A Hat Wave, a Drunk Commander and the All-Night Siege.

'At noon, Custer bade Terry and Gibbon farewell. As Custer turned to leave, Gibbon jokingly called out, "Now Custer, don't be greedy, but wait for us." With a wave of the hand and a hearty laugh, Custer replied, "No, I will not."'

148 years ago this week, around 660 men under Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and the Seventh Calvary ran into (literally) a mile-long, nearly 1,000-lodge strong Native American encampment on the Little Bighorn or Greasy Grass River in Montana with an estimated 1,800 warriors.

Most people know the story well. Custer and around 220 of his men - including his two brothers - severely underestimated the strength of thousands of Sioux led by Sitting Bull. Most people think that is the whole story but it's half true.

First contact with Sitting Bill and the Native American's doesn't start with Custer. Major Marcus Reno was the first to reach the village and dismounted into a skirmish line to begin fighting. Reno was also likely drunk and taking pulls from his flask before firing on the Native American village and engaging with warriors.

"The major had glimpsed Custer watching the action from a bluff on the east bank, a mile distant. Before wheeling his horse out of sight, Custer had waved his hat. Reno took the gesture as approval of his decision to form a skirmish line."

Reno's skirmish line didn't last long and he was pushed into nearby trees before making a retreat.

Several other companies of the Seventh Calvary survived the initial charge and fortified a hill top with ammunition boxes, supplies and dead mules. Led by a drunk

Some other curious notes on the battle:

• Two days before the battle, Lt. George Wallace mentioned to a solider that he believed General Custer was going to be killed. The day before the battle, Lt. Godfrey had to pick up and secure the headquarters flag multiple times. One soldier became superstitious and thought the Seventh Calvary would be defeated. Custer's favorite Native American scout Bloody Knife (what a name) mentioned to others that he knew what was going to happen to him and that he "shall not see the sun."
• The night before the battle, Lt. Charles Varnum tried to locate the Native American camp by observing smoke and fires of the village at the Crow's Nest, a prominent tree-top hill thirteen miles away from edge of the Native American encampment. Varnum's eyes were so inflamed from dust he took the scouts at their word.