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Post by grahamew on May 6, 2011 13:05:15 GMT -5
Is it? I thought American Horse (or one of his followers) shot him in 1876, but this is a Mitchell (isn't it?) and he wasn't at Red Cloud until 77.
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Post by ephriam on May 6, 2011 22:11:28 GMT -5
Graham:
This stereoview was printed and distributed by D. S. Mitchell, however, he was not the original photographer. He actually reprinted an earlier portrait by James Hamilton. I do not know the name of this individual but suspect he is Winnebago or related tribe. Mitchell pirated several of Hamilton's views for his series.
As you noted, Sioux Jim was killed by American Horse following an attempt by Colonel MacKenzie to arrest him in the fall of 1876. Mitchell did not arrive at the Red Cloud Agency until a year later.
ephriam
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Post by grahamew on May 7, 2011 3:19:25 GMT -5
Thanks, Ephriam
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Post by hreinn on May 7, 2011 8:02:31 GMT -5
Sioux Jim was killed by American Horse following an attempt by Colonel MacKenzie to arrest him in the fall of 1876 Anyone: How is the story of Sioux Jim ? Why did the U.S. Army want to arrest Sioux Jim ? How did it happen that American Horse killed Sioux Jim ? To what band(s) did Sioux Jim belong to as a child and/or as an adult ? When was Sioux Jim born ? Hreinn
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Post by andersen on May 7, 2011 10:09:29 GMT -5
According to the Thomas Powers Crazy Horse biography Sioux Jim (aka Fish Guts) was killed in June 1876 by American Horse and others, acting on behalf of the US Army. Still according Powers, Sioux Jim, who was a brother of Little Big Man, was an ex-scout at Fort Laramie (mid-1860s) and wanted for the murder of two (pregnant) white women in the Wind River area 1873.
I find this individual highly interesting, not only because of the Little Big Man-link, but also because of his scout service - he must have been quite close to the army hence his nickname - and then turning into an extremely wanted man. What do we know? And what do we know about the Sioux scouts at Fort Laramie (The Red Top Scouts?)?
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Post by grahamew on May 8, 2011 4:32:14 GMT -5
Here's the photo again, since it seems to have been deleted...
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Post by ephriam on May 15, 2011 11:41:43 GMT -5
One small correction to the comments above. "Sioux Jim" was killed on Aug. 31, 1876, not in June as initially reported in Tom Power's excellent book on the death of Crazy Horse.
Colonel Mackenzie had just arrived at Camp Robinson and following the Army's change in tactics after the Little Bighorn, began clamping down on the agency bands at the various agencies. A census by the army that month created considerable unrest. Then Mackenzie received word that Sioux Jim was in the Wagluhe or Loafer village, led by Blue Horse. Early on the morning of Aug. 31, Major Gordan led four companies of cavalry to the Wagluhe village, said to number about 50 lodges near the agency, to arrest Sioux Jim. Sioux Jim could not be found but Gordan did capture Sioux Jim's wife and one of his sons. They were taken back to Camp Robinson and placed in the guardhouse. Gordan also arrested Blue Horse and apparently several other headmen for a short time, to serve as a warning against not following Mackenzie's orders. Shortly after the troops left, Sioux Jim came back to the village where American Horse attempted to arrest him. In the process, American Horse shot and killed Sioux Jim. The date of Sioux Jim's death is from Mackenzie's reports to General Crook and General Sheridan, both dated Sept. 2, 1876.
According to the Monthly Return of Prisoners for Camp Robinson, Aug-Oct 1876, these two family members were arrested for "creating a disturbance when being counted by the Actg. U.S. Ind. Agent, for burning house of Cheyenne interpreter [Rowland], and for stealing from Post Trader." Mrs. Sioux Jim escaped from the guardhouse on Oct. 10. The son, listed by the name of Calf, was released on Oct. 28, 1876.
Tom Powers discovered a letter by this son that had been filed in the wrong pension file confirming that he was the son of Sioux Jim and a nephew of Little Big Man. He was later known as James Black Horse (c1854-1937).
For me, the most interesting part of the killing of Sioux Jim is the political ramifications. While the elder leader Blue Horse was released shortly after this, he disappears from the agency and military correspondence for the rest of the Sioux War, suggesting that he had stepped back from his leadership position. Instead, American Horse and Three Bears emerge as leaders for the band. Both were younger men who were working as scouts for the army. Not until 1878, after the war was over, do we begin to see Blue Horse's name again appearing in the documents. As William Garnett pointed out, by this time the Wagluhe had divided into three bands, each led by one of these three men. Also, I think it is important to note that American Horse had been awarded a scalp shirt a decade earlier with Crazy Horse, Young Man Afraid and Sword but it was taken away from him over the killing of Sioux Jim. Clearly this event had important ramifications within Loafer band politics.
I assume that the name of Sioux Jim must have been well known enough to the general public during the 1876-77 period since photographer D. S. Mitchell faked this photograph of him for his series of portraits of "Indian chiefs."
ephriam
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