting Bull performing a Sun Dance.

Sitting Bull conducting a sacred Sun Dance. It is torturous undertaking where a participant undergoes the cutting of chest muscle and buffalo rawhide straps hanging from the top are attached and the man must dance and bleed until he goes into a delirious state and dreams of what might be happening in the future. Not all warriors undertake the Sun Dance and Crazy Horse never chose to do so, it was never considered cowardness not to do it.

What came of this dance is that Sitting Bull dreamt that if the cavalrymen came for him, dead soldiers would be falling into his camp, a good omen sign. The Hunkpapa built a prominent token sign of a buffalo skull and items to be found where the Arikara and Crow scouts would interpret that the Lakota were aware of them and were not afraid.

A historic scene featuring Native American tipis in a grassy landscape, with horseback riders in traditional attire and a person sitting on the ground working with animal hides.
AI‑generated image. The 7th Cavalry advanced up Rosebud Creek, a narrow, winding stream that earlier reports by Reno suggested may once have marked the village’s route of travel. Along the way, the column passed several abandoned camps, including the Sun Dance lodge where Sitting Bull had endured the sacred ordeal in search of a prophetic vision. The scouts also discovered fresh signs left deliberately by the Lakota—clear signals of confidence and strength, and a message that the soldiers were neither feared nor avoided.
Custer’s Busby camp on Rosebud Creek.

Custer traveled up the narrower Rosebud Creek sending his Arikara and Crow scouts forward to pick up Sitting Bull’s village trail.

Two young children sitting beside a stone path, one eating while the other stands, with two mounted figures riding in the background.
AI generated image. Ten-year-old Deeds tragic incident where he was shot and killed, while the other tribal members fled into the surrounding brush and trees.
A group of historical figures, including Native Americans and a military officer, stand on a rocky outcrop, gazing out over a vast landscape. They are pointing toward a river and rolling hills under a clear blue sky. The figures are dressed in period attire, including fringed clothing and hats, suggesting a 19th-century setting.
AI‑generated image.
After a night march up Davis Creek toward the Divide, the 7th Cavalry halted and went into camp while scouts pressed forward to a place long known to the Crows—a high overlook from which the Little Bighorn River valley could be observed. It was believed this vantage point would reveal the village of Sitting Bull.
The first men sent up were Lt. Varnum, Mitch Bouyer—a half‑Lakota, half‑Crow interpreter—along with the Crow scouts White Swan, Half Yellow Face, and Hairy Moccasin. All were familiar with the high perch, having known it from the days when the Crow occupied the land before being driven out by the Lakota.
At first light, around 2:30 a.m., the scouts reported seeing smoke rising from the valley floor and ponies spread across the surrounding hills, appearing like crawling insects at a distance. Custer rode up to look for himself but was unable to see what the scouts described. He returned later in the morning with borrowed field glasses, yet still could not clearly confirm their observations and voiced skepticism.
Nonetheless, when Custer rejoined the column as it advanced, his actions suggested he was prepared to cross the Divide and descend Reno Creek in search of the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne. Officer assignments were issued, signaling that contact was expected. At noon, the 7th Cavalry crossed the Divide and rode down along Reno Creek, followed—at a reluctant pace—by the heavy pack train with its stubborn mules.
Scenic view of rolling hills and scattered pine trees under a clear blue sky.
Photo from Crow’s Nest down the Reno Creek valley toward the village at the top center right of picture. (LBHA photo by Lowell Smith. The village location was top of horizon to the right of middle.)
View of Crow’s Nest from the Divide area.
A bronze plaque commemorating General George A. Custer and the 7th U.S. Cavalry at the site where they crossed the divide on June 25, 1876, mounted on a rocky surface.
Walter Camp Divide marker with Reno Creek beginning on the Little Bighorn valley side. (LBHA, photo by Lowell Smith)
A group of riders on horseback wearing blue shirts and hats, moving through a grassy area with a stream, against a backdrop of rolling hills and a cloudy sky.

Custer orders Captain Benteen and his battalion to scout the rough terrain to the left. General Terry had given orders to scout the upper part of the Little Bighorn River to prevent part of the village from using it as an escape route. Benteen traveled up and down a couple of ridges, never seeing the river. Finally, with the horses tired, the Captain leads the soldiers down a narrow ravine that led to The Morass. He arrived there about 20 minutes behind Custer and stayed for 15-20 minutes resting the horses. Captain Weir and other officers grew anxious after Benteen had received the first Come Quick message from Custer delivered by Sergeant Kanipe. Disgusted by the apparent delay on Benteen, these company commanders ordered them forward to go find Custer. Seeing this, Benteen quickly ordered his company to move forward. The first of the thirsty pack mules came running into the water to drink. Captain McDougall was commanding the pack train guards. Lt. Mathey was in charge of the spread-out pack train as the soldiers were not very good at tying packs on mules.

Historic scene depicting Indigenous individuals and U.S. soldiers, with smoke billowing from a campfire and tipis in the foreground.
AI generated image. Lone Tipi abandoned by summer roamers racing for Sitting Bull village

The two battalions advanced side by side, separated by only twenty to twenty‑five yards. Lieutenant Wallace later recalled that, according to his watch, it was about 2:00 p.m. when General Custer called Major Reno over to the east side of a small stream. Wallace noted, however, that his watch was set to Chicago time, and he concluded that the meeting more likely occurred around 12:15 p.m. local time.

Custer then turned in his saddle and scanned the rear, searching for Captain Benteen and the battalion he urgently needed. Benteen was expected shortly, and Custer had already dispatched two messages ordering him to hurry forward.

Moments later, Custer sent his adjutant, Lieutenant William Cooke, to Major Reno with formal instructions:

“The General directs you to take as rapid a gait as you think prudent, overtake and charge the village afterward, and you will be supported by the whole outfit.”

By assigning the initial attack to Major Reno, his senior subordinate, Custer was following accepted military procedure. He believed Reno could overtake the village quickly and strike before it had time to fully react.

Private John Donoghue later recalled hearing Custer outline the plan in broader terms:

“Major Reno, you will charge down the valley and sweep everything that will come before you; Captain Benteen will take the extreme left. I will take the extreme right myself with five companies.”

Custer envisioned Reno striking the village directly, with Benteen—commanding three companies—moving in support on the left, while Custer’s own battalion maneuvered on the right. He concluded:

“I will strike them on the opposite point and will crush them between us.”

How the battle would ultimately unfold remained uncertain. Custer understood that no plan could survive first contact unchanged, especially in combat against highly mobile Plains warriors. Unlike an assault on a city or fortified position, success would depend on constant adjustment as events developed.

Seeking clarification, Reno asked, “Is General Custer coming along?”

He was told, “He will support you.”

Asking again, “Where should I head to?” Reno received the reply, “Make for the dust.”

Turning toward the left flank, Reno called out “Forward,” and set his command into a trot toward the Little Bighorn River, roughly a mile and a half away.

A historical scene depicting Indigenous people on horseback near a river, with a village of tipis in the background and several figures engaged in activities along the riverbank.

AI generate image. While the village had scout reports of soldiers in the area, no one realized how close Custer had maneuvered his 7th Cavalry to the village. The village council of the top chiefs felt with the large influx of Summer Roamers, the village was too big for the soldiers to attack them. Ponies were out grazing, kids were playing in the river, hunters had been sent out for game, people were fishing, a few guards were on the parameter, and life was pretty much normal. No one had started packing in case they needed to escape quickly. It was a hot summer day and with a large dance last night, many were still sleeping or just getting up. The cavalrymen were dangerously close.

A group of mounted police officers in blue uniforms crossing a stream on horseback, surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
AI generated image. As Reno’s battalion began crossing the Little Bighorn at Ford A, organization fell apart as the thirsty due to the high temperature stopped and couldn’t be coaxed forward until they drank the cold water. The crossing was a mess, but the battalion finally reformed on the opposite side.
A line of horseback riders dressed in blue shirts and hats, traversing a grassy landscape with rolling hills in the background.
AI generated image. Custer and Captain Yates with E Company and F Company separate from Major Reno and turn right going up the river bluffs toward Weir Point and Sharpshooter Ridge.