Forgotten Barber, Unforgettable Battle

Forgotten Barber, Unforgettable Battle: A South Dakota Veteran’s Lifelong Quest to Understand Little Bighorn

An article was published in the November 9, 1936 issue of the Rapid City Journal, detailing the research of Mr. Agner Mosier into the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

In the quiet halls of the South Dakota State Soldiers’ Home in Hot Springs, an aging veteran found purpose in the pages of history. Agner Mosier, a former barber from Rapid City and a U.S. Cavalryman with the famed Seventh Regiment from 1880 to 1885, spent his later years piecing together one of America’s most mythologized conflicts: the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Mosier didn’t just study the battle—he walked the land, retraced the movements, and spoke with fellow cavalrymen who had lived through that fateful June day in 1876. His deep dive into the terrain where Custer made his last stand wasn’t for glory or fame. Instead, it was a soldier’s search for understanding—of tactics, survival, and perhaps of the men who fought and fell.

Through his fieldwork and his interviews—particularly with Capt. Frank M. Gibson and Major Marcus A. Reno’s associates—Mosier built a compelling narrative. He dispelled common myths, questioned official accounts, and brought renewed attention to stories that might otherwise have been forgotten. One such figure was Daniel Newell, a survivor of the battle whose firsthand account, published in Sunshine Magazine in the 1930s, deeply influenced Mosier’s understanding.

What sets Mosier apart is how his research leaned into human experience rather than heroic legend. He examined where Reno made his stand, how Indian scouts anticipated Custer’s movements, and why the Gatling guns were left behind. Mosier understood that the battle was less about romanticized bravery and more about preparation, decision-making, and an underestimation of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho forces.

His conclusion? The U.S. command’s failure wasn’t simply a matter of being outnumbered. It was strategic error, poor coordination, and a tragic underestimation of the resistance they would face.

The article also paints a vivid picture of Mosier’s humility. Despite being a veteran himself, he doesn't seek the spotlight. Instead, he positions himself as a student of history, learning from those who were there. His work reminds us that history isn't just the domain of scholars in ivory towers—it’s often preserved by ordinary people with extraordinary curiosity.

As we revisit stories like Mosier’s, we’re reminded that the past is not a static collection of dates and names. It is alive in memory, in retelling, and in the quiet diligence of a retired barber with a soldier’s eye and a historian’s heart.

I apologize for the article preview below. If you click on the image, and then right click to save, it will download a copy to your computer which can then be enlarged and read easily.

Rapid City Journal; November 9, 1936

Daniel Newell Page

Charles Windolph Page

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1926 - 50th Anniversary of Little Big Horn Battle Video Footage

The 50th anniversary of the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1926, was one of the largest. There were still battle veterans from both sides who were alive and attended the event. Troopers who attended the celebration included Daniel Newell, John Burri, Peter Thompson, and Charles Windolph. The anniversary was also attended by Edward S. Godfrey, the former first lieutenant who was in charge of Company K at the battle.

YouTube has lots of historical content, including the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The below footage is only 1:07 but is well worth a watch or two. Godfrey appears in the video and that fact alone makes it a must watch. Godfrey is in all the Little Big Horn books and accounts. Yet, here he is walking and moving around in a video. It just goes to prove that in the grand scheme of things, the Old West wasn't all that long ago. 

As I type this, I'm also organizing, planning, and packing to head out to Montana in a couple days for the 149th anniversary of the battle. If you happen to see me running around, don't be shy, say hello. I enjoy connecting with other crazy people who share an interest in Great Plains history.

Daniel Newell at the 50th Anniversary of the Little Big Horn Battle

Re-Enact Famous Custer Struggle

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Annie and Josephine Windolph

 In 1890, Trooper Charles Windolph and his wife, Mathilda, lost two daughters to diphtheria.

Diphtheria is an acute bacterial infection spread by personal contact and it was the most feared of all childhood diseases. Symptoms ranged from severe sore throat to suffocation due to a ‘false membrane’ covering the larynx. The disease primarily affected children under the age of 5. Until treatment became widely available in the 1920s, the public viewed this disease as a death sentence.*

The Windolph's daughter, Anna, passed away on June 20, 1890.

Black Hills Daily Times, Deadwood, SD, June 21, 1890

Two days later, on Sunday, June 22, 1890, Josephine Windolph, the older of the two sisters, passed away at the Homestake Hospital in Lead.

Daily Deadwood Pioneer-TImes, Deadwood, SD, June 23, 1890

Charles Windolph was well known around the Black Hills area. He participated in the 1874 Black Hills Expedition with Custer and two years later in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878, for his part as a member of the sharpshooters who were protecting the water carriers during the Little Bighorn battle in 1876. The Medal of Honor citation read, “With three comrades, during the entire engagement, courageously held a position that secured water for the command.” He was wounded in the buttock during the hilltop fight on June 25 and returned to duty. He was later awarded the Purple Heart for this wound. He was discharged on March 21, 1883, at Fort Meade, Dakota, as the First Sergeant of Company H. After his discharge he was employed by the Homestake Mining Company for 49 years. He married Mathilda L. Windolph in 1880. Mathilda died on March 23, 1924 and Charles followed her 26 years later, on March 11, 1950. Both are buried in the Black Hills National Cemetery.

On Thursday, June 26, 1890, the following appeared in the Sturgis Advertiser.

Sturgis Advertiser, Sturgis, SD, June 26, 1890

Although still tragic, the Sturgis Advertiser understated the incident. The Windolph family lost both their children in two days. Annie and Josephine Windolph are both buried in South Lead Cemetery in Lead, South Dakota, with their paternal grandparents, Joseph and Adolphine.

Following the deaths of her children, Mathilda spend some with her sister on a ranch in the Black Hills. This snippet appeared in the July 1 Daily Deadwood-Pioneer.

Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times, Deadwood, SD, July 1, 1890

Charles and Mathilda would go on to have three more children: Marie (1892-1972), Robert (1894-1976), and Irene (1898-1993).

* Dittrick Medical History Center https://artsci.case.edu/dittrick/2014/04/29/deadly-diphtheria-the-childrens-plague/

CHARLES WINDOLPH PAGE

Old Lead Soldier Still Defies Death

Charles Windolph was the last surviving trooper that actually participated in the Battle of the Little Big Horn.  He was born on December 9, 1851 and lived into the mid-20th century, passing away on March 11, 1950. 

Windolph was very proud of the time he spent in the 7th U.S. Cavalry. He was awarded a Medal of Honor and later a Purple Heart for his actions there. He was a member of Company H and was a "Benteen man" through and through. He related variations of the following story several times during his post-cavalry days:

The Indian rifle fire had resumed and happened to be particularly fierce at the time. Benteen told the prone Private to stand up. Young Windolph hesitated, since two of his H Company comrades, Julien Jones and Thomas Meador, had only recently been killed beside him. He asked his Captain if it was really necessary that he stand. “On your feet,” ordered Benteen. Windolph obeyed. “Look at all those Indians," Benteen said. "If you ever get out of here alive, you will be able to write and tell the Old Folks in Germany how many Indians we had to fight today." -- A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn, The Last Great Battle of the American West; Little, Brown and Company, New York, NY, 2008; by James Donovan

The following article in from the Rapid City Journal, December 18, 1949 (click image to expand):

CHARLES WINDOLPH PAGE

Charles Windolph Obituary Added

Charles Windolph was one of the better known enlisted men in the 7th Cavalry. There are a few reasons for this...

First, he was only a handful of troopers to have a book published of his exploits. I FOUGHT WITH CUSTER has become to be considered a first rate primary account of life in Custer's outfit as well as giving glimpses into the Little Big Horn mystery.

Second, Windolph performed well during the battle. He was selected as one of the sharpshooters assigned to protect the water carriers during their trips to the river and back. The sharpshooters stood exposed to Indian snipers while providing a cover fire for their comrades.

Third, Windolph was one of the last living survivors of the fight. He lived well into the 20th century, dying in Lead, South Dakota, on March 11, 1950. He was therefore the subject of many articles and even appeared in a radio interview. Unlike most of his fellow troopers, there are many newspaper and magazine articles dealing with Windolph. A typical trooper was lucky to have one photo taken of himself during his lifetime. Windolph lived into the age of general public photography.

Today I have added another obituary for Windolph. This one is from the March 12, 1950 edition of The Sunday Star from Washington, DC.

Windolph Obituary - The Sunday Star - Washington, DC - March 12, 1950

CHARLES WINDOLPH PAGE

Good Day Sunshine

I've been interested in Custer, the Battle of the Little Big Horn, and Plains history for quite some time. In 2007, I started collecting information on the troopers who are buried in my home state of South Dakota. There are actually quite a few, including a couple of the more "big names" among enlisted men - Peter Thompson and Charles Windolph. But as I started to pickup tidbits on these guys I realized they all had an interesting story, regardless of their so-called fame.

Every time I read a book I keep a small notepad close by to jot down any notes pertaining to the 7th Cavalry troopers buried in South Dakota. I keep individual files on each trooper and all the information I find goes into these files. I live in Pierre, the state capital of South Dakota, and home to the SD State Archives. I scratch through the old newspapers on microfilm and their other files looking for mentions of these men. I have collected photos, obituaries, news stories, etc. I'm always on the prowl for new information.

Early on in my research I heard about a magazine that contained articles in which I knew I would be interested - Sunshine Magazine, published in Sioux Falls, Issues of this magazine from back in the 1930's contained articles about Daniel Newell, Charles Windolph, and others. I had to find these magazines. I searched flea markets, Ebay, and other websites, trying to find this elusive treasure. No luck. No one I talked to had even heard of it. I was about to give up.

Then I found something. I saw mention that Custer historian John M. Carroll had collected these articles and published them in pamphlet form. They were published under the title, THE SUNSHINE MAGAZINE ARTICLES, in 1979. OK, now I was more optimistic about my chances of finding these articles.

In 2009, my buddies and I (we call ourselves MONTANA MAYHEM), were in Billings, MT, for the conference of the Little Big Horn Associates. One of the highlights of these conferences in a book room. If you're a history nut, you'll be in heaven hunting through all the books available. While there one of my buddies, Michael Olson, said, "Hey Scott, aren't you looking for this?" I looked over and he was holding a copy of THE SUNSHINE MAGAZINE ARTICLES pamphlet. I rushed over and bought it immediately. The search was over!

It wasn't anything special as far as production value went. It certainly wasn't much to look at. It looked simply like a mimeographed booklet. It was however, signed and numbered (#22 of 100) by Mr. Carroll. I was thrilled. Twenty-nine pages including the introduction and signature pages.

The articles that are of interest to me are under the main title, BULLETS, BOOTS, AND SADDLES. John P. Everett, of Sturgis, South Dakota, personally interviewed some of the participants of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Two of the included articles were the reason I searched so long for this publication.

After the introduction, there is THE STORY OF THE BIG HORN CAMPAIGN OF 1876 by Private Daniel Newell. Newell is one of the troopers who is included on this website and he gives a great account. His narrative includes mentions of the 1874 Black Hills Expedition, the trip from Fort Lincoln to the Little Big Horn, the death of his "bunkie," and the battle's aftermath. He is buried in Bear Butte Cemetery at Sturgis, SD.

Newell's grave at Bear Butte Cemetery, Sturgis, SD

The next article I was interested in was THE BATTLE OF THE BIG HORN by Charles Windolph. Windolph is one of the more well-known of the enlisted men. He won a Medal of Honor for his actions as a sharpshooter protecting the water parties on their trips to the river during the battle. His book, I FOUGHT WITH CUSTER, was published in 1947. The version of events contained in this interview predates the publication of his book. Windolph was the last white survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, living until March of 1950.

Windolph's grave at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD

I try and collect every reference I can find to these troopers who are buried in South Dakota. I had been searching for THE SUNSHINE MAGAZINE ARTICLES for quite some time and they did not disappoint. Any opportunity you have to obtain primary source material, jump at the chance. Reading these soldier's experiences in their own words is priceless.

DANIEL NEWELL PAGE

CHARLES WINDOLPH PAGE

I Fought with Custer - Charles Windolph

“I am now an old man living in the deep shadows.  Next to my family I love my old regiment more than anything else in the world.  And I shall die believing that Colonel Benteen was one of the noblest soldiers who ever lived.  I worship his memory almost as much as I do the Stars and Stripes.  He was a true friend.  He made me a sergeant on the field of battle on June 26, 1876.  He recommended me for the Medal of Honor that I was given.  In 1880 he made me First Sergeant of ‘H’."  [Charles Windolph; I FOUGHT WITH CUSTER; page 114]

I FOUGHT WITH CUSTER is a rare opportunity to ride along with Custer and the rest of the 7th Cavalry with the help of someone who was actually there - Charles Windolph. Windolph was the last surviving member of the Little Big Horn battle veterans, living until March 11, 1950. He won a Medal of Honor for his efforts as a sharpshooter protecting the water party at the battle. He was wounded and was also awarded the Purple Heart for his actions.

The publisher of I FOUGHT WITH CUSTER, University of Nebraska Press under the Bison Books imprint, has the following to say about the book:

"Sergeant Charles Windolph was the last white survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn when he described it nearly seventy years later. A six-year veteran of the Seventh Cavalry, Windolph fought in Benteen’s troop on that fatal Sunday and recalls in vivid detail the battle that wiped out Custer’s command. Equally vivid is the evidence marshaled by Frazier and Robert Hunt on events leading up to the battle and on the investigation that followed."

I've read this book cover to cover around three or four times. My paperback copy is a shambles. I've done all the things librarians and teachers told you NOT to do to a book - dog-eared pages, highlights, underlines, and notes in the margins. There's a coffee stain on page 91 that bled through to page 95. It's a well worn and well used book.

I decided back in 2009 to try and find a first edition hardcover copy. I looked at all the book sites online and I couldn't seem to come up with a decent condition copy with a dust jacket. 2009 was a year for one of our Montana Mayhem trips so I had high hopes of finding a copy at the Little Bighorn Associates conference in Billings. And I certainly did find one. A dealer had a copy that was actually signed by Windolph! It was amazing. But as I had a son in college, I couldn't in good conscience pull the trigger on the purchase. The search continued.

Then in 2016 I was on another Mayhem trip and was at the CBHMA (Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association) used book sale in Hardin. Sandy Barnard from Indian Wars Books had a nice looking copy. But like every copy I've ever seen, the dust jacket left something to be desired. Talking to Sandy, he mentioned that for some reason it is difficult to find a Fine copy with a Fine dust jacket. Well, this copy of Sandy's looked decent enough so I popped for the purchase.

So now I have a first edition hardcover on the shelf for posterity and a battered paperback for reading. I have recently had to add a rubber band to my reading copy to keep the pages intact.

Being able to read a book from a participant of the battle is something special. Primary source material from enlisted men who were at the battle gives a unique perspective into what happened. Now I should mention that Charles Windolph is an unapologetic Benteen man. Benteen was Windolph's captain and he loved him. But that doesn't take away from the fact that this book is full of information and you can't get much closer than Windolph as a source. The book is still in print and there's a reason for that.

By the way, if you are ever in the Black Hills and are looking for a place to stay, you can crash at Windolph's old house. It is now listed on Air B&B...

Check here for information and reservations

Charles Windolph page

Charles Windolph Radio Ad

Charles Windolph was one of the few survivors of the Little Big Horn 7th Cavalry that survived well into the 20th century. Because of this there are many newspaper articles, photos, interviews, etc. that exist. This is unlike the typical trooper where it is a rare discovery to find a simple photograph.

On Sunday, October 18, 1942, Windolph was interviewed on KOBH radio (currently KOTA 1380 AM, Rapid City, South Dakota). Here is an ad from the October 17, 1942 Rapid City Journal promoting the interview with the Little Big Horn veteran.

I would love to find a copy of this broadcast. There are thousands of old radio shows that are available for listening on the internet. It would be a true treasure if a recording of this Windolph interview exists.

Charles Windolph Page