By 1876, the U.S. government was desperate for a victory to justify its ongoing war against the Lakota and Cheyenne. Custer, seeking to reclaim the prestige he felt he was losing, led the 7th Cavalry into the Montana Territory. Throughout the march, he ignored warnings from his scouts regarding the massive size of the enemy camp. He was convinced that the tribes would scatter upon his arrival. Driven by the fear that the glory of the campaign would be stolen by other commanders, he pushed his men hard, arriving at the Little Bighorn with a singular focus on an immediate, decisive strike.