It was a spiritual reality, the frame within which the events of June 25 were understood as they unfolded.

When the soldiers came and the warriors rode out to meet them, they were not simply defending a camp.

They were living out the vision — receiving the gift that Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka had promised.

This spiritual dimension of the battle is essential for understanding why the Lakota and Cheyenne fought with the confidence and organization they displayed.

They were not surprised defenders mounting a desperate resistance.

They were a prepared people fulfilling a sacred promise.