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== Custer's Actions ==

A great deal of controversy has stemmed from this action in that these non-combatants were used by Custer as human shields and as bargaining chips for the release of white hostages being held by Indians. As is common with all families, the South Plains tribes were fiercely loyal to their bands and refused to fire on innocent hostages from their families. Custer intermingled the women and children hostages with his men and went so far as to perch them on horseback so as to protect his own troops.<ref>Jerome A. Greene, ''Washita, The Southern Cheyenne and the U.S. Army: Campaigns and Commanders Series,'' vol. 3 (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2004),183-84.</ref>Had the hostages not been taken, “Custer probably could not have pulled off this tactical coup had he not had in his possession the fifty-some women and children captives…doubtlessly it occurred to Custer that the family-oriented [Cheyenne] warriors would not attack the Seventh with the women and children marching in [the middle of his column].”<ref>Larry Sklenar, ''To Hell with Honor: Custer and the Little Bighorn'' (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2000), 35.</ref>