I was there many years ago as well. Here's a discussion on that topic from last week you might find interesting:
Custer and Little Bighorn: 135 years ago and questions remain
I think Custer deserves far better treatment than history gives him. He was brash at a period in history when that was common among officers.
3 big mistakes were made in my opinion. Custer’s first big mistake was in leaving the Gatling guns behind. Its an easy enough mistake to make. Custer wanted to move fast and lugging the guns along would have slowed them down. Personally I think they would have been most effective as a psychological weapon.
His second big mistake was in expecting the indians to behave as they always had and run away. The indians seldom attacked massed forces preferring to pick of stragglers. This time there were far more indians than anyone expected.
The biggest mistake in my opinion was made up the chain of command from Custer. the army ordinance board selected the single shot Springfield Model 1873 in part because they didn’t want soldiers wasting ammo. It was a legitimate concern but one that should have been dealt with through discipline rather that an equipment restriction. Unfortunately the Indians were armed with repeating Spencer, Winchester and Henry rifles which left the 7th Cavalry completely outgunned.
Its also important to note that immediately following the battle, the indians packed up and fled. They knew they had lucked out and couldn’t count on it happening again.
Over all, Custer and the 7th were American soldiers who died in the line of duty and to me that is worthy of respect and honor.
thanks for the link
I had to wonder...why split your forces against such a determined foe between such ravines, gullies and short valleys when the high ground would have been preferred
I realize he was looking for them
But if you check Custer’s Union record in the Big One it was rather spotty and though lionized in death candid scholars have been less than kind...and he was not loved by his men
I had driven by there 4 times back in the 70s but never stopped...how sad to see how they made it up to some high ground only to die hard surrounded
Fighting Indians was not fun...couldn’t just put up your hands and plead mercy now coulda ya?