Theodore W. Golden, a former soldier of the Seventh Cavalry, carried a rare distinction. He was among the last men to see General George Armstrong Custer alive. In 1904, Golden recorded his memories in a letter, one of the most valuable first-hand accounts of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Golden wrote that although many years had passed since the battle, he hoped his recollections would still offer insight into Custer’s final campaign. He had known Custer from the moment he joined the regiment in 1873 and served with him on nearly every campaign until his death. In the spring of 1876, the army organized a major expedition against the Sioux made up of three separate columns. Golden’s battalion was ordered to march from Louisiana to Fort Lincoln in Dakota territory.
Custer rejoined the regiment only days before departure, having just testified before a congressional inquiry in Washington. The regiment moved west to the Yellowstone River near the mouth of the Powder River, where wagons were left behind and a supply camp established. Major Marcus Reno had already been sent ahead on reconnaissance. On June 17th, the regiment reached the mouth of the Tongue River.
The same day, General Crook fought a fierce battle with the Sioux on the Rosebud. When Reno finally rejoined the column, Golden noticed a change in Custer. He seemed tense and withdrawn, unlike his usual confident self. But once Reno reported finding a major Indian trail, Custer’s energy returned.
He quickly put the regiment in motion toward the Rosebud, intent on closing with the enemy. The command soon met Generals Terry and Gibbon, who were coordinating the larger campaign. During a council of war on June 21st, Custer was offered additional cavalry and artillery. He declined both, confident in his men and concerned that artillery would slow his advance.
Many officers believed Custer wanted an independent command as he had enjoyed earlier in his career. On June 22nd, the Seventh Cavalry set out alone on Reno’s trail. From that point forward, the march was fast and relentless. No effort was made to scout widely or contact Gibbon despite having scouts assigned for that purpose.
By June 24th, the regiment left the main trail and prepared for a night march intended to surprise the Indians. According to the scouts, the trail suggested a force of roughly 1,000 to 1,200 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Shortly before dawn on June 25th, the scouts reported that they had located the Indian village in the Little Bighorn Valley. Custer initially doubted them until word came that Indians had discovered a lost supply box, confirming that the regiment had been spotted.
Custer immediately ordered an advance. As the command prepared to move, Crow interpreter Mitch Bouyer warned Custer that the village was far larger than expected. Custer dismissed the warning. Golden was then assigned as an orderly and ordered to ride with Lieutenant William Cooke.
The regiment was soon divided. Major Reno would attack down the valley. Captain Benteen would scout to the left, and Custer with five companies moved to the right. Captain McDougall followed with the pack train.
From the ridges above the valley, Golden saw Reno’s column advancing rapidly and Benteen far to the left. Custer grew increasingly impatient, galloping ahead and urging speed. A massive dust cloud rose from the valley below. Custer believed the Indians were fleeing and declared that victory was near.
Bugles sounded the charge. The terrain made it difficult to descend into the valley. After several failed attempts, Lieutenant Cooke wrote a message and handed it to Golden, ordering him to deliver it to Major Reno and remain with him until the commands reunited. Golden rode alone through enemy territory and reached Reno just as his men were dismounting to fight on foot.
He delivered the message, though he did not know its contents. Reno’s attack quickly collapsed. Indian forces poured in from all sides, forcing Reno to retreat into the timber along the river. From there, under heavy fire, the command attempted a chaotic withdrawal across the Little Bighorn.
Golden was thrown from his horse during the retreat and narrowly escaped death by hiding in the timber. From his position, he witnessed acts of remarkable bravery, including the fatal wounding of Lieutenant Hodgson, who continued fighting until he was killed at the riverbank. As Reno’s survivors escaped to the bluffs, most of the Indians suddenly rushed downriver toward the sound of heavy firing. Golden believed they were engaging Custer.
Using smoke from burning grass as cover, Golden and several others crossed the river and rejoined Reno’s command. By then, Captain Benteen’s battalion had arrived, but there was no word from Custer. Captain Thomas Weir attempted to advance toward the distant gunfire, but overwhelming Indian numbers forced his command back. The survivors regrouped on the bluffs and hastily constructed defensive positions using sagebrush in shallow trenches.
The fighting continued through the night and into the next day. Water was desperately needed, and volunteers risked their lives to retrieve it from the river. Several men were wounded during these attempts. Late in the afternoon, the Indians suddenly broke camp and withdrew up the valley.
The next day, Generals Terry and Gibbon arrived with reinforcements and confirmation of Custer’s destruction. On June 28th, Golden and the survivors crossed the river to bury the dead of Custer’s command. Nearly everybody had been mutilated except for General Custer himself. In reflecting on the disaster, Golden believed three main factors led to the defeat: the division of the regiment without reliable intelligence, Custer’s premature attack nearly a day ahead of schedule, and the loss of horses and ammunition during the fighting.
Golden concluded that Custer was a man of undeniable bravery, but dangerously inclined to take great risks. He believed Custer may have been driven by a desire to redeem his reputation following public criticism from political leaders. Whatever his motives, Golden acknowledged that Custer fought bravely and died alongside the men who had followed him through years of hard campaigning.