Prairie Indians

A white-faced Lakota Sioux charges past some more of the beleaguered “Bluecoats” fighting for their lives against the thousands of attacking Indians.

Riding his favorite war pony this Arapaho warrior brandishes his stone club about to bring it down on the head of some unfortunate 7th Cavalry trooper.

A sitting leader hears the din of battle in the distance...His warriors already have the white men on the run...There is no need to hurry.

One of the Sioux’s most noted war-chiefs “Rain-In-The-Face” was a Lakota and famous among the tribe for his fighting ability and leadership. Here he is riding into battle, with his full eagle-feather war bonnet, rifle held over his head...Totally unafraid of the “Long Knives” or their bullets!

One of the most famous Cheyenne war chiefs. Here he is resplendent with a magnificent war bonnet riding his favorite pony.

Appropriately this well-armed Sioux warrior is wearing a deerskin complete with deer’s head and antlers to frighten the rapidly retreating “Longknives”.

A Cheyenne "Dog Soldier" well-known for his accuracy with bow and arrow.

Chief Gall was another Lakota Sioux war chief who has been credited with being instrumental in the Indians’ victory over Custer. He anticipated a typical Custer “two-pronged” attack on the Indian village….First he helped repulse Major Reno’s assault on the southeast of the Indian encampment… Then he moved his forces north towards the center to halt Custer’s attack across the Little Bighorn river. Finally he chased the cavalrymen back up and onto the bluffs where many made their last stand. Gall is simply dressed and armed with tomahawk.

Another of the great Lakota Sioux war chiefs and a close friend of “Sitting Bull”. In the spring of 1876 he joined sitting sitting Bull’s band and traveled with them to the Little Bighorn River. During the battle itself it is said he shot several troopers with his Winchester repeating rifle while riding in the saddle. It is also rumoured that he personally cut out the heart of Tom Custer the general’s brother. In addition to his rifle Rain-In-The-Face also carries a Colt revolver.

Next to “Sitting Bull”, probably the most famous of the Sioux war chiefs was Crazy Horse. An Oglala Lakota he took up arms against the U.S. government because of their many broken treaties and constant encroachment on Indian lands. A skilled leader and a brave warrior, it is said that he led the attack that out-flanked Custer and his men at the Little Bighorn and sealed their fate. Our figure shows him carrying his Winchester repeating rifle and charging his pony towards the battle.