The Battle of the Little Bighorn is a tragic military battle in which a commander's overconfidence, refusal to listen to advisors, and lack of foresight led to the sacrifice of over 265 Soldiers. Many leaders within the regiment and soldiers under LTC Custer were unconvinced of his leadership and often doubted his decision-making abilities. Yet, despite a brazen outburst that saw him temporarily removed as regimental commander by President Grant, LTC Custer advanced to command the regiment and ultimately met his demise at the Battle of Little Big Horn. LTC Custer routinely displayed a careless disregard for the operational process and his recklessness led to his downfall. Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer was assigned to the 7th Calvary Regiment directly under regimental commander Colonel Samuel Sturgis. During his assignment, LTC Custer temporarily served as regimental commander, reporting directly to Brigadier General Alfred Terry. BG Terry gave him all orders and battle plans. LTC Custer developed a great knowledge of battles and attacks through various long campaigns during the Civil War. He used that knowledge in an attempt to replicate that success in the Little Big Horn campaign. Throughout the decade he operated in the Plains states and territories, achieving a major victory at the Battle of Washita. The Washita battle helped inflate LTC Custer's already inflated ego. Despite the significant amount of controversy caused by the abandonment of 17 soldiers and the loss of his executive officer, high-ranking leaders perceived LTC Custer as a commander with a wealth of knowledge regarding the conflict with Native Americans. On June 21, 1876, LTC Custer... middle of paper... Graham, WA. The story of Little Big Horn Custer's last fight. 1926. Reprint, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 1994.2. Hutton, Paul. “Could Custer have won?” http://www.historynet.com/could-custer-have-won.htm (accessed July 10, 2014).3. Neumann, Jonathan T.. Military Decision Making and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. 2001. Reprint, foot. Belvoir: Defense Technical Information Centre, 4.2014. Panzeri, Peter F.. Little Big Horn 1876: Custer's Last Stand. 1995. Reprint, London: Osprey, 1999.5. Sandoz, Mari. The Battle of the Little Big Horn. Lincoln [Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 1966.6. American Army. ADP 1-0: The Army (Washington DC: HQ, Department of the Army, 2012)7. Wild West Magazine. "Custer's last stand still stands." . http://www.historynet.com/custers-last-stand-still-stands-up.htm (accessed July 10, 2014).