Two chapters ago we left Custer's battalion at the North Fork of Reno
Creek, where Adjt. Cooke brought the unexpected news that the Sioux
village was not fleeing, but pouring out warriors to attack Reno's three
companies. Unable to wait longer for Benteen, Custer led his five com-
panies at 3:01 downstream along the ridge toward the bluffs in order to
assess Reno's situation, see the village for himself, and find a route by
which to launch a supporting flank attack.

Since, from this point on, Custer's route has usually been considered
unknown, two chapters were devoted to constructing a "surround" of
interconnections that impose hard constraints on his movements, both in
time and space, and from which heavy dividends may now be drawn.

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