The very large size of the village exceeded the average size of villages the cavalry were use to finding by 3 to 4 times. The warriors usually fought what we would call a delaying action while the women, children, old men quickly packed up and fled. The families began that packing up while the warriors rode out to engage the cavalry to “buy” them time, however the number of warriors was so much larger that they forced the cavalry into a defensive battle. The cavalry battle line, for Custer’s 5 companies, extended over a couple of miles and the Indians encircled those thin lines of defenders. See the book “Archaeology, History, and Custer’s Last Battle,” by Richard Allan Fox, Jr. for detailed maps of the battle lines for both sides. See also my post #54 for other titles worth reading.
It was mission impossible for him.
The Battle of the Rosebud a week prior shows how determined the Indians were against the US Army.
Crook retreated and he had about 500 troops more than Custer.