[An Old Marine]

True. Actually a band of northern Cheyenne had attached themselves to Crazy Horse just prior to Redbud and were probably behind both victories.

Among that small band were about 30-35 members of the Dog Society (think Marine Recon or SEAL lifers) armed with Henry rifles. Futher at least three members of that band had served with the South during the Civil War. Indian naratives atribute plan and execution of the initial ambush of Custer to this small number of Cheyenne warriors.

Its not only likely but even certain that or something like that happened to not only change the usual way Plains Indians fought but to do so effectively. After the serious losses in the opening seconds of the battle the Indians piled onto the the doomed 7th.

[CIDKauf]

Dog soldiers were more Southern Cheyenne...Red Kettle

[CIDKauf]

5th Special Forces...

[LS]

I question this "change of tactics." Just previously, a battle where we have considerable evidence from both sides, Crook and Crazy Horse fought to a draw. Not a lot were killed on either side. But there were no reports whatsoever of Cheyenne using anything other than typical plains Indians tactics. Nor, afterwards, in any of the remaining skirmishes with Sitting Bull's forces, were they any reports of "volleys."

Moreover, it is utterly incomprehensible that the Indians would develop such a western European tactic virtually overnight, then only use it one time. Such a tactic took months of training, and even Muslim armies, well acquainted with it, never mastered it.