 He had lived in Indian country for 31 years at the time and had been involved in several battles.About dawn on the morning of June 25, 1876, Gerard accompanied Custer and the scouts to a high bluff known as the "Crow's Nest" to view the Little Bighorn River valley below.The scouts could see dust kicked up by an immense pony herd, and claimed to see hundreds of lodges, indicating the presence of thousands of Indians.