Lt. Col. Custer took a small command with breech loading single shot carbines and split his forces against an enemy with long range repeating rifles.
The 7th Cavalry was a sitting duck against a force which out numbered them, outranged them, and could fire faster.
A 45-70 carbine has a greater range than a 44-40 rifle. But I agree with your overall point. But the percentage of Indians who had 1866 to 1873lever guns is not known. Perhaps some of the Indian crack shots had Sharps rifles which would have been more accurate at long range than the cavalry carbines.
My favorite account of the battle from an eyewitness is Chief Low Dog’s version.
In fact, Indians had short range repeating rifles, which was not good for them, and most of them eventually used bows and arrows.
Indian casulaties remained high during the battle - the last researchs showed that 200 Indians were killed on the battlefield alone. It contradicts recent theories about Custer being routed easily.
See
http://custer.over-blog.com/article-10191993.html
Green, send Trooper Martini for help, Yes I know he doesn't speak English goddamit, write a note. BTW, I agree with the War Department, send back the Spencers. Goddam waste of powder and shot. Pick off the savages at 400 yards with those Springfields, goddamit.
Green, where have you sent that fool Reno? Get him back here at once.
Custer had a history of taking risks and in the past he came out on top - at Little Big Horn his chances ran out.
As for the accounts of “Indians” at that time, they were pretty much demoralized and destitute. They also knew Custer had been turned into a cult hero by the whites. They would probably have said whatever they thought the whites wanted to hear which would have presented them in a good light.
Custer didn’t even use scouts or reconnaissance to determine what he was attacking. He had no idea the size of the force he was facing aside from numerous warning from his Indian scouts that the number of hostiles were very great.
I know there are a lot of people who are Custer admirers.
I am not one of them. A Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, or Hannibal he definitely was not. Unfortunately a lot of brave men paid the price for his carelessness and rashness.