Before his attack on the large village at Little Bighorn, Custer divided his force of less than 700 men into three groups that were roughly of the same size. Captain Frederick Benteen was in command of the first group assigned to scout several miles to the south, and later cut off any Indians escaping to the south of the battlefield.

Major Marcus Reno was ordered to make a vigorous frontal attack on the village, beginning his attack from southeast of the village And Custer was then going to skirt around on bluffs located to the east of the village, and continue on to the northeast of Reno’s at...