Richard Irving Dodge
OUR WILD INDIANS; THIRTY-THREE YEARS' PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AMONG THE RED MEN OF THE GREAT WEST. A POPULAR ACCOUNT OF THEIR SOCIAL LIFE, RELIGION, HABITS, TRAITS, CUSTOMS, EXPLOITS, ETC. WITH THRILLING ADVENTURES AND EXPERIENCES ON THE GREAT PLAINS AND IN THE MOUNTAINS OF OUR WIDE FRONTIER. Hartford, Chicago, A.D. Worthington and Company; A.G. Nettleton & Co.; 1890 [c1882].

(A) Indian Courting Scenes
(B) Gen. MacKenzie's Fight with the Cheyennes,
and the Death of Lieut. McKinney
Original drawings attributed to Big Back, a Cheyenne Indian
Richard Irving Dodge
[E78 W5 D6 1883 pl. 4]

This plate is a facsimile of Indian drawings, originally sketched with colored pencils and attributed to Big Back, a Cheyenne Indian.

The two images at the top of the page (Image A) are labeled "Indian Courting Scenes." The courting scene image on the right is described as "The Approach," and the image on the left is "The Couple Wrapped in One Blanket."

The illustration that appears at the bottom of the page (Image B), is entitled "Gen. MacKenzie's Fight with the Cheyennes, and the Death of Lieut. McKinney." On the Indian side, the battle scene includes only prominent chiefs who died in the battle, with the fatal wound represented in each case. The short lines with a "dot" at the end represent flying bullets, such as the one passing through Lieutenant McKinney's body.

The publisher notes that these drawings are reproduced "In exact fac-simile from the original drawings, expressly for this work." The illustrations in this volume include both wood and steel engravings, and a lengthy list of chromo-lithograph plates.

Richard Irving Dodge, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the U.S. Army, had extensive dealings with Indians in the western United States. He held commands at forts along the western frontier and also enjoyed the company of wealthy American businessmen and prominent politicians.

In 1883 Richard Dodge held the title of Colonel in the U.S. Army, and served as Aide-de-Camp to General William Tecumsah Sherman, who contributed the introduction to this work.