Who saw Custer last?
SO EXACTLY when was Custer last seen alive? According to the eye-witness record, the last five men who saw Custer alive — and survived to tell about it — all encountered him just before the beginning of the Custer fight. These were the three men who carried Custer’s last orders, a Seventh Cavalry straggler and a Crow scout. Here are their final encounters with Custer, in chronological order, from first to last: Fred Goldin — carried an unknown message penned by the regimental adjutant, Lt. W.W. Cooke, from Custer to Reno. Goldin left Custer’s command before Custer and his men started their charge down Medicine Tail Coulee. Custer had just ridden with a couple men to the edge of the bluff and grandly waved his hat. Returning to his troops, Custer told one of his lieutenants, “Keogh, those Indians are running. If we can keep them at it we can afford to sacrifice half the horses in the command.” Custer’s men and horses were exhausted from riding all night. Custer had not seen the huge
