Two Moon Many Moons After

Toward the end of his life, the Cheyenne Indian chief Two Moon (a.k.a. Two Moons) became resigned to the ways of the white man and posed, for money, for photographers at various resorts along the Jersey shore. This picture was taken around 1914; the children are unknown.

Thirty-eight years earlier Two Moon had led his warriors, alongside the Sioux, to a famous victory against Custer at Little Big Horn.

When the U.S. Army, bent on revenge, sent fresh troops into the area, the Indians dispersed. Sitting Bull led one group to southern Canada; Two Moon came down the Tongue River to Fort Keogh, where he surrendered to Gen. Nelson Miles. He was later recruited as a scout for the Army, and the remainder of his life was peaceful. He made several visits to Washington, D.C., met President Wilson in 1914, and became chief of the Northern Cheyenne on the reservation, where he died in 1917, at the age of seventy.

The photograph was sent to us by Melvin W. Whitesell of Jupiter, Florida.

We continue to ask our readers to send unusual and previously unpublished old photographs to Carla Davidson at American Heritage Publishing Co., 10 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020. Please send a copy of any irreplaceable material, include return postage, and do not mail glass negatives. American Heritage will pay $50.00 for each one that is run.