Reno’s charge had failed—instead of riding straight down through the length of the village and meeting Custer, he had gotten only fifty rods, and then had been met by a steady fire from Indians who held their ground. He wedged them back, but his horses, already overridden, refused to go on, and the charging troops were simply carried out of the woods into the open, and once there they took to the hills for safety, leaving behind, dead, one-third of their force.
Custer quickly realized the hopelessness of charging alone into a mass of Indians, who were exultant and savage in the thought of victory. Panic was not for them.
They were armed with Springfield rifles, while the soldiers had only short-range carbines.
The bugles now ordered a retreat, and Custer’s men rode back to the top of the hill—with intent to join forces with Reno.
Reno was hopelessly cut off. Determined Sioux filled the gully that separated the two little bands of brave men.
Custer, evidently, thought that Reno had simply withdrawn to re-form his troop, and that any moment Reno would ride to his rescue.
Custer decided to hold the hill.
The Indians were shooting at him from long range, occasionally killing a horse.