Through bullets, spent cartridges, and other material data, Fox identifies combat positions and tracks soldiers and Indians across the Battlefield. Guided by the history beneath our feet, and listening to the previously ignored Indian testimonies, Fox reveals scenes of panic and collapse and, ultimately, a story of the Custer battle quite different from the fatalistic versions of history. According to the author, the five companies of the Seventh Cavalry entered the fray in good order, following planned strategies and displaying tactical stability. It was the sudden disintegration of this cohesion that caused the troopers' defeat. The end came quickly, unexpectedly, and largely amid terror and disarray.
Archaeological evidences show that there was no determined fighting and little firearm resistance.
The last soldiers to be killed had rushed from Custer Hill. The battle is the centerpiece of Fox's book, but archaeology is the showcase. Through the Custer battle, Fox shows that archaeology represents a different way of knowing about the past, independent of history. The disciplines of history and archaeology are complementary approaches to the past, equal partners in historical investigations. Wherever a past event has left physical traces, such as at the Custer battlefield, the full history of that event cannot be told until the material remains are considered.