Cheyenne Bow and Arrows

Cheyenne bow and arrows from Geronimo-Mangas camp. Attributed to Cheyenne Little Horse by Wendall Grangaard. Cheyenne bow and two arrows with steel trade points. One end sinew wrapped, maybe repair. Patina to spare, smoke and grease. From the last camp of Geronimo (Chiricahua Apache) before his surrender, weapons were hidden in caves. Mangas was a nephew of the Chief Mangas Coloradas, unifier of the Apache Nation (killed in 1863). They hid in the Dragoon Mountains of Arizona, surrendered in September 1886 in Skeleton Canyon, AZ. Given to Carl Moon with provenance going back to 1886. Pictured in numerous books and articles, most significantly pages 314-315 of “In Search of the Wild Indians” and page 77 of “Who’s Who in American Indian Relics, No. 9”. Little Horse was born in late 1830’s to a Northern Cheyenne father and Crow mother. He grew to be a great warrior and led the attack at the Fetterman battle in 1866. He may have carried this bow at the battle. Little Horse was one of nine Little Chiefs and belonged to the Kit Fox Warrior Society and was also a Contrary (Heyoka) warrior. Little Horse was married and had two daughters and one son. At the Little Big Horn Battle, Little Horse was noted as wearing a great war bonnet. He rode with Two Moon and led a group of the Kit Fox Warrior Society. Little Horse testified that he was the one who stripped Tom Custer’s body after the battle, taking his coat and pants, scarf and Spencer sporting .56-46 cal. rifle, S/N 61391. After the battle, Little Horse followed Dull Knife, eventually camped on the Red Fork of the Powder River. The camp was celebrating a victory over a Shoshone tribe when the Cavalry attacked the camp at dawn. Little Horse lost everything in his lodge during the attack to Bill Garrett, a scout for the Cavalry. This item is attributed to Little Horn, but no provenance. Bow 53 ½”L, arrows approx. 23”L. Ex. Carl Moon collection