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Brevets can be very confusing. For instance, since you brought up the subject I thought I'd look into the status of two of Custer's higher ranking officers at the Little Big Horn; Maj. Marcus Reno and Capt. Frederick Benteen. Regarding Benteen, Wikipedia has this to say...

Benteen was mustered out at the war's end in the spring of 1865, and shortly thereafter was appointed to the rank of colonel as commander of a "Buffalo Soldier" regiment, the 138th U.S. Colored Volunteers. He led the regiment from July, 1865 to January, 1866, when it was mustered out. Later that year, he was appointed a captain in the 7th U.S. Cavalry. Meanwhile, the Senate finally approved awards of brevets to distinguished veterans of the Civil War. Benteen received brevets of major for the Battle of Mine Creek and lieutenant colonel for the battle of Columbus.

WOW! He was awarded the rank of Colonel of volunteers, but then became a Captain in the regular Army. And later he received two brevets of different rank for meritorious service in two separate battles. The rank of Colonel of Volunteers would mean nothing in the regular Army, but his two brevets could make it confusing on how to address him.

As for Reno, he received a brevet of Brigadier General toward the end of the Civil War. Of course, he held the rank of Major in the post war Army.