Reno
  • Reno forms skirmish line and places horses in trees. This effectively reduces his force by 25% as 1 trooper is left looking after 4 horses
  • Indians with ponies in the village assault Reno's line. Most ponies are away from the village feeding on new grass so it takes a while before the main body arrives
  • Indians infiltrate down river bank and threaten horses
  • Part of skirmish line retreats to tree line
  • Indians, having retrieved ponies, threaten left end of line so line is adjusted
  • Indians overwhelm line and men flee to horses and make hurried retreat across river. Some die at the river
  • Reno makes a stand at a bluff
  • Benteen's troop arrives followed by advance pack train with ammunition. Benteen stops to help Reno
  • Indians are warned of Custer's troop and go back to village to prepare for war
  • Weir's troop goes along ridge to see if they can locate Custer
Custer
  • Most of the following information comes from messengers sent away from Custer and the Indians involved
  • Custer divides his troops into two wings
  • The left wing led by Custer goes to the river to check the ford
  • The right wing moves North followed by Indians. No real danger. Waits for Benteen to arrive with reinforcements and ammunition.
  • Left wing sees non-combatants fleeing North but unable to ford river and gets repulsed
  • Left wing, followed by Indians, moves back up hill to rendezvous with Right Wing