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WAR, BATTLE: Cheyenne Man on Red Horse Faces Enemy on Black Horse with Carbine

Ethnographic Notes

This diptych (two pages) consists of two horsemen, one on each page, who are firing at each other. Right: The Cheyenne man on the right side, in the dominant position, rides a red horse and carries a quirt in his left hand. A carbine rifle can be seen in his right hand. The penciled lines from the barrel indicate a recent shot. Although he is mounted on the horse, he is positioned so that both arms are visible. He is dressed in a black shirt, and his black breech clout swings backward from the speed of the chase. The man’s face is painted red, with deeper coloring for the lower half. His fingers are not drawn. The red horse stands alertly, with pricked ears. Its tail is decorated with red cloth. This indicates the encounter was planned ahead of time, so the horse could be deliberately prepared for battle. On the ground below the horse and man are hoof prints to indicate passage of time and distance—this chase has taken place over a span of time. Left: The black-shirted enemy, who wears a lock of hair tied distinctively, also has a carbine and fires back at the pursuer with a carbine, painted red. Pencil marks indicate the explosive shot he just fired. His face is unpainted and one feather, hair ornament, or braid—crudely represented in black ink—is visible on his head. He has a breech clout also made of dark trade cloth with the undyed selvedge creating borders at the ends. His horse is all black, and the tail is clipped short or tied. The horse’s head is oddly narrow; its ears are erect. Although the two men fire at each other, no bullets are visible, nor wounds. This appears to be a skirmish where both men survived. Media: Pencil outlines and details; red watercolor; black ink.


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The cover inscription reads: "Pictures drawn by Wild Hog and other northern Cheyenne Indian Chiefs while in th...

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Document Info
Plate No: 33
Page No: 62-63
Media: Lead pencil; water color; ink
Dimensions: 3.25 x 5 in (8.5 x 12.75 cm)
Custodian
Kansas Historical Society/kansasmemory.org
Artist
Wild Hog
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