Fred Goldin's Story of the Battle, #3
An American survivor's account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn

THE STORY OF FRED GOLDIN

"JUST BEFORE we left the Rosebud and on June 21, 1876 I was called to headquarters to assist the Sergeant-major in preparing various orders and in compiling our records for the field desk we carried on a pack mule and when we left the Rosebud the following day I was, by order of Lieut. Cook, regimental Adjutant, retained at headquarters as an orderly or messenger and when the command was divided on June 25th, while still some fifteen miles from the village of the enemy and so far as I have ever been able to learn, without any definite knowledge as to the exact location or strength of the village. I remained with the column under Gen. Custer until we reached a point possibly a mile downstream from the point where we knew Reno was already engaged with the upper end of the huge village. In the meantime Gen. Custer had left his column and ridden to a point out of our sight, but which evidently overlooked the scene of Reno's engagement. I state this because we later learned that men in Reno's command saw and recognized him on the bluffs. In the meantime the rest of his command had continued down the stream but hidden from the Indians by a high ridge paralleling the course of the bluffs above the river. When about a mile below Reno's position we slowed down to a walk and it was at this point that Custer rejoined us and a few moments later I was given a message to deliver to Major Reno. What the message contained I do not know, but my orders were to get it to Reno at once, remain with him until the two columns effected a junction when I was to report to Lieut. Cook. On my trip back I saw no Indians nor could I see the valley or the village because of the ridge until I sought a place to descend to the river and cross it to reach Reno, then I could plainly see the immense village and Reno's little squadron fighting in the bottoms apparently against heavy odds. While making the descent of the bluffs and fording the river a number of bullets whistled entirely too close for comfort about my ears, whether aimed at me, or whether they were shots fired high by the Indians I do not know. I do know I was a mite uncomfortable for a few minutes. I reached Reno just about the time his Indian allies on the extreme left of his slender line broke and ran, some of them it was reported not stopping until they reached the supply camp on the Powder River, others not until they reached their reservation at Fort Berthold. I delivered my message, Reno glanced at it, asked where I left Custer and what he was doing, folded the message, put it in his note book and turned to watch the movement of the left of his line, which seemed to be forced back into the timber. When I reached Reno the only officers near him were Captain Moylan of "A" Troop and Lieut. Hodgson, Squadron adjutant, killed a short time later..."

The Custer Myth: A Source Book of Custerania, written and compiled by Colonel W.A. Graham, The Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, PA 1953, p 275

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