"Private William Slaper of Company M was more modest regarding his contributions, noting in an after-action account that he had been a member of the second water party and that the Indians had put a bullet through his camp kettle. Not only was he denied a medal, he was unaware that anyone else had received one. As improbable as that may sound, it should be noted that Slaper gave his version of events in 1920. At the time, there were other members of Custer's Seventh who had no idea that Medals of Honor had been given for individual contributions. As part of his story, Slaper recounted the glorious retort of twenty-two-year-old Private James Weeks, who was a comrade in the run for water. As the two men returned from their trip to the river, Captain Myles Moylan hailed them, stating that he desired a drink. Jim Weeks replied: "You go to hell and get your own water; this is for the wounded." Neither man belonged to Moylan's A Company, so it was the kind of response Weeks could get away with, especially under the circumstances and in view of Moylan's poor performance in the valley fight."

"E.A. Brininstool included Madden's legendary quip in his book, "Troopers with Custer: Historic Incidents of the Battle of the Little Big Horn." The author quoted Pvt. William Slaper, another water carrier: "Before amputating ... the surgeon gave Mike a stiff horn of brandy to brace him up. Mike went through the ordeal without a whimper, and was given another drink. Smacking his lips in appreciation, he whispered to the surgeon, 'Doctor, cut off me other leg!'"