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Post by stumblingbear on Nov 10, 2012 19:33:25 GMT -5
You have to be very careful about everything you read. I have heard that saying over and over again since I was a child. Guess what? it's very true! Benteen was duped into believing he was corresponding with a veteran of the Indian wars and so he was happy to share experiences with an old body.
"I had known General Custer, " Mr. Goldin said said, "from the time I joined the regiment in 1873 up to the time of his tragic death."
The birth date of Mr. Goldin was July 29, 1855. The date of his enlistment was April 8. 1876.
Mr. Goldin told several stories that conflicted each other.
I believe that the antics of Goldin are just a small part of the many incorrect tales of the Big horn battle
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Post by tbw on Nov 11, 2012 7:06:39 GMT -5
You have to be very careful about everything you read. I have heard that saying over and over again since I was a child. Guess what? it's very true! Benteen was duped into believing he was corresponding with a veteran of the Indian wars and so he was happy to share experiences with an old body. "I had known General Custer, " Mr. Goldin said said, "from the time I joined the regiment in 1873 up to the time of his tragic death." The birth date of Mr. Goldin was July 29, 1855. The date of his enlistment was April 8. 1876. Mr. Goldin told several stories that conflicted each other. I believe that the antics of Goldin are just a small part of the many incorrect tales of the Big horn battle Goldin is a study thats for sure. And quite a few people just don't believe a word of what he said because of all the shenanigans he pulled. His real name being just one of a miriad, John Stillwell. And of course one of the most important being whether or not he took a message back to Reno from Custer. But one of the most overriding questions and one usually what seals the deal against him is just what SB said about his birth and what he said to Benteen that inferred something different. All in all he was still keeping up appearances, and I don't think anyone really would have looked that close or even cared he'd been caught with his pants down on his age at enlistment, after all, he really was there with Custer, with Benteen and with Reno on that LBH campaign and served those days and even more important, lived to tell about it, that in and of itself was enough to reminisce about. Its just like those who did it in WWII and actually did complete their enlistments without being caught. Many of them served with distinction, lived to tell about it, and just as many were equally glad that person had enlisted absent their age for saving their life. Maybe thats what Benteen saw in Goldin, and who really knows for sure, maybe thats all it took regardless of enlistment dates. |
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Post by joewiggs on Nov 11, 2012 15:28:12 GMT -5
Just to add another tidbit. Approximately 20 years after the fact, Goldin was awarded a Medal of honor for his actions at the Little Big Horn. These actions (water carrier) were not verified by actual witnesses. Goldin received the award only after becoming a member of a prestigious political group with a great deal of pull.
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Post by whitebull on Nov 11, 2012 18:48:48 GMT -5
"The official record shows Theodore W. Goldin enlisted April 8, 1876; was assigned to Troop G. 7th U. S. cavalry.
This record is interesting, in view of the many and varied parts alleged by Mr. Goldin to have been played by him at the Little Big Horn, and his claims to intimacy with various officers of the regiment. a simple computation will disclose that on the day of the battle, he was a very raw and green recruit, less than 18 years of age...As he enlisted April 8, 1876, what then becomes of his statement to Dr. Brady that "I have known General Custer from the time I joined the regiment in 1873 up to the time of his tragic death."
Shame on you Mr. Goldin!
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Post by tbw on Nov 22, 2012 22:18:31 GMT -5
"The official record shows Theodore W. Goldin enlisted April 8, 1876; was assigned to Troop G. 7th U. S. cavalry. This record is interesting, in view of the many and varied parts alleged by Mr. Goldin to have been played by him at the Little Big Horn, and his claims to intimacy with various officers of the regiment. a simple computation will disclose that on the day of the battle, he was a very raw and green recruit, less than 18 years of age...As he enlisted April 8, 1876, what then becomes of his statement to Dr. Brady that "I have known General Custer from the time I joined the regiment in 1873 up to the time of his tragic death." Shame on you Mr. Goldin! His real Name was John Stillwell. And I have heard of similar stories during the Civil war, but... Was it possible that Mr. Goldin had enlisted under another assumed name in 1873? |
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