They had perhaps five thousand men in their villages when they met Custer in this, the most historic and most ghastly battle of the Plains.

It would be bootless to revive any of the old discussions regarding Custer and his rash courage.

Whether in error or in wisdom, he died, and gallantly.

He and his men helped clear the frontier for those who were to follow, and the task took its toll.

Thus, slowly but steadily, even though handicapped by a vacillating governmental policy regarding the Indians, we muddled through these great Indian wars of the frontier, our soldiers doing their work splendidly and uncomplainingly, such work as no other body of civilized troops has ever been asked to do or could have done if asked.