Views in Montana, Dakota and on the Yellowstone Made During Last Survey of N.P. Railroad

Item Details

Washington, DC, W. R. Rywell photographer, circa 1874

good

Large stereoview ( 4 1/2 x 7") from the 1873 NP Survey. A famous image of Bloody Knife the Indian scout on horseback in lance corporal uniform with a belt of bullets and holding up his rifle (an 1866 Winchester called Yellowboy). On yellow mount with survey titling. Shows wear around the edges and an old fold down the center. Hand written on the back is " Bloody Knife the guide killed a medicine man in the fight Aug 4, 73". Custer was one of the leaders of the 1873 survey with his favorite scout Bloody Knife. On August 4 they were ambushed by Sioux Indians led by Gall and Sitting Bull. Custer's troops repelled the attackers. Custer and Bloody Knife had a volatile but close relationship. Knife made fun of Custer's marksmanship and Custer lost his temper and shot at him once.(He missed). Custer paid him more than other scouts and relied on him. Bloody Knife was born to a Hunkpapa father and a Rie mother whose tribes were enemies. He was treated horribly in his father's village where he grew up with Gall and Sitting Bull. His mother took him to her village to save him but he was lifelong enemies with Gall. On the trail to Little Big Horn he warned Custer that the Indian forces were too large but Custer ignored him and assigned him to the troops with Colonel Reno. The battle began and Bloody Knife was shot in the head by Gall's Indians as he was next to Reno who was spattered with his blood. Reno panicked and retreated and Custer and his troops were all killed. Bloody Knife left behind illustrated ledgers which are now in the Smithsonian.