Contrary to popular belief, Custer did not lose all of his men at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. It has been stated that when he departed General Terry's camp on the 22nd of June 1876, he had 31 officers, 585 enlisted men, 40 Indian scouts and 20 packers, guides and other civilian employees. This totaled 648 potential combatants.

Shortly before engaging the Indian encpmapment, Custer split his command inot three battalions. Major Reno had companies A, G, and M, about 140 men, and was directed to attack the southern most end of the village in the valley. Captain Benteen had companies H, D, and K, consisting of about 125 men, and was directed to explore the area in a southwesterly direction and to "pitch into anything that he might find." Captain mcDougall was assigned with B Company t guard the pack train.

Custer took for himself the five companies of C, E, F, I, L, estimated to include approximately 212 to 231 men. Numbers not accounted for in each battalion included the Indian scouts and the packers.

Only those men of Custer's immediate command perrished to the last poor soul. The men of Benteen's command and those survivors of the Reno "charge" lived to tell their tales.

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