Sorry, Reno not Ried... Despite the locations of the markers as the Indians must have displaced some of them before the Army even got there, and the resulting horror of the death of a possible Presidential candidate, the Army would have certainly covered up some of the truth, although its looks bad enough for Custer despite that fact. Reno did go into the village and fled North to higher ground (my daughter and I have walked the entire battlefield and spent time at the museum and cemetery) due to the resistance initially encountered. Benteen was late to the fight for whatever reason, and the 2 Armies were not much help to Custer after they split up. Custer should have kept his Armies together, and American history of the West would probably be totally different than it is now.
I'd agree. He didn't, for two reasons I can fathom: 1) He didn't at the Washita and was successful (although Maj. Joel Elliott, had he lived, might have disputed that); 2) He was concerned many in the Indian village(s) would escape if they weren't surrounded. The first is debatable, the second is a proper argument IMO.
It's one of the great battlefields to visit. It properly takes days to do it right. I happen to have an unfired Indian bullet given to me by a good friend (also a LBH history nut), who was given it by then Park Ranger Don Ricky. It was found on a ranch adjacent to the battlefield. And, yes, it was taken legally. I have an affidavit.