In the annals of American history, few events have captivated the imagination like the Battle of Little Bighorn, where the legendary General George Custer met his fate. But amidst the tales of heroism and tragedy, one man's story has long been shrouded in mystery. Meet Frank Finkel, a soldier who claimed to have cheated death and escaped the carnage. For decades, his account has been disputed and debated, but new evidence and research have shed new light on this extraordinary tale.
Between the years 1876 and the late 1920s, a plethora of individuals, approximately 70 in number, professed to be the sole survivors of the Battle of Little Bighorn. These gentlemen regaled journalists and historians with tales of their supposed exploits, which generally fell into three categories: disguising oneself as an Indian by donning blankets, concealing oneself within a hollowed-out horse or buffalo, or being rescued by a chief's daughter who found them endearing. However, one individual's account stood out for its veracity. Frank Finkel, purportedly the sole survivor of General George Armstrong Custer's ill-fated last stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876, gained prominence in his later years and posthumously. Historians continue to debate the accuracy of Finkel's claim, despite his provision of details only a genuine participant could have known. Inconsistencies, however, mar his accounts of the events. Born in January 1854, in Washington County, Ohio, Frank Finkel was the third offspring of German immigrants Peter and Magdalena Finkel. According to the 1860 U.S. Census, the family's farm, valued at $500, was average for the time and place. The census taker recorded their name as Finkel, thus completing the transition from the Germanic Finkel to the Americanized Finkel throughout Frank's lengthy life. Peter and Magdalena Finkel had six sons and one daughter. Despite speaking German at home and attending public schools, Frank Finkel became bilingual and an accomplished English reader. Following Peter Finkel's demise in 1868, some of the older sons, including Frank, left the farm, which was too small to sustain six men, to seek employment elsewhere. In January 1872, Frank Finkel, down on his luck in Chicago, did what many young men did when they were too proud to beg and too imprudent to steal – he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Joining the Army in 1872 was often viewed as an admission of economic failure for native-born Americans like Frank. Many young men signed up under assumed names, but Frank went a step further, adopting a name that could potentially garner him prestige and promotions. He further Germanized his name to August Finkel, claiming Berlin, Prussia, as his birthplace, and listing his occupation as a clerk.
————————————————————————————————————————————————
More Videos To Enjoy In One Sitting 🌴
🦅 Native American History
[ Ссылка ]
💪 Native American Survival Skills
[ Ссылка ]
👩🏽 Native American Women History
[ Ссылка ]
⛩️ Asian American Women History
[ Ссылка ]
💀 Dark History
[ Ссылка ]
🀄️ Asian Medieval History
[ Ссылка ]
🎩 Old West
[ Ссылка ]
Thank you for tuning in to our videos! Your ongoing support means the world to us, and we deeply appreciate each and every one of you ❤️
Don’t click this 👉🏻 [ Ссылка ]
————————————————————————————————————————————————
All materials in these videos are used for educational purposes and fall within the guidelines of fair use. No copyright infringement is intended. If you are or represent the copyright owner of materials used in this video and have a problem with the use of said material, please contact me via my email in the "about" page on my channel.
————————————————————————————————————————————————
#oldwest #custer #untoldhistory
