>> his victory at washita quickly becomes a hollow one for custer. sleeping people who are led by one of the only peaceful chiefs on the great plains. and to top it off, custer leaves 20 troops behind to fend for themselves against the cheyenne. >> two weeks later, the 7th cavalry returns, desperate to find their missing men. >> we suddenly came upon the stock stiff bodies of our dead companions. no words were needed to tell how desperate had been the struggle before they were finally overpowered. >> we need to give these men a proper burial at once! >> there's no time for sentimentality, captain. besides, the ground's frozen solid. wrap the remains in blankets and prepare to move out! >> leaving men behind, custer has committed a cardinal sin of military brotherhood. >> captain frederick benteen hates him from that day on. he abandoned the troops. it's just somethin' you don't do. benteen will never get over that. >> in retaliation, the captain breaks rank, sending an anonymous editorial to a saint louis newspaper, exposing the general. >> our missi

>> engaging a hungry and desperate band on the washita in the winter is a heck of a lot different thaner. >> but custer is single-minded, separating his men where they'll be blinded too his position. major reno will attack the camp head on while custer swings ard and approaches from the rear. a third unit stays back to guard supplies. while captain bentine scouts the surrounding hills. >> custer sends bentine off, in part because if there's going to be any glory in battle, bentine's not going to get any of it. >> downfield, major reno and his men ride head long into the fight. unaware that nearly 500 battle-tested warriors lie in [ gunfire and screaming ] >> the first that realizes that they are in way over their head is marcus reno. i mean, he comes up on the village with his men, and they are just inundated, and so they fight and retreat, fight and retreat. >> pull back! >> isolated behind the ridge, custer has no idea reno's men are fighting for their lives. >> custer's not working in concert with others well. you need to coordinate your efforts. you need to know the terrain very we