After the Civil War, because of his war record, flowing golden locks and the fancy clothes he wore, Custer was a celebrity. There was even talk of him being a presidential candidate. At the victory parade in NYC, while riding a magnificent steed he had requisitioned from a reb, he had paid a lad to toss out a fluttering piece of newspaper in front of his horse. His horse and rearing, George masterfully controlled his horse.

It appears he loved the adulation He had entourage like a rock star, even to the point of bring his own journalist to report to the eager readers back east of his heroic exploits.

While at the summit of the Wolf Mountains in the early morning hours, it was reported that some Indians were seen breaking into paneers that had fallen off a pack horse.

He feared that these Indians would alert the main tribe and the Indians would flee. Hence, rather than wait a day and prepare, he started for the village, not knowing the number of warriors, weapons they had, the topography or even exactly where the village was. He ordered Bentsen to the south to block what he thought may be a fleeing tribe.

To not move at that time against the tribe, may have allowed Terry, Miles or Crook to be the heroes in bring the hostile to their knees and back on the rez.