LITTLE BIG HORN BATTLE GAME

June 25, 1876 (June 20, 2026) 4:00 pm

7th Cavalry Regiment

1.5 Miles East of the Little Big Horn River 

Captain Keogh, Lt. Col. Custer and Captain Yates

Custer said "Scout Mitch Bouyer just reported that Major Reno's attack on the west side of the Little Big Horn against the village has been repulsed. The hostiles are in pursuit. Therefore, Gentlemen, it's just up to us to find a way across the river to attack the village."

At first the two captains accepted the news in silence. Then Yates remarked, "General, we were to pitch into the village in support of the Major with our whole force coming at 'em from two angles, but now it's just us."

"We will continue as follows, said Custer. Captain Yates, take Companies E and F into the ravine to our oblique left named Medicine Tail Coulee. Demonstrate and encourage the hostiles to engage you. Pull back when heavily pressured. I'll be nearby."

"Captain Keogh, take Companies C, I and L to the right of and past Yates to the north to find a ford. I expect Yates, you will join in good time."

Both captains, saluted saying, "Yes, Sir," and joined their battalions.

Left: Part of Keogh's Battalion. Right: Yate's Battalion.

Custer is between the two.  

       

Captain Yates bellowed, "BATTALION! Column of fours, at the trot, forward, Yo-Oh!" Custer and Mitch Bouyer rode at his side for now.

Yate's battalion opened Medicine Tail Coulee with flankers to his left peering into the river. No hostiles were observed. The General and staff detached themselves to his right. Dust rose up because there had been little rain.

Across the river, warriors started returning to the village after the Reno fight. Some though remained engaged with Reno's shocked command entrenching on a height. 

In moments riders arrived in the village warning of many bluecoats on ridges across the river - to the left of the image. Individually and in groups warriors began crossing the river they called the Greasy Grass to stop the new threat. Their "hopeless ones," women, children and the elderly needed protection as they fled to a ridge west of the village. 

Crossing at the Medicine Tail Coulee ford a large band of warriors bore left to high ground and cover where they observed the oncoming battalion of Captain Yates.

As Captain Keogh's Battalion trotted forward east of Yates. Yates is off image to the right.

Back at the Medicine Tail Coulee ford Mitch Bouyer and several Pawnee scouts scared up only a few warriors guarding the crossing. Bouyer thought this could be a weakness to exploit, if Custer changed his mind about not really crossing the river here.

More natives arrived. Bouyer and allies hastily retreated.

Progress by the 7th Cavalry was stopped by larger and larger bodies of mounted warriors opposing them. Orders then came to dismount and fire as skirmishers.

As more of Keogh's Battalion arrived to push through the native blockade. But they could not. The number of warriors....

Was deemed too great. Orders to withdraw eventually passed through the companies and to clear a route to the rear.

As shown by E Company running down a party of hostiles.

Pressure was too great.

Years later, interviewed warriors remarked how the bluecoats bravely withdrew, turned about to fire stunning volleys and then continued this process many times until the battle was over.

CLOSING REMARKS

Left to Right

7th Cavalry seated: Tom H., Keith J. and Bob B.

Warriors standing: Yours truly Bill P., Chuck L. and Dave G.

Notice hostile horsemen on the left faced by the 7th Cavalry on the right who have turned about to fire in their retrograde movement.

1. What happened? Warrior arrival spots along the Little Big Horn were diced for. Heavy deployment occurred allowing a large force to block progress by the 7th Cavalry. In four playtests this did not happen. The 7th pushed deep into Indian territory. There was a greater spread in arrival locations but not on our June 20th, 2026 game day.

2. I did not mind this. Reason: It provided a way to stop the 7th before its presumed Last Stand. It was an alternative to what really happened. Plus, after the game I was reminded that several companies from the Reno entrenchment under Captain Weir rode to Custer's rescue. Historically they were too late, but not in my futuristic alternative thinking. They arrived in my projection forward in time to save the day. You know. The cavalry arrives in the nick of time.

3. Warriors moved in ten or twenty-man groups according to a Reaction Table. A situation was chosen that each group observed followed by a 1D6 throw with modifiers. Some results were Shadow, Skirmish, Hold, Charge, Withdraw, Exit, Join Others and so on. Players were free to move miniatures logically within these parameters sometimes with a group discussion to enhance historical behaviors. Historically warriors were free to come, go and fight as they pleased without recriminations. The reaction table comes close to replicating this.

4. I am proud of our players and grateful. They easily took to the two-page fast rules and completed an amazing fourteen turns between 9:30 am and 2:45 pm with a half hour break for chow.

5. We tracked the game on this white board.

7th Cavalry Losses: 34 of 80 miniatures.

Warrior Losses: 38 of 160 miniatures.

6. Lakota Noon is an amazing telling about the historical battle from the perspective of involved warriors and a few women too. Dozens of stories are told broken down in ten-minute intervals with maps and symbols representing each person's movements compared to the 7th cavalry. Simply fascinating to understand more of what happened. A must read.

7. Thank you for looking in. Comments welcome.

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