John Dives Backward. Signed
By David Humphreys Miller. Colored pencil and crayon on tinted art paper, drawn from life c. 1941, not signed by Miller. 11"x8". John Dives Backward was twelve or thirteen years old at the time of the Custer battle. He was one of the first of his tribe to see the approach of Reno's attacking troopers, whom he spotted while fishing with fellow Northern Cheyennes White Shield and Little Chief. Not well armed, he nonetheless joined Yellow Nose and the son of Chief Ice in the fight, and counted two coups with his quirt. David Miller first met John Dives Backwards in 1941 at Busby, Montana, the site of Custer's last camp ground. This sketch is signed by John Dives Backwards, and noted with his place of residence in Lame Deer, Montana.
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