According to the History Channel write-up for the DVD: “...a soldier named August Finkle was the lone survivor of “Custer's Last Stand,” a battle that is practically synonymous with “no survivors.” Forensics on the man's skeleton and his two gunshot wounds definitely show that the story he reluctantly told the world nearly 50 years after the battle was true. He alone survived, and his tale of what actually went on in the battle should revise our interpretation of the events of the day. The special reveals the amazing story of seven others who very nearly survived—who rode for miles away from the carnage only to succumb to their own fear and turn their weapons on themselves.”
I saw the History Channel special and they did make the case for a sole survivor. The other survivor was a horse, “Comanche”.
Fascinating!!! Thanks for the post.
Ever read Thomas Berger's "Little Big Man"? Great book, better than the movie which was pretty good for a movie, and ... the main character was the only survivor of Little Big Horn!