Dear Don W,Actually,there were THREE handicaps!He(Custer)divided his command into four forces.Had they been one(about 8oo strong),they probably wouldn't have prevailed anyway,but they would have had a better chance due to massing of firepower.Custer refused Terry's offer of The Gatling Guns(he thought they would slow his march!!If he had accepted the incumbrance of these weapons,the Indians either would have escaped or Custer,Terry,and Crook(from the south)would have sealed the Indian's fate!!!
He(Custer)divided his command
Never a good idea. Lee got away with it a couple of times, but then look at who he was fighting, McClellan.