Gatling guns, like these at Fort Lincoln, accompanied the Dakota Column, General Terry offered them to Custer, who could have used them to advantage during the battle. Getting them there, however, would have been a difficult task, and most historians agree that Custer was right in declining to accept the delays they would have imposed on his march.

Capt. Thomas B. Weir, D Company commander, led the abortive attempt to break through to Custer's relief.

Lt. Charles A. Varnum had charge of Custer's Indian scouts. he died in 1934, the last surviving officer of Reno's command.

Capt. Thomas W. Custer, holder of two Congressional Medals of Honor, fell with the "last stand" group near his older brother.

Custer viewed the distant Little Bighorn Valley from the Crow's Nest at dawn on June 25. At noon the regiment paused on the divide between the Rosebud and Little Bighorn watershed, while Custer formed three battalions for the advance on the enemy, whose exact location was not yet known.