The Battle of the Little Big Horn - Part III. Final chapter.

Reno's Court of Inquiry

The Battle of the Little Big Horn - Part II.

The Battle of the Little Big Horn - Part I

In the Crow's Nest.

Custer sets out after the Sioux.

On the Yellowstone River, three cavalry columns converge on the Sioux - Colonel John Gibbon from the west, General George Crook from the south, and Terry and Custer from the east. Terry expected to find the Sioux on the Little Missouri River - but they weren't there, so he moved his column west to the Powder River. There he learns that Gibbon has seen an indian camp on the Rosebud, farther west. Concerned to catch all the indians, Terry sends Major Marcus Reno up the Powder on a scout. Reno's orders, if he doesn't find indians on the Powder, are to march further west to the Tongue River and then up that river to the Yellowstone. He is under no circumstances to go near the camp Gibbon has seen on the Rosebud. Terry has sent Reno on the scout instead of Custer because he believes if Custer finds indians, he will attack them alone. Reno disobeys Terry's orders and marches to the Rosebud. He reports to Gibbon on June 18th that the indian camp there is empty, but it's big. There has been no word from Crook, so Terry decides to hold Gibbon on the Yellowstone as a northern blocking force and send Custer and the 7th Cavalry to move on the Sioux. Custer tells Mark Kellogg of his presidential plans. Mark Kellogg tells Custer that the Democratic Convention would meet in St. Louis on June 28th. Custer now knows how little time he has. He enlists Lonesome Charley to make the run to the Bozeman telegraph as soon as he has defeated the Sioux.

At Terry's St. Paul headquarters, Custer learns that Terry, not Belknap had ordered him to receive the suspicious Indian corn. Custer writes to Clymer, explaining that he was wrong and that there was no longer any reason for him to return to testify. Terry, who needs Custer on the expedition against the Sioux, dictates a letter for Custer to write to General Sherman. Grant relents and allows Custer to go on the expedition, although only in command of the 7th Cavalry. Mark Kellogg, a reporter from the Bismarck Tribune and a stringer for James Gordon Bennett, accompanies the expedition against Sheridan's orders, and the expedition goes out in an atmosphere of impending doom.

But the Democrats decide to impeach Secretary Belknap, even though he has resigned, and Custer is summoned to Washington. Though warned against it by Sheridan's aide, Custer testifies against Belknap before the House. Terry's column will march against the Sioux in seven days, but Custer is held in Washington by subpoena to testify at Belknap's Senate trial. Custer asks General Sherman to help him get out of Washington, but President Grant refuses to let Custer leave. Custer tries to see Grant, but the President refuses. Pulling a fast one, Custer convinces someone at the War Department to give him orders to go. When he reaches Chicago, a furious Sheridan puts him under arrest. Two days later, relenting, Sheridan lets Custer send a telegram to Sherman. Sherman finally permits him to go to Fort Lincoln, but he is not to be allowed to go on the Sioux expedition.

James Gordon Bennett convinces Custer to testify at the hearing on Belknap's corruption, by promising to support Custer for President if Tilden's nomination is stalled. Belknap orders Custer to report to General Terry in St. Paul, Minnesota, to get him out of the way. There Custer learns of Terry and Sheridan's planned move against Sitting Bull. Belknap resigns, so Custer's testimony won't be required, and that is the end of Custer's presidential prospects. But Custer can't give up the hope; he and Libbie notify the press of the coming expedition. Success will get Custer in the headlines again, and from there, who knows?