I Fought with Custer

The Story of Sergeant Windolph

By: Frazier Hunt, Robert Hunt

Narrated by: Jack Sondericker

Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

Sergeant Charles Windolph was the last white survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn when he told his story nearly 70 years later. A six-year veteran in the Seventh Cavalry, Windolph rode in the 1873 Yellowstone Expedition, and the 1874 Black Hills Expedition. He fought in Captain Benteen's troops on the fatal Sunday, and vividly recalls the battle that wiped out Custer's command. Equally vivid is the evidence marshaled by historians Frazier and Robert Hunt.

©1894 Frazier & Robert Hunt (P)2003 Book in Motion

Authentic Account

If you are a Custer, military or American History addict, this should keep you happy. I greatly enjoyed the narrator's style who made me feel I was sitting down with the Old Sargeant. Listening to someone who was there at the Little Big Horn; hearing about his friends; how his regiment looked after Commanche, the horse that was the only living thing to survive on the Cavalry's side; how they found the body of Custer. So much better than the endless surveys of who said what and did what with orders and whose fault it was. Just the facts, as remembered by the reminiscences of a Medal of Honor recipient; reflections on Custer at the personal level; his love and respect for Captain Bentine; his fond memories of comrades. And that indelible integrity of an old soldier who had seen it all.

First Person Account

Sgt. Windolph was a German Immigrant who left Germany to avoid another European conflict, and ends up in the army as their were no other jobs in the US. I had recently read "The Last Stand" which was excellent and this is a great addition as Windolph was with Benteen and Reno's groups. This is a great account of those days in June, and it adds others as the interview with Windolph is only part of this book. He even goes over the period as they went to see the remains of Custers last stand as there were no immigrant survivors in Custers battle.

Added History

If you liked Nathaniel Philbrick's The last stand. This book is a perfect addition to the facts learned in Philbricks history of the battle.
A point of view from a Bentine admirer that supports a opinion from the troops that lived with the fallen soldiers.

Wonderful First-Person Account

If you could sum up I Fought with Custer in three words, what would they be?

Outstanding historical account(s)

Which character – as performed by Jack Sondericker – was your favorite?

Liked them all

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

It shows the general attitudes of their time (European towards Native Americans). Attitudes move along social/political waves throughout the minefields of time. This account illistrates very well what happens when (at times) we step on a mine and re-adjust. SGT Windolph recalls the battle AND attitudes with a chilling innocence.

Any additional comments?

Must have for anyone interested in the "Indian Wars"

Brings history to life

The audio brought recollections of the people that were there to life adding a rich texture to the history. The authors reference all material they present and tried their best to show multiple viewpoints. I liked this audio book so much I ordered a hard copy to add to my library.

There’s some good information in this book.

This is a wild story! Told from a partially first person perspective, and partially a standard historian perspective. It’s crazy to think that there was a guy who fought with Custer and then lived to see things like World War One and World War Two. He could have written a interesting autobiography about his entire life. The narrator did a great job delineating between rolls, even if he did go a little heavy on the ancient prospector voice. All in all this book is good to go, get and get to learning.

Good history narrative

Anyone with an interest in this period will enjoy this book. I liked that the man told what he saw with his own eyes. Sometimes he would relate something he had been told by others, but he would always tell us that it was only something he was told and he gave the source of that information. I also liked that at the end of each chapter the authors gave a little historical context to fill in the gaps in the old soldier’s narrative. I have read other Custer books, but am certainly not a Custer buff. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to hear this first person account of Custer’s last campaign.

Had to visit Little Big Horn after this book.

This book and "They died with Custer" were two books that pushed me to go see Little Big Horn for myself.

Excellent perspective on a historical event

The story provides a very personal point of view on the experience of Sgt Charles Windolph. The last survivor of the 7th cavalry at the Little Bighorn.

Very Entertaining and a lot of fun!!

Would you listen to I Fought with Custer again? Why?

Would I listen to it again - yes I would and I have 3 times to get the details better - I loved it

What was one of the most memorable moments of I Fought with Custer?

Understand the perspective from the Indians side of the fight and getting a first hand account from some of the survivors and Sergeant Windolph

Which scene was your favorite?

Well the last stand

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Well maybe not in one setting - but it didn't take me long to read it

Absorbing

Totally enjoyed this book, and felt as though I was there, to hear the old soliders recollection of this famous historic event was gripping. Anybody who has an interest in the wild west, or Custer will enjoy this aspect of the events.

Interesting

I have always been interested in the battle of the little big horn and looked forward to listening to this very interesting tale it is completely spoilt by the piss poor narration what on earth possessed them to get the narrator to put on silly bloody voices