Custer Survivor: The End of a Myth, the Beginning of a Legend [Paperback]

John Koster (Author), Louise Barnett (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2010

It has been recorded in official government records that there were no survivors of the five companies of the Seventh Cavalry who were with General George Armstrong Custer at the battle at the Little Big Horn. Recently, uncovered records and forensic handwriting evidence, the latter verified by forensic handwriting experts, reveal that one trooper, a sergeant in "C" Company of the Seventh Cavalry, actually escaped the onslaught of Sioux and Cheyenne. The author has tracked the man and his activity during the battle and has brought them together in Custer Survivor.Custer Survivor, through documented accounts recreates the scene from the Sioux and Cheyenne encampment the night before the battle through the action the following day, the remarkable "escape" of the wounded survivor, the aftermath of the battle and his fascinating life thereafter. Professor Louise Barnett, a fellow of the Rutgers Center for Historical Analysis, Rutgers University, writes the Introduction.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For decades, Custer's "Last Stand" at Little Big Horn has captured the American imagination. Remembered by some as the tragic result of imperialist policies and by others as a noble sacrifice for American expansion, the one thing everyone learns in school is that Custer's battle against Lakota and Cheyenne forces left no Americans alive. In this chronicle of meticulous research, handwriting analysis and document investigation, journalist Koster turns that myth on its ear: though a number of people claim to have fought at (and survived) Little Big Horn, Koster identifies the one reluctant claimant who actually did-Sergeant Frank Finkel of Company C. A carefully deconstructed historical mystery sure to thrill American history enthusiasts, Koster's narrative and methods are entirely transparent, presenting all the information and leaving readers to draw their own conclusions. Though Finkel's story isn't particularly dramatic, Koster's pursuit of the truth behind a great American myth makes for a compelling tale in itself.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Library Journal Nov.1, 2009

Over the years there have been a number of claims of survivors of Custer's battalion at the Little Bighorn in 1876, but none has held up under close scrutiny--until now. Journalist Koster (The Road to Wounded Knee) carefully reconstructs the life of Frank Finkel, second sergeant of C Company. He marshals all of the available documentary, historical, archaeological, and forensic evidence, to show that the Frank Finckel born in Ohio in 1854 was the George August Finckle who enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry in 1872, the Frank Finkel who died in Dayton, WA, in 1930, and the "long sword" whom Rain-in-the-Face reported being told escaped the battle on a runaway horse and whom he saw in Chicago in 1893. Koster also tells how Finkel's desire to enhance his status and his second wife's efforts to erase all traces of his first wife, supposedly part Cherokee, misled researchers for decades but also kept Finkel's story alive. VERDICT This well-written and carefully reasoned argument is essential reading for scholars and students of the West and will be of great interest to anyone with even a passing interest in Custer and the Little Bighorn. Highly recommended.--Stephen H. Peters, Northern Michigan Univ. Lib., Marquette

Midwest Book Review, December 12, 2009

5.0 out of 5 stars A thought-provoking addition to American history shelves,

Custer Survivor: The End of a Myth, the Beginning of a Legend dares to challenge the long-standing historical assumption that the 210 troopers under Custer's command were exterminated to the last man. Drawing up extensive research and forensic evidence, Custer Survivor reveals the untold tale of one trooper who escaped, the Second Sergeant of C Company. Following his ordeal after his escape and the successful life he pursued thereafter, Custer Survivor is a thought-provoking addition to American history shelves with a focus on intense historical scrutiny and re-examination.

Over the years there have been a number of claims of survivors of Custer's battalion at the Little Bighorn in 1876, but none has held up under close scrutiny--until now. Journalist Koster (The Road to Wounded Knee) carefully reconstructs the life of Frank Finkel, second sergeant of C Company. He marshals all of the available documentary, historical, archaeological, and forensic evidence to show that the Frank Finckel born in Ohio in 1854 was the George August Finckle who enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry in 1872, the Frank Finkel who died in Dayton, WA, in 1930, and the "long sword" whom Rain-in-the-Face reported being told escaped the battle on a runaway horse and whom he saw in Chicago in 1893. Koster also tells how Finkel's desire to enhance his status and his second wife's efforts to erase all traces of his first wife, supposedly part Cherokee, misled researchers for decades but also kept Finkel's story alive. VERDICT This well-written and carefully reasoned argument is essential reading for scholars and students of the West and will be of great interest to anyone with even a passing interest in Custer and the Little Bighorn. Highly recommended.--Stephen H. Peters, Northern Michigan Univ. Lib., Marquette

-- Library Journal, 11/1/2009

My good friend John -

Stories of "escapees" from the Little Big Horn Battlefield have been numerous over the years out here in Lakota country. This would include soldiers and scouts that slipped through the confusion of battle.

When Lakota men and women told of their own particular war stories, they would only do so in the presence of other witnesses who were also there, and could verify that what the "teller" recounted was indeed true and factual. Unfortunately, toward the end of their lives, there were fewer and fewer witnesses to corroborate their stories. When there were no more witnesses, the stories stopped. They remained in the memories of these sage warriors.

My own great-grandmother, Mary Crawler, was present and participated in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. [not massacre]. Accounts, recollections and memorabilia of her own exploits were held in common by generations of family members. Her own stories followed a similar fate…no more witnesses, no more stories. However, we were left with first hand accounts of the battle. Today, in this semantical world of words….you are a storyteller, a historian, and in fact a witness for Frank Finkel.

The arrogance of George A. Custer and others of his ilk…to believe that they could ride through Indian country and conquer all in their path….permeates to this very day. How thoughtless of him, to think that he could sneak attack a helpless camp of Lakotas….

After 33 years I am happy you have not forgotten me and I do appreciate your acknowledgement in this most excellent book….

John Eagle Shield

Fort Yates, North Dakota

(Standing Rock Sioux Reservation)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 225 pages
• Publisher: History Publishing Company, LLC; 1 edition (January 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193390903X
• ISBN-13: 978-1933909035
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Frank Finkel was a fraud, December 27, 2009

By 

Michael L. Nunnally "scout" (Memphis, TN.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Custer Survivor: The End of a Myth, the Beginning of a Legend (Paperback)

The whole contention of this book is that Frank Finkel was really Sgt. August Finckle of Company C, reportedly killed in the Custer fight on the Little Big Horn. But the problem is that Finkel only claimed to be Sgt. Finckle when the original name he gave, Frank Hall, could be found on no known rosters. But author Koster claims Finkel never used the name Frank Hall. He claims it was a lie made up by Finkel's second wife Hermie Billmeyer and offers up a plethora of bizarre reasoning to prove it. CUSTER SURVIVOR drags us through a painful array of genealogist and so called handwriting experts who verify the author's claims. But not so fast. In a 1921 interview with Finkel in the Walla Walla Bulletin, written by W.H Banfill, himself a student of the battle, Finkel said he enlisted under the name "Frank Hall" so that his parents wouldn't find out. In another version Finkel said he "rode back to Ft. Benton and was discharged." He even says so in CUSTER SURVIVOR (pg.109). The 1921 article/interview was given four years before he even met Hermie Billmeyer. So much for research. When no military papers could be found on Finkel he simply changed his story and stated, "I never had any discharge papers from the army for I was never discharged. There was none of my command left to apply to (some 24 soldiers of C Company survived the battle) and I wasn't going to chase all over the country to find some one to discharge me. As far as the army was concerned, Frank Hall was reported dead along with the rest of Custer's men and I let it go at that." That quote comes straight from Finkel himself in 1921. In another version Finkel said his discharge papers, which he said he never had, were "burned in a house fire;" He said he enlisted in Omaha and fought Arapahos "on the Mexican border;" He was transferred to the Seventh Cavalry in 1876; There are no military records anywhere which prove any of Frank Finkel's far-fetched tale. But the author has fallen under the Finkel spell and facts be damned.

Ft. Benton had been closed for over one year at the time of the 1876 battle but Finkel, like any good prize fighter, ducked and dodged any serious questions thrown at him. He made one story up to cover another. Finkel was invited by the city of Hardin, Montana, to be the honored guest at the 1921 Custer Battle Anniversary but was a no-show. His 1921 revelation was run in newspapers from Seattle to Anniston, Alabama. He successfully hoodwinked his wives, children, relatives and friends alike with the tale. According to Koster Mrs. Billmeyer spent years trying to obtain a military pension for a name she invented. This makes absolutely no sense. Finkel had the "facts" surrounding his "sole survivor" story up and running long before Mrs. Billmeyer came on the scene. Over 50 men made the same claim that Frank Finkel made. In the end Frank Finkel was just a better liar and story teller. CUSTER SURVIVOR, like the Billy Heath book and Nathan Short story, is nothing more than fiction presented as history. Save your money on this silliness and buy Roger Williams' 2009 "Military Register of Custer's Last Command" which lists every soldier connected with the 1876 Sioux Expedition. Or James Donovan's "A Terrible Glory." Both great books by serious Little Big Horn researchers.

28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Evidence?, March 27, 2010

By 

Grundy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Custer Survivor: The End of a Myth, the Beginning of a Legend (Paperback)

Let's keep this short...
The "survivor" had a different name, a different place of birth, and an eleven (eleven!!) year age difference than the guy who enlisted in 1872. But, the author tells us, he was about the right height and made his F's (in the "studied" signatures) in an old German style.
Thats the author's premise...now the rest of the book is about the battle and geneological research of the family of the guy who the author believes is the survivor.
Forget the fact the government soundly and repeatedly denies they ever heard of this "survivor" not to mention the fact the imposter himself and his zany, money-grubbing, glory-seeking second wife muddied the waters so bad with their countless lies and cover-ups that it made any chance of a serious investigation virtually impossible. According to the author, they did so because of a wave of anti-German sentiment (give me a break) and the fact that our poor "survivor" might have been deemed a deserter and Custer(Custer was already dead...or was he? Hmmmmmmmmmm)didn't treat deserters nicely.
I've got no problem with the book itself. I enjoyed reading it. Lots of fun.
My only issue is that it should be labeled fiction. PERIOD!

23 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a Lousy Book, March 18, 2010

By 

Gregory Short (Ehrenberg, Az USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Custer Survivor: The End of a Myth, the Beginning of a Legend (Paperback)

For anyone who has ever seriously studied the Battle of the Little Bighorn don't waste your time reading this book. In fact, Koster doesn't seem to know very many facts about the total engagement. What Koster fails to mention is that there were over 20 soldiers of Custer's detachment that ended up on Reno's Hill with the rest of the so-called survivors. Either through cowardice, lame horses, or a high degree of intelligence, these soldiers sensed that Custer was leading them to their death. And finally, Custer's first engagement with the Indians was at Medicine Tail Coullee by Companies E and F. Which means his boy Frank Finkael, whoever the heck he was, wasnt even a part of that fight. Seriously Ive read better researched books from the comic book stand.