[johnny7]

The problem was, at the Washita there were a number of additional camps downstream that forced him to retire after burning the village. Although he'd sent Benteen with his battalion to scout for camps south of the one he'd located on the Little Big Horn, they were all congregated in one large "village" comprising a number of camps.

Spot on again... you know the history of the battle. The Little Bighorn encampment was very compact for its population size. At the Washita... it was dispersed. Sadly, Lt. Elliot learned of this in the worst way possible.

Also, since the Washita encampment was dispersed, Custer's 7th could put on a “bold front” and intimidate the slowly massing warriors who were in his immediate front.

[bcsco]

Had Reno not evacuated the valley, and Benteen not dawdled in returning to Custer, the Little Big Horn may have turned into a standoff instead of a defeat. Emphasis is on the word “may”, but the likelihood of 5 troops of cavalry being wiped out would have been far less. All speculation, of course, but I still have my doubts that Custer by himself could have handled that Indian camp until General Terry arrived the following day.

[bcsco]

The Little Bighorn encampment was very compact for its population size. At the Washita... it was dispersed. Sadly, Lt. Elliot learned of this in the worst way possible.

Actually, if Elliot at the Washita were thought of as "Custer" and the balance of the 7th as Reno/Benteen, the Washita attack could be seen as a microcosm of the Little Big Horn event. The major differences being the burning of the village at the Washita, and Custer being able to extract himself there.