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Captain Outwater
Recruit
USA
Status: offline |
 Posted - August 01 2007 : 2:40:05 PM
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There was a month or two ago an article in Military Hisotry magazine that presents the interesting idea that one of Custer's men escaped, wounded, on horseback and lived a long life.
I would like to see an independent investigation into what was in the article.
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Your humble servant,
Captain John Outwater |
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joseph wiggs
Brigadier General
Status: offline |
Posted - August 01 2007 : 7:38:00 PM
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Hi Captain, welcome to the forum. There have been many stories suggesting that various survivors of the battle managed to escape. I imagine that anything is possible but, probability is another story. Under the circumstances of this battle, it is highly doubtful that anyone escaped.
I have read that one soldier, Nathan Short, may have gotten some distance from the battlefield before he scummed to injuries received at the battle. I will do some further research and see if I can come up with further information regarding the possibility of survivors. Who knows, anything is possible! |
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Brent
Lt. Colonel
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - August 05 2007 : 11:36:52 AM
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Those "escaped men" stories have been around since the LBH--none ever confirmed or verified.
But I'd like to read the article--. |
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joseph wiggs
Brigadier General
Status: offline |
Posted - August 05 2007 : 1:35:37 PM
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If only I had a buck in my bank account for every escapee that got away from the BH battle. the warriors spoke of two or three troopers who literal almost got away but, didn't make it.
Ironically, there may have been an opportunity for escape. While Reno confined to his location, "L" troop in skirmish on Calhoun hill, and Custer's unit on Cemetery ridge, a lone figure traveled east away from the field:Curley. Curley never stated that anyone else left with him but, the fact that the avenue of escaped existed for one individual proves it could have been utilized by others.
I do recall a story where the possibility of a genuine escape did occur. I will research and report back to you and Brent. |
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joseph wiggs
Brigadier General
Status: offline |
Posted - August 05 2007 : 6:54:18 PM
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Captain, I think I found something regarding a possible escapee!
Now this is old so I don't know if the address is the same:http://www.garryowen.com/survive.htm
the site address a Mr. Frank Finkel who insisted he was a member of company "C" when his horse bolted when the left flank of company "C" was attacked by the Indians. |
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Brent
Lt. Colonel
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - August 06 2007 : 07:58:14 AM
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Thanks for that link, Joe.
Interesting--but stretching things a bit and no real "proof".
Which leads me to wonder that IF anyone did escape the Custer battlefield, why didn't they make the claim much earlier--when some verification might have been possible. Think of it-- a genuine survivor. Would have been interesting witness at the Reno inquiry. And the publicity!! He could have led parades, spoken at reunions, been the object of newspaper and magazine articles.
But no one came forth and I think the reason is that there WAS no one to come forth... |
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prolar
Major
Status: offline |
Posted - August 06 2007 : 11:32:21 AM
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| The June issue of True West magazine has a survivor article. As written, the article is convincing. I don't know how much close examination it would stand. According to it Frank Finkel was the August Finckle who enlisted in 1872. The handwriting of the two looks identical in the two signatures shown. He made no mention of being a survivor until 1920, because he thought he might be considered a deserter. He used a false name and birthplace when enlisting, because joing the Army was not quite respectable at the time. The escape details are pretty much as stated in Joe's article. The Frank Hall mix up came from Finkel's second wife after his death.He never tried to captilize on the story during his lifetime. |
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Brent
Lt. Colonel
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - August 06 2007 : 12:32:11 PM
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Hmm--I'm still not convinced.
Odd though that he thought he would be considered a "deserter" after what happened to him personally, and what happened to the Regiment. I'd think he was awfully lucky--.
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joseph wiggs
Brigadier General
Status: offline |
Posted - August 06 2007 : 7:07:26 PM
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Brent, Prolar:
I would never attempt to argue the validity or non-validity of the article simple because evidence, while there, is scant. However, let me throw a very "human" aspect into this mix of probabilities.
Immediately after the battle, there was a public hue and cry for the extermination of every "Injun" on the continent. Volunteers from the ages of eight to eighty fell over themselves to "avenge" the martydom of the "cavalier in Buckskin".
Amid all this clamor and din, a snook stands up and meekly says, " I was at the battle but, I decided to exit stage left." Bring out the tar and feathers if you please.
We know of two soldiers whose mounts dropped out from Custer's command (Thompson being one of them) who found theirs way to Reno Hill. What if Frank/August Finagle decided that Reno's Hill was still a scad to close to the festivities and decided place a greater distance between himself and the Indians then Reno Hill.
As for me, I believe the story because its crazy enough to be true. Not attempting to capitalize on the story smacks, regardless of the circumstances, of truth. Why, because greed and notoriety are powerful aphrodisiacs which are seldom stifled except by fear!
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prolar
Major
Status: offline |
Posted - August 06 2007 : 10:18:27 PM
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| I'm not argueing for the validity of the article either, just trying to sum it up for those interested. As I said, I have no idea how truthful the article is. As survivor stories go this seems to the most credible. |
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Brent
Lt. Colonel
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - August 07 2007 : 05:33:33 AM
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I guess what bothers me is that this story surfaced in 1920--87 years ago. Yet nowhere does it appear in any of the "legitimate" Custer books I've read. Seems to me that if it had any validity at all, some LBH historian would have jumped all over it.
AS I said earlier--the claim came far too late for any serious attempt to verify it.
You guys have convinced me tho that someone may well indeed have not wanted any publicity for escaping the battle.
Were it me tho, I'd probably be bragging how I fought my way out---!! |
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joseph wiggs
Brigadier General
Status: offline |
Posted - August 08 2007 : 9:01:31 PM
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| Brent, you think as I do. Were it me, regardless of the actual circumstances, I would have chosen an opportunity to "crow." The problem is that the contemporaneous individuals of "yesterday" may have have tarred and feather me. |
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Topic |
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Escaped man from Custer's troops
