and there are bighorn mountains. there's a bighorn river, and this is a smaller river, tributary river. c-span: exactly what happened on that day in the afternoon? >> guest: ok. custer, very early in the morning of that day, believed that the indians who were gathered in that valley -- which he had not yet seen, but there were enough signs to indicate that they were there -- he believed that they had discovered the presence of his force and that they would probably melt away the way indians usually did if he didn't attack immediately. his plan had been to attack on the following day. so he simply went into a kind of crisis mode, led his troops down into the valley, divided them into different commands. this is what is controversial about his strategy, the fact that he divided his small group -- small in relation to the enemy. but you have to keep in mind that he had no idea the size of the enemy at that time. this was the greatest gathering of indians on the north american continent. no one, no intelligence of any so

and his book is the best account of little bighorn. now turning his attention to it equally famous last and the battle of the alamo. in may will be published "the blood of heroes" the 13-day struggle for the alamo - and the sacrifice that forged a nation" published by little brown. jeff guinn is the best-selling author of numerous books including the biography of santa claus is that continues to support children. [laughter] and also ~ in the story of bonnie and clyde and his book is "the last gunfight" the real story of the shootout at the o.k. corral - and how it changed the american west" iger say all of american history. my first question only have serious. how these distinguished publishers have gone back to the 19th century? that is an amazing development. perhaps you can eliminate? >> i am looking forward to hearing this. [laughter] >> a couple of styles of titles. one is descriptive. one is politic, evocative. of course, the subtitle is needed to explain. >> i always prefer the shorter title but those who understand such things

for today's trivia question: general custer made his last stand at little bighorn in 1876.t to 70 degrees today. we will have thunderstorms forming tonight. showers are moving east ... but new ones develop. we have warm weather today and the possibility of gusty wind and severe thunderstorms in certain spots in the metro region tonight. for the next 15 days in five date increments we are six and a half degrees above normal followed by eight degrees above normal followed by another two degrees above normal ... we might have some questionable whether for opening day for the chicago cubs but that's a way off ... we will be back into the '60s tomorrow. we will have low clouds and fog thursday morning in a warm to the '50s during the day but 40's at the lakefront ... now we're looking at this line of storms coming through here tonight breezing through here with those customer wins .. gusty winds.. the rain will not be particularly heavy early this evening but when those thunderstorms arrive will get the downpour and that will be the case thursday evening as well ... the warm-up

it ain't the bighorn, but yes, you bet. this is where the newt goes down, colors flying.ll split the conservative vote, leaving each of them with half a win and romney with the bragging margin. do the math, newt. >> jenny writing, no, his billionaire benefactor holds the key. if he wants gingrich to stay in the race, tonight's results won't matter. this is not citizens united's world. we just live in it. gary in san jose writing, no, jack, this will not be newt's last stand, because the establishment wants mitt to rim, and newt is the perfect santorum spoiler. bill in colorado -- no, i think even two close seconds will fan the embers of mr. gingrich's vanity enough to keep him in the race. i hope he does stay in. anytime he or mr. santorum opens their mouths, the national committee has to order more obama for president stickers to keep up with demand. nancy in tennessee writes, newt boarded the train late. if he loses either mississippi or alabama, the conductor will not be speaking to the speaker when he yell all aboard. the train ride will be over for newt. if you want