David Humphreys Miller “Custer Survivors” portrait collection
Fools Crow
Red Paint
Louis Looking Horse
About the Artist David Humphreys Miller’s deep love for art and history fashioned the unique and fascinating life of this pioneering Ohio native. In 1930, and at just 16 years of age, David Humphrey Miller was given his parents blessing and headed West for Indian Country. His passion for Indian lore, as well as the mystique surrounding General George Armstrong Custer and the Battle of the Little Big Horn, proved to be deciding factors in his decisions to go West. He wanted to learn more about the famed “Last Stand,” speak to Indian survivors, and most of all, paint the portraits of these aged warriors. His suitcases loaded with paints and brushes, he roamed the reservation in the Dakotas, Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming and Oklahoma. Miller lived among these aged warriors, learned their native tongues (he taught himself 14 Indian Languages), and painted their portraits. In the past, they had been leery of being painted or photographed because they believed that part of their spirit was captured in the image. Each of the 72 extraordinary “Custer Survivors” portraits reflect a deep sense of pride, honor, and respect for these gallant warriors. Every year, descendants come from all over the United States to pay homage to their heroic ancestors. The “Custer Survivors” collection is truly a national treasure to be enjoyed by each and every American for generations to come. David Humphreys Miller sketching the portrait of Joseph White Cow Bull in front of the cabin of Charlie Thunder Bull (left) at Oglala, South Dakota 1939.
David Humphreys Miller painting Kills a Hundred
David Humphreys Miller at the “Battle of Little Big Horn�
Mr. Miller attended the University of Michigan where he majored in Fine Arts and American anthropology. In New York, he studied at the Grand Central School of Art under Harvey Dunn and Winold Reiss. He also Served as an intelligence officer in the 14th Air Force in China. He was trained to interrogate the Japanese, but because of his artistic training, he converted aerial photos into drawings of prospective targets to orient pilots. After the war he went to Hollywood where he was an Indian military technical advisor, as well as an actor on 25 motion pictures including “How the West Was Won,” “Tomahawk,” and the remake of “Stagecoach.” He also wrote two books about Plains Indians and Custer, ‘Custer’s Fall” in 1957 and “Ghost Dance” in 1959. Miller was deeply respected and was eventually adopted by 8 tribes and 16 families. He painted such celebrities as Roy Rogers, Martha Raye, Joan Caufield, Lloyd Nolan and Andy Devine. The portraits travel well. The Millers have three cases notched and felt-lined, designed to carry them safely. They have been on loan to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; The Whitney Western Museum and Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming; The Museum of Man in San Diego, California; in Palm Desert, California; Midland Texas; Ohio; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and the High Plains Heritage Center in Spearfish, South Dakota.
Jhon Goes In Center with portrait of grandfather Long Commander
After David’s death his widow would not allowed them to go out on loan as it is too risky without proper supervision, which David always provided. Pictured above is the collection hung in the rotunda of the Capitol Building in Pierre, South Dakota. The late Governor George Mickelson is shown with Francis White Bird, a Sioux. Miller also won the coveted Heritage Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center for his article and paintings of the Survivors, which appears as the cover story in the June 1971, edition of the American Heritage Magazine. The INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA Š at Crazy Horse Memorial has reproductions of the 72 portraits David Humphreys Miller created. David & four survivors of the Battle of Little Big Horn were present for the first blast on the Mountain in 1938.
Chief Joseph Black Horn Chief Black Horn, a minor band chief of the Oglala Sioux, fought under Crazy Horse at the Battle of the Little Big Horn at age 15. In the action against Custer’s command he captured two cavalry horses. In 1890, when he attempted to visit relatives at Wounded Knee, he was fired upon by white troops and driven from friendship with whites to siding with the Ghost Dancers. He narrowly missed death at the Massacre of Wounded Knee, which he witnessed from a distant hill. "One year (1927) the grandfather (President Calvin Coolidge) came from Washington to visit the Black Hills. I was honored to be asked to be part of the Sioux delegation that met him and named him honorary chief.� Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, 1937
Chief Daniel Blue Horse Chief Daniel Blue Horse, a leader of the Oglala Sioux, had fought under Crazy Horse at the Battle of the Little Big Horn at age 15. He was chief of the Sioux band from Pine Ridge Indian Reservation which adopted Miller into the tribe in 1939. He died in 1940 at age 79. "We did this war making to save our buffalo herds as much as we could for ourselves. For the same reason we had to fight Wasicuns when they came into our country to hunt buffalo or try to round us up to keep us on the reservations. We had to have the food we had always known - buffalo meat.� Oglala, South Dakota 1939
Drags-The-Rope Drags-The-Rope, an Oglala Sioux warrior aged 20 in 1876, was one of the first Indians to see Custer's approaching column and witnessed the killing of a 10-yearold Hunkpapa boy named Deeds by three white soldiers - the first Indian casualty in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Drags-The-Rope later alerted his people as to the impending attack, then followed Crazy Horse into the thick of the fighting, in which he shot several soldiers and counted four coups. "Drags-The-Rope died in the early years of World War II, some time in 1942 as I later heard. Then in service, I missed hearing the great keening that mourned him on Red Shirt Table.“ - David Humphrey's Miller Buffalo Gap, South Dakota 1940
Chief Eagle Bear Chief Eagle Bear, a minor band chief of the Oglala Sioux, elder brother of Fools Crow, fought as a 16-year-old warrior under Crazy Horse in the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876. One of the few young warriors to have firearms, Eagle Bear had a pistol as well as a bow and arrow. He used his gun to shoot a soldier on a white horse out of his saddle. "But our great victory over Long Hair's soldiers did us little good. More soldiers came to lock us up on reservations - the way you see us now. Hecetuyelo (meaning: I have spoke. So be it.)� Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, 1938
Eagle Elk Eagle Elk, a 25-year-old Oglala Sioux warrior in 1876, fought against Reno's command and later in the final surround of Custer's immediate command in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Warned of an impending attack by soldiers before the battle by an old woman, Eagle Elk stripped and painted for war, rode out to meet Reno’s attack and dashed in to knock troopers off their mounts with his rifle butt when they began to retreat. "I was about 25 the summer we fought Long Hair and I still believed we could drive the white men from our country. I'm a little sad yet about that fight, although it was our finest victory.� Pine Ridge Agency, 1939
Fools Crow Fools Crow, an Oglala Sioux and brother of Chief Eagle Bear, was an 11-year-old apprentice warrior in 1876. After witnessing most of the Battle of the Little Big Horn from benchlands overlooking the battlefield, he joined other youngsters who swarmed around Custer's command. He recalled shooting arrows into soldiers’ bodies, but believed most if not all of them were already dead. “He seemed willing to refer to the Custer fight, but modest about his exploit. I asked him to explain, since I knew his language, though he didn't know English.” -David Humphreys Miller
Long Commander Long Commander (Fast Hawk), an Oglala Sioux warrior in 1876, was one of Crazy Horse’s ardent followers in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. After forcing Reno's command into a headlong retreat, Long Commander and his fellow warriors followed Crazy Horse in a sweeping maneuver to encircle Custer's command and bring the troopers to a standstill and annihilation. Uncertain as to how many soldiers he may have slain, Long Commander remembered counting four coups and capturing five cavalry mounts. “Crazy Horse shouted to us ‘come on Lakotas (Sioux) it's a good day to die. ' This excited us even more, for our greatest glory as warriors would be to die in battle.” Wanblee, South Dakota 1940
Jonas Holy Rock Jonas Holy Rock, an Oglala Sioux warrior in 1876, fought under Big Road and Crazy Horse at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, in which he captured five cavalry horses and counted two coups. In 1890, he served as a United States Army scout and had the reputation of being one of the army's most expert trackers. “Sitting for his portrait, he wrapped an old U.S. Cavalry yellow scarf as a turban around his brow, donned a set of grizzly bear claws set in a necklace of tubular blue trade-beads, and an honorary gold metal which bore a profile resembling President Benjamin Harrison.� -David Humphreys Miller Grass Creek 1941
Chief Iron White Man Chief Iron White Man, a minor band chief of the Oglala Sioux, fought under Crazy Horse at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, in which he captured a revolver from a soldier-chief (officer) and nine cavalry horses. "Crazy Horse, along with most of us, was painted for war. He painted his body with hailstone marks, having stripped to a breechclout. His face was streaked with blue lightening.� Oglala, South Dakota, 1938
Kills a Hundred Kills a Hundred, an Oglala Sioux warrior in 1876, fought under Crazy Horse at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, in which he killed two soldiers and captured six cavalry horses. In 1890, he was by his own statement among the more rabid of the Ghost Dancers and one of the last to surrender to the United States Army nearly a month after Wounded Knee. “My name comes from the ‘battle of a hundred sla in,' in which I took part as a young warrior. I was only about nine years old then, but I was a ‘moccasin carrier’ (apprentice warrior), old enough to help elder warriors.” Red Shirt Table 1938
Moses One Feather Moses One Feather, an Oglala Sioux warrior aged 27 in 1876, was one of Crazy Horse’s followers in the Battle of the Little Big Horn, in which he counted two coups and killed one of Custer's troopers. During the Ghost Dance outbreak in 1890, One Feather and his family were ambushed by white outlaws and his first wife killed. He died in 1941, at age 92. “Besides, it was hot and dusty, so I couldn't figure out why these Wasicuns wanted to fight us at this time, when there were so many of us.” Oglala, South Dakota 1941
John Moves Camp John Moves Camp, an Oglala Sioux, veteran of the Battle of the Little Big Hom, was 89 when Miller painted his portrait in 1941. “I didn't stay on to see the final killing of the wounded Wasicuns or some scalping and mutilations done by our women and a few youngsters. The fighting was over. We won the battle.� Wanblee, South Dakota 1939
Red Paint Red Paint, an Oglala Sioux warrior aged 18 in 1876, fought under Crazy Horse in the Battle of the Little Big Horn, in which he counted four coups, took two scalps, and captured an army carbine and three cavalry horses. “To us certain colors have much significance - white, yellow, blue or black. But the most sacred of all was red. Our mother earth is red. My people are red. "Wakan Tanka, the great spirit, God, gave us a red day with each new dawn.� Oglala, South Dakota 1937
Thomas Steals Horses Also known as Rattlesnake, an 11-year-old follower of Crazy Horse at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. An Oglala Sioux, he took part in the Ghost Dance uprising and later was a longtime member of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. He died in 1941. "Everything was all mixed up in that end of the village. Our women and children and old ones were running all over. Some of the children were crying.� Pine Ridge Agency Trading Post 1940
Henry Kills Alive Henry Kills Alive, a Hunkpapa Sioux, veteran of the Battle of the Big Horn, was 87 when Miller painted his portrait in 1939. Loyal to Sitting Bull in earlier times, he took part in that leader's assassination in 1890 during the Ghost Dance uprising. “We were all promised amnesty and that no harm would be done to us. But once Sitting Bull surrendered, he was thrown in jail at Fort Randall for two years.�
Sitting Eagle Sitting Eagle, an Oglala Sioux warrior in 1876, fought under He-Dog in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Acquitting himself bravely in the counterattack against Reno, in which he killed a trooper and counted three coups, Sitting Eagle witnessed a strange thing in the action against Custer's immediate command - toward the end of that fighting, a group of soldiers went crazy and began shooting themselves. Four tried to escape, three were overtaken and slain by a handful of Indians, including Sitting Eagle. The fourth was about to get away when he jerked his gun arm up to his head, pulled the trigger, and fell dead from his horse. “No enemy that day would have lasted any time at all in our village. It was said he was killed right away. And we, did not torture captives.� Near Kyle, South Dakota
Joseph White Cow Bull Joseph White Cow Bull, an Oglala Sioux warrior aged 28 in 1876, joined three Cheyenne warriors to defend a ford when troops under George A. Custer charged down Medicine Tail Coulee to attack the Indian village. Exchanging shots with a buckskin-clad leader who may well have been Custer, White Cow Bull saw him fall off his horse in the river, dead or mortally wounded. Joseph White Cow Bull died in 1942, aged 94. “I woke up hungry and went to a nearby tipi to ask an old woman for food. As I ate, she said today attackers are coming.� Crow Fair, South Dakota 1937
Hollow Horn Eagle Hollow Horn Eagle, a Sichangu (Burnt Thigh) or Brule Sioux warrior in 1876, fought under Crow Dog in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. In 1890, he was an avid follower of Short Bull, a medicine-man who led the Ghost Dance among the Brules. “Our way was to split up their formations as much as we could - to throw them off balance, I think. It worked! They broke up into small pieces, where we could whittle them down, one by one.� St Francis, South Dakota 1940
Peter Bear Stop Peter Bear Stop, a Minneconjou Sioux warrior, was only 12 years old in 1876, but took part in the last stand action which climaxed the Battle of the Little Big Horn. His name, more accurately translated as “Stops the Bear" was inherited from his father, who had earned it in a youthful exploit against a particularly ferocious grizzly near the Missouri River. “I am a Minneconjou ... our tribe has been here a long time. Our name means ‘plants by the water,’ so we have never been far from streams or rivers.” Cheyenne River Reservation
Chief Joseph White Bull Chief Joseph White Bull, a "scalp-shirt“ wearer or principal chief of the Minneconjou Sioux, amassed an enviable record of courage in the Battle of the Little Big Horn in which he counted 7 coups, killed two soldiers in hand-to-hand combat, one of whom he later believed to be George A. Custer, and captured two guns and 12 horses. He died in 1947, aged 97. “My cousin Bad Soup {Bad Juice) took a buckskin jacket off a dead soldier-chief -one I had shot earlier. In one of the pockets he found coils of long yellow hair.‘That man there was Long Hair Custer,’ he told me. He thought he was the greatest man on earth, but he lies there now. He cut his hair so he wouldn't be scalped.” Cherry Creek, South Dakota 1939
Jacob Little Skunk Jacob Little Skunk, a Minneconjou Sioux warrior aged 16 in 1876, fought under Fast Bull and High-Backbone, fighting leaders of the Little Big Horn. He was among a mass of warriors who surrounded and annihilated the last 30 troopers of Custer's command toward the end of the fighting on Custer's Hill, scene of the Last Stand, but was uncertain how many, if any, troopers he killed. “In war, we combed our hair loose as we did in religious ceremonies in order to gain all the possible power from our mother earth. Closer to the land our hair could reach, the more force we might receive. It was our 'medicine' to wear loosened hair.� Cheyenne River Reservation 1937
John Did Not Go Home John Did Not Go Home, an Itazipcho or Sansarc Sioux warrior aged 15 in 1876, fought under Chief Spotted Eagle, fighting Sansarc leader at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He was in both the counterattack against Reno’s command and the final surround and annihilation of Custer's immediate command, the Last Stand, in which he counted one coup. It was his only battle .
Chief Grass Rope Chief Grass Rope, leader of the lower Brule Sioux in later years, fought at age 15 under minor Brule chief, Crow Dog, at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He died in 1943. "You ask if I was at the Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn) fight with Long Hair. Yes, I was there. I was only about fifteen then, but already had gone on the war trail, so I was not new to fighting .� Fort Thompson, 1941
Elk Thunder Elk Thunder, a Sichangu (Burnt Thigh) or Brule Sioux warrior aged 23 in 1876, fought under Crow Dog in the Battle of the Little Big Horn, in which he counted four coups and took two scalps. “I was 23 the summer we had the battle. I remember that day was very hot. Most of us were sleeping late in our tipis. “ Parmalee, South Dakota!
Old Eagle (Amos Clown) Old Eagle (Amos Clown), an Itazipcho or Sansarc Sioux warrior, fought under Chief Spotted Eagle, fighting Sansarc leader at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Old Eagle was only 13 that summer. He and his brother Bear Horn first bought in the defense of the Indian village against Major Reno’s attach, in which Bear Horns killed a soldier and took his weapons. “In 1940 when I met him, he was suffering along with most other Sioux in the dust bowl depression. At age 77 he was stalwart enough to suggest an earlier powerful physique” -David Humphreys Miller Thunder Butte, South Dakota 1940
High Bald Eagle High Bald Eagle, a Sichangu (Burnt Thigh) or Brule Sioux 20-year-old warrior in 1876, was a follower of Crow Dog at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. A nephew of Chief Iron Shell Necklace and a cousin of Chief Spotted Tail, High Bald Eagle had an envious war record which included a great battle between the Sioux and the Pawnees in August 1873. In it he counted two coups and took two Pawnee scalps. “When I was born my father ’s father saw a bald eagle flying way up in the sky and so named me ‘High Bald Eagle.’” Rosebud Reservation 1941
White Eagle White Eagle, an Oglala Sioux warrior in 1876, fought under He-Dog and Crazy Horse in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. A cousin of Nicholas Black Elk, Sr., another veteran of the Custer fight whose portrait is included in this collection, White Eagle's war honors included two coups counted and a scalp taken from one of Custer’s troopers whom he killed. “In those days we never knew how Wasicuns counted time. We used the sun and the darkness. Time did not matter to us - it does not now very often. We know you use clocks and watches, but we do not bother much with them.” Allen, South Dakota 1941
Nicholas Black Elk, Sr. Although only 13 years old in 1876, he was in the thick of the Battle of the Little Big Horn in which he took his first scalp. Later a famed medicine man and spiritual leader of the Oglala Sioux, he was foremost priest of The Ghost Dance in 1890. He adopted Miller as his son in 1939. He died in 1950, aged 87. “My first adoptive Indian father was Black Elk, famed Oglala Sioux medicine-man and narrator of John G. Neihardt's classic book, Black Elk Speaks.� -David Humphreys Miller
James Comes Again James Comes Again, an Oglala Sioux apprentice warrior in 1876, witnessed much of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, before joining a large party of youngsters who got in on the tail-end of the fighting in the final surround of Custer's immediate command. He later became a prominent medicine-man. “More a curer than a formal religious leader, he told me much about the art of healing - in knowing nothing, including health, could be lost if one believed strongly enough, and in gaining power from ‘relatives’ in the natural world.” - David Humphreys Miller Red Shirt Village 1937
Joseph High Eagle An Oglala Sioux warrior of 16 in 1876, fought in the Battle of the Little Big Horn under his cousin Crazy Horse, brilliant tribal war leader. In 1950, he was killed by a careless hit-run motorist while at the side of a road. “I heard a bugle blow. Women screamed and old men shouted as we started to break up camp. Out of the darkness I saw troops riding down on us. When they got close, I laughed. They were young warriors like me, dressed up in captured uniforms! Then everybody laughed as we started to make new kill-songs to celebrate our greatest victory.� Red Shirt Table 1938
Johnson Little Warrior Johnson Little Warrior, an Oglala Sioux member of Chief Big Road's band, took part as an 11year-old apprentice warrior in the closing phases of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. After witnessing the defeat and retreat of Reno's command and the encirclement of Custer’s command, he joined other youngsters in taking potshots at the doomed troopers. He was later widely famed among Indians as a skilled medicine-man of the Sioux Yuwipi cult. “His name was known to me in 1939. Widely famed for seemingly miraculous cures on Indian reservations throughout the plains, he was a medicine man of the old Sioux tradition.” -David Humphreys Miller Allen, South Dakota 1940
Pemmican Pemmican, an Oglala Sioux warrior in 1876, fought under He-Dog at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, participating in both the counterattack against Reno's command and the final surround of Custer’s immediate command. Although a comparative youngster, he counted a coup on a trooper and captured his mount. “You know our old war challenge, only heaven and earth last long.” Grass Creek Community 1940
Dewey Beard Dewey Beard (Iron Hail), a Minneconjou Sioux warrior aged 17 in 1876, attempted on a dare from a tribesman to capture George A. Custer alive during the battle. Injured at the Massacre of Wounded Knee in 1890, in which he saw his wife and child, mother and father, sister and two brothers killed, he died in 1955, aged 96. Last Indian survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He adopted Miller as his son in 1951. “A bugle sounded and the shooting grew louder. Our knives and war-clubs flashed in the sun. Bullets whizzed past my ears. I kept going, shouting, ‘it's a good day to die,’ so that everyone would know I was not afraid of being killed in battle.” Cedar Pass, South Dakota Badlands
Iron Hawk Iron Hawk, a Hunkpapa Sioux medicine-man in later years, was only 14 in 1876, but big for his age. He fought both at the Battle of the Rosebud and at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, in which he beat one of Custer’s troopers to death with his bow after wounding him with an arrow. A prime mover of the Ghost Dance outbreak in 1890, he was nearly 90 when he died in 1950. "One horseback soldier came at me. I shot an arrow at him and it went through him under his ribs. He screamed and grabbed his saddle.� Near Manderson, South Dakota
Henry Little Soldier Henry Little Soldier (Henry Sitting Bull), one of Sitting Bull's sons, fought as a youthful warrior in the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876. In 1890, he witnessed his father’s assassination by Indian policemen, fled south with other Hunkpapas to join Chief Big Foot's Ghost Dancers, but escaped possible death at the Massacre of Wounded Knee when his band was separated from Big Foot's and lost briefly in the South Dakota Badlands. “We were adopted with others by Chief Sitting Bull. Our father was generous and kind, as much as any real father. He took good care of us all.” Pine Ridge Indian Reservation 1939
John Sitting Bull John Sitting Bull, adopted deaf-mute son of the famed Hunkpapa Sioux Chief Sitting Bull, was a husky 14 years of age in 1876 and fought bravely, if briefly, in the early phases of the battle. At Wounded Knee in 1890, his rifle fired accidentally before he could surrender it to soldiers, thus precipitating the deadly massacre. He died in 1954, aged 92. “I saw a black man I knew, named Teat. He had a Sioux wife. He had guided Long Hair's soldiers and was badly wounded. An old woman wanted to shoot him. Sitting Bull rode up and turned her away. My father gave him water from his own buffalo horn drinking cup. Teat drank, then died.� Oglala, South Dakota 1935
Male Bear (No Flesh) Male Bear, a Hunkpapa Sioux and one of Sitting Bull's band, fought under Chief Crow King at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. An embittered old man of 89 in 1940, he first refused to let Miller paint him, later relented and asked him to add his likeness to his collection and hear his story of the battle. “They were crowding in on us, yes, but we only wanted to be away from them where we could hunt freely wherever buffalo roamed.� Little Eagle, South Dakota 1940
Louis Looking Horse Louis Looking Horse, a Hunkpapa Sioux, was one of Sitting Bull's younger yet wildest followers in 1876. After the Battle of the Little Big Horn, in which he fought in the later phases, he was among those Sioux who fled with Sitting Bull to "GrandMother's Land” - Canada, returning to the United States in 1881. “I am a Hunkpapa, of Sitting Bull's tribe. I was his cousin,' he said. Most of our people were always loyal to him - though some turned their backs and betrayed him by serving White Hair (agent James McLaughin) as policeman who murdered our Chief.” Little Eagle, South Dakota 1940
Kills Pretty Enemy Leo Kills Pretty Enemy, son of a Hunkpapa Sioux father and a Brule Sioux mother, was 21 years old at the time of the Battle of the Little Big Horn and a seasoned warrior who fought under Chief Crow King, Gall and other fighting leaders. His initiation to the warpath occurred when he was 15 and accompanied a war party of men in their prime against the Pawnees in northern Nebraska. Not only did he count two coups, he captured a buckskin war pony from a live enemy, a considerable exploit for a youngster assigned to merely carrying moccasins for his elders. "I was a member of the Fox Warriors ... we Foxes thought of ourselves as real foxes and called any enemies the Arrow Bones,’ for it was up to us to seek out enemies as foxes do bones."
Straight Forehead Straight Forehead, an Oglala Sioux warrior in 1876, fought under Big Road and Crazy Horse in the Battle of the Little Big Horn, in which he killed two soldiers and counted three coups on living enemies. “I used a lance and shield and a bow and arrows. A few of us had rifles or pistols but maybe I was oldfashioned.� Manderson, South Dakota 1941
Feather Earring Feather Earring, a Hunkpapa Sioux warrior and follower of Sitting Bull in 1876, fought under Chief Crow King at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Fighting mad after his brother Dog-WithHorns was killed early in the battle, he was never sure how many soldiers he shot down in retaliation, but was convinced it was many, so many that he ran low on bullets and had to call on a young Sioux with a bow and arrow to finish off a wounded trooper he found 'playing possum.' "If Reno or Long Hair (Custer) had talked peace with us then, we'd all agreed to surrender and do what the soldiers wanted.� Standing Rock Reservation, South Dakota 1941
Jacob Callous Leg Jacob Callous Leg, a Hunkpapa Sioux follower of Sitting Bull in 1876, he fought under his kinsman Gall at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in which he counted three coups and captured four cavalry horses. A Ghost Dancer in 1890, he witnessed the assassination of Sitting Bull and took part in the pitched battle with Indian policemen which followed. “I am a Hunkpapa . We are a proud tribe. Although we let the Shahiyelas (Cheyenne) to lead the way wherever we traveled, we brought up the rear – the most dangerous position, the rear guard.” Little Eagle, South Dakota 1940
Benjamin Black Bear Benjamin Black Bear, a Hunkpapa Sioux, Foller of Sitting Bull during the Battle of Little Big Horn, was 16 years old in 1876. He died in 1939 at age 78. “His nephew, One Bull, rode out to try and talk to the Wasicuns. When they fired at him and his soldiers, he fought back� Fort Yates, North Dakota 1939
Fred Belt Fred Belt, a Hunkpapa Sioux follower of Sitting Bull in 1876, fought at the Battle of the Little Big Horn under Chief Black Moon. A Ghost Dancer in 1890, Belt narrowly missed becoming a casualty at the Massacre of Wounded Knee when his band was briefly lost in the South Dakota Badlands and unable to join Big Foot's band. Though past 90 years of age the day this portrait was painted, he was breaking broncs to saddle minutes before he posed. “ ‘Brave up,’ I kept shouting to any who would listen. At the same time I fired at these enemies and tried to set a fine example.” Pine Ridge Indian Reservation 1939
Bear Soldier Bear Soldier, a Hunkpapa Sioux warrior and a follower of Sitting Bull in 1876, was a Akicita or policeman of the Fox Warriors doing camp police duty in defending the cast pony herds against Custer’s Arikara scouts early in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Later he took part in the fighting against Custer’s immediate command. “It was an honor for us to be on guard. We fought off the palanis (Rees), who scouted for Long Hair Custer. They tried to capture our ponies, be we fought them off. They ran like women, once we charged them. I think they lost heart once they saw us charging.” Fort Yates, North Dakota 1941
Wolf Robe Wolf Robe, son of a Southern Cheyenne chief, lived and fought with the Northern Cheyenne during the time of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He was about 80 when Miller painted this portrait in 1941. “We never know exactly our years. The only way we could tell was from our picture winter-count. That told us what important event told us what year we were born, but no months or days.� Busby, Montana 1941
Eagle Nest Eagle Nest, a Southern Cheyenne warrior in 1876, fought under Chief Lame White Man in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Led by Chief Brave Bear, eight Southern Cheyennes and their families were visiting Lame White Man, a former southerner himself, at the time of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. “Gunfire sounded to the south. We southerners especially, could not understand the Sioux, but we knew it was an alarm. We knew the danger, so we caught horses and rallied around our leaders. I heard Lame White Man call to us, ‘young men, come with me, show your bravery.’ ” El Reno Reservation, Oklahoma 1943 (earlier known as Darlington)
William Standing Bear William Standing Bear, a Sihasapa or Blackfeet Sioux (not to be confused with the Algonquian Blackfeet of Montana or Alberta), fought as a warrior under Chief Scabby Head at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Uncertain as to how many troopers he may have killed, Standing Bear counted a coup in the defense against Reno’s attack and captured two cavalry horses in the final surround of Custer's immediate command. “I was past fifteen that summer and already of fighting age. I was anxious to do battle with anybody who would try to take over our hunting grounds.” Wakpala, South Dakota 1940
Sherman Sage Sherman Sage, one of a handful of Northern Arapahoes who fought in the Battle, was also called Well-Knowing One. Age 23 in 1876, Sage later became a famed medicine-man of his tribe. In 1889, he was instrumental in starting the Ghost Dance among his people, from whom the Sioux and Cheyenne acquired the cult. “A buckskin Wohaw among a handful of soldiers was on his hands and knees. He had been shot in the left side and blood came from his mouth. He was dying. Later, in our kill talks we decided this must have been Custer, but he did not wear his hair long as we expected he would.� Wind River Reservation
Philip White Bird Philip White Bird, a Hunkpapa Sioux follower of Sitting Bull in 1876, fought in the Battle of the Little Big Horn at the tender age of 13 under Chief Gall. By 1890, however, he was an Indian policeman serving standing rock agent James McLaughlin. In the fierce fighting following the assassination of Sitting Bull, White Bird owed his life to being a metal breast, as the Sioux called the policemen, he narrowly escaped death when a bullet fired by one of Sitting Bull's Ghost Dancers pinged off his police badge. “Before I could paint him from life, he carefully combed out his left braid and wrapped it in red blanket cloth. He combed the right side loose and left it flowing.�-David Humphreys Miller Little Eagle, South Dakota 1940
Walking Hunter Walking Hunter, a Hunkpapa Sioux and a follower of Sitting Bull in 1876, was nearly 30 years old - mature for a fighting man - when he took part in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Seven years earlier, at age 23, he established his reputation as a warrior in a bloody battle with the Arikaras, in which he counted one coup and took two scalps. Famous in Sioux history, the fight took place in what is now North Dakota. Six Arikaras were killed and Walking Hunter was certain only the desire for revenge led the Arikaras to provide Custer with scouts at Little Big Horn. "Furious at the killing of Black Moon, we Foxes charged north, chanting our society war songs." Eagle Butte, South Dakota
Thomas White Horse Thomas White Horse, a Hunkpapa Sioux veteran of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, was 89 when Miller painted his portrait in 1940. A follower of Chief Sitting Bull, he took part in the Ghost Dance in 1890. “A lean, almost famished, old fellow, he sparkled at the mention of ‘Custer's Last Stand.’ He knew no English, so we spoke in Sioux.” –David Humphreys Miler Little Eagle, South Dakota 1940
One Elk One Elk, a Hunkpapa Sioux warrior aged 24 in 1876, was one of Chief Black Moon's camp police at the Battle of the Little Big Horn and saw his leader shot dead in the early skirmishing with Reno's command. In 1890, during the Ghost Dance uprising, One Elk was a tribal policeman who took part in the assassination of Chief Sitting Bull. One of the few bald Indians painted, he wore long braids from the side of his head and covered his pate with a brave heart ermine-skin headdress. He died in 1942, aged 90. “Our greatest fight was the one against Long Hair Custer.� Bullhead Village, South Dakota
Chief Henry Oscar One Bull Chief Henry Oscar One Bull, a Hunkpapa Sioux, was a nephew, adopted son and bodyguard of the famed Chief Sitting Bull. When Major Marcus A. Reno attacked the Indian village early in the Battle of the Little Big Horn, One Bull was ordered by Sitting Bull to parley with the soldiers if he could. When the soldiers kept attacking, One Bull led a counterattack, killing three soldiers. He died in 1947, aged 94. "The night before the Long Hair Fight, Sitting Bull went to the ridge where the monument now stands. He offered up a prayer, asking Wakan Tanka (God) to guard his people against danger and misfortune.� Crow Fair, South Dakota, 1938
Philip Rising Sun Philip Rising Sun, a Northern Cheyenne warrior aged 17 in 1876, fought under Chief Lame White Man at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. During the fighting, Rising Sun took a scalp. But he secured a more curious trophy after the battle when he found a watch on a trooper's body. Thinking its ticking indicated some sort of soldiers' medicine, he kept it until it wound down, then threw it away because he thought it had died. He later served as a scout for the United States Army. “A tribal prophet, an older man, went around trying to wake us up. He announced that we should keep our ponies tied up close to our lodges. In a dream I saw soldiers coming,' he shouted over and over again.� Busby, Montana 1941
Little Chief Little Chief, a Northern Cheyenne warrior in 1876, fought under Chief Lame White Man in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Fishing upstream from the Indian village, Little Chief, White Shield, another Cheyenne, and his nephew Dives Backward, were among the first to see the approach of enemy soldiers. “Horse's hooves thundered past. White Shield and I sprang to our feet and scurried up to higher ground. The Indian wearing the war bonnet and other Indians were riding toward our campground. From all we could see of them, they were not our people.� Crow Agency, Montana 1940
Red Fox Red Fox, a Northern Cheyenne apprentice warrior in 1876, fought under Chief Two Moon in the Battle of the Little Big Horn, later scouted for the United States Army against the Sioux. “You ask about my name. When I was born, I guess my grandfather saw a red fox running through sagebrush, so he gave me that name.� Tongue River Indian Reservation 1941 (since renamed Northern Cheyenne Reservation)
Frank Pine Frank Pine, also known as Blind Man, was 86 when Miller painted his portrait in 1941. A Northern Cheyenne, he fought at age 21 under Chief Lame White Man, who was killed during the Battle of the Little Big Horn. “My nickname, Blind Man, came after I had a vision of a tall pine tree way out on the prairie where the only trees were cottonwoods and box elders growing along the river bottoms, so everybody called me blind.� Busby, Montana 1939
Frank Flies Across Flies Across, a Northern Cheyenne warrior in 1876, fought under Chief Lame White Man in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. As a young apprentice warrior, he took a dead soldier's scalp. “But my name is known to our people as well as the Lakotas (Sioux). It came in a vision; a bald eagle flew across a dream, seeking and spoke wisdom.� Busby, Montana 1936
John Dives Backward John Dives Backward, a Northern Cheyenne 12 year old in 1876, was among the first of his tribe at the start of the Little Big Horn to see the approach of attacking troopers under Reno. He later fought valiantly with other youngsters under the Cheyenne Chief Ice. “The son of Chief Ice sang out encouragement 'only heaven and earth last long! I do not.' This got us to our feet and running up the slopes. Poorly armed, I knew I would fight to the death, if I had to, even with my quirt.� Busby, Montana 1941
Bobtail Horse Bobtail Horse, a Northern Cheyenne warrior in 1876, fought under Chief Lame White Man in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. However, while his tribesman were busy fighting Reno's command early in the battle, Bobtail Horse, two other Cheyennes named Roan Bear and Calf, and White Cow Bull, an Oglala Sioux, heroically defended a ford charged by elements of Custer’s immediate command, thus protecting the Indian village from attack in a vulnerable quarter. "One soldier dropped dead in the water. The buckskin man on the sorrel horse also fell in the ford. I think White Cow Bull, one of the Sioux with us who had the only repeating rifle, fired the shot that brought down the buckskin man." Lame Deer, Montana,1936
Black Wolf Black Wolf, a mature warrior in 1876, was a Northern Cheyenne who fought as the Battle of Little Big Horn under Chief Lame White Man. Son of Cheyenne sub-Chief, Black Wolf became a noted medicine man in later years. He was 89 when Miller painted this portrait in 1941. “In mourning for our dead lost in the battle (11 by most Cheyenne accounts), we held no scalp dance that night. We waited until the next night when we moved camp to Lodge Grass Creek to the south before we celebrated our victory. For most if us our fighting days were over� Lame Deer, Montana 1941
Bear Comes Out Fought in the Battle of Little Big Horn under Chief Two Moons. He counted a coup which made him very proud. He was 80 winters old when Miller painted his portrait on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. “As a boy I went to the Little Chetis (Wolf ) Mountains to seek a vision. After 3 days of fasting and waiting for the vision, I heard a hollowsounding voice from a cave in the mountain side. A grizzly bear came out. I expected it to attack me, but it held back. Instead, it said, ‘From now on you are to be named as Bear Comes Out.’ So I've been called since then.” Busby, Montana
Red Feather Red Feather, an Assiniboine or Stony Sioux warrior in 1876, fought under Chief Scabby Head of the Sihasapa or Blackfeet Sioux at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. One of a small party of Assiniboine's visiting Yanktonnai Sioux relatives at Little Big Horn, Red Feather was in the massive counterattack against Reno’s command and later participated in the annihilation of Custer’s immediate command. He died at age 94. “Red on Feathers worn ceremonially meant wounds received in battle. Eagle feathers were so painted to celebrate a warrior's skill and daring.” Fort Peck Reservation Frazer, Montana 1941
Crazy Bull Crazy Bull, an Assiniboine or Stony Sioux warrior in 1876, fought under Chief Scabby, Head of the Sihasapa or Blackfeet Sioux at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. One of a small party of Assiniboine's visiting Yanktonnai Sioux relatives at Little Big Horn, Crazy Bull took part in the defense against Reno's attack, later was among the mass of warriors who surrounded and annihilated Custer's immediate command. “‘Crazy Bull’ did not mean a bull went ‘crazy’ - but meant a buffalo bull - ‘Tatanka’ - had spirit or came from a vision, thus was a ‘spirit animal’ My name came to me through a vision of a wild, untamable buffalo bull who kept charging me until my ‘medicine’ (power) made him peaceable.” Fort Peck Reservation, Frazer, Montana 1941
Bobtail Bear Bobtail Bear, an Assiniboine or Stony Sioux warrior in 1876, fought under Chief Scabby Head of the Sihasapa or Blackfeet Sioux at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. One of a small party of Assiniboine's visiting Yanktonnai Sioux relatives at Little Big Horn, Bobtail Bear was in the massive counterattack against Reno’s command and later participated in the annihilation of Custer’s immediate command. ”I was known early as a crier (announcer) among my people. My loud voice may have aided this reputation along. It was up to a crier in any tribe to spread news as fast as possible - to let people know what was going on, day to day.” Wolf Point, Montana
Young Little Wolf Young Little Wolf, a Northern Cheyenne warrior in 1876, and a son of Chief Little Wolf arrived late at the Indian village, their band having trailed Custer's column for many miles. However, once their loyalty to the other Cheyennes and Sioux was established they were welcome allies in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. “Young Little Wolf was also a foremost Elk Soldier, another fighting society. In later years, he became quite religious and was a priest of the Peyote cult, officially known as the Nature American Church.� Busby, Montana 1936
Wooden Leg Wooden Leg, a Northern Cheyenne warrior aged 18 in 1876, fought under Chief Lame White Man at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. After killing at least three troopers in the action against Reno's command and bringing down one of Reno's Arikara scouts, Wooden Leg and other Cheyennes were rallied by Lame White Man to fight Custer’s immediate command. After the battle, Wooden Leg took~ a new kind of scalp - the face skin and luxuriant sidewhiskers of a fallen soldier chief (probably that of Lt. W.W. Cooke, Custer's adjutant). “My people said I had wooden legs like trees that never tire, so they also called me Good Walker. Maybe you expected me to be an amputee. We never practiced cutting off legs or arms of our wounded. When we died, we wanted to go to the spirit land whole - all in one piece.” Lame Deer, Montana 1936
Two Birds Two Birds, a Northern Cheyenne warrior in 1876, fought under Chief Two Moon in the Battle of the Little Big Horn, in which he counted three coups and captured four cavalry horses. "The old man and I cordially shook hands. I did not see him again. While I was off in China during World War II, I got word he had gone to the everywhere spirit – as Cheyennes call God.” – David Humphreys Miller Crow Agency, Montana 1940
Chief Turkey Legs Turkey Legs, a minor Northern Cheyenne Chief in 1876, led his warriors at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He was famous among his people for his later exploit known to whites as the Plum Creek incident, in which Turkey Legs and his young band derailed a Union Pacific train and killed several crew members. One white railroader escaped after the Cheyennes scalped him and became one of the few cases on record of a person surviving without his scalp. "All tribes (of the plains) needed buffalo for livelihood, so we tried to stop vehos from bringing in their iron horses and splitting and destroying the buffalo herds. I set out to lead a raid to 'kill' an iron horse� Crow Agency, Montana 1938
John Strange Owl John Strange Owl, a Northern Cheyenne warrior in 1876, fought under Chief Old Man Coyote in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. “I am 'Tsis-tsis-tsas' (Cheyenne). This is our land. We have been here many years. Nobody bothered us much until Long Hair (Custer) came charging.� Busby, Montana