More careful analyses, based on survivor accounts and later investigations, suggest the actual number was considerably lower — probably between 20 and 40 Cheyenne were killed at the Washita, including a significant number of women and children.

Among the dead were Black Kettle and his wife.

One of the controversies of the Washita engagement is what happened to other Cheyenne camps that were downstream from Black Kettle’s village.

A significant Cheyenne encampment, much larger than Black Kettle’s village, was located a short distance away.

Custer chose to withdraw rather than attack this larger force, and a separate unit of the Seventh Cavalry under Major Joel Elliott — who had pursued escaping Cheyenne downstream — was surrounded and killed by warriors from the other camps.

Custer’s decision to withdraw without attempting to rescue Elliott and his men generated enormous controversy within the military.