What I'd really like to know is where was Custer's exact position when he sent Trooper Martini off with that message; "bring packs".
Kind of a clue he knew that alligators were approaching his backside?
Custer was just east of Medicine Tail coulee when he actually “saw” the village. This was what he thought was the northern end of the village. It actually was the middle.
I think that was when he realized how truly tremendous his mistake was.
to add to that, he had already left Reno and was proceeding north along the ridgeline. It was just before Custer got to Medicine Tail coulee that Reno and some of his Men said they saw him stop, wheel on the ridge and wave his hat. He then disappeared over the ridge with his command and that was the last anyone saw of them alive.