Can you shed some light on a photo of Red Cloud’s wife in a cabin featuring a Japanese katana sword on the wall?
Dan Dancer
Salem, New Hampshire
All I can share with you is that three members of the Japanese Imperial Army visited the Red Cloud Agency in September 1876. Historians are unsure if they met with Chief Red Cloud, but if so, presenting him a high-quality samurai sword would have been proper etiquette. Mounted in handachi fittings, this katana was the type worn in battle.
Alternatively, Red Cloud could have picked up the sword during one of his trips to Washington, D.C., or another official could have given it to him.
The sword must have meant a great deal to the chief and his wife, Pretty Owl, as it held a prominent place on their cabin wall in the 1890 photograph.
– Image True West archives –
Related Articles
-
Frederick Brunckow met his end while trying to develop mining in southeast Arizona. The German…
-
A Berkley Prime Crime novel, this story has little to do with making saddles. When…
-
In the movie Tombstone, the Cowboys are identified by the red sashes they wear around…
