Yet this was no time to hesitate, to debate; it was a moment for decisive action.

The blow must be struck at once, before daylight, with all the power of surprise.
The little body of cavalrymen was divided into four detachments.

Two of these were at once marched to the left, circling the village silently in the darkness, and taking up a position at the farther extremity.

A third detachment moved to the right, and found their way down into the valley, where they lay concealed in a strip of timber.
Custer, with the fourth detachment under his own command, remained in position on the trail.

The sleeping village was thus completely surrounded, and the orders were for those in command of the different forces to approach as closely as possible without running risk of discovery, and then to remain absolutely quiet until daybreak.