Teribus and Stilly, for the THIRD time (she said gently), NOBODY gives any credence to the figure of 20,000. What Teribus said about Benteen is right on the mark.

There is an excellent article on the Little Bighorn in the current (June 2006) issue of "American History" magazine--the cover story, in fact. That article says 7,000, with about 2,000 warriors. Captain Myles Moylan, who was with Reno,said there were about 3,600 warriors--obviously a very different view of the same scene Benteen saw. That would have meant a village of maybe 7,000. That's what I mean when I say there are wild descrepancies in survivor testimony.

So the only solution is to read everything you can get hold of, and then pick a number you like.

The winter camps were not a static place, they were wherever each band decided to set up camp for the winter--usually a protected location, the Black Hills being popular. When their food stores were destroyed, it was along with their tipis and everything else they owned, the result of an attack. They were really screwed because hunting was immensely difficult, if not impossible, in the winter. That's why they were gathered at the Little Bighorn for the SUMMER buffalo hunt.I really suugest some general reading on the lifestyle and culture of the Lakota. I don't have anything off the top of my head, but I can look up and post some references, if you like.