Rain-in-the-Face 'Iromagaja'. The first photograph of Rain-in-the-Face, taken shortly before his arrest and incarceration at Fort Lincoln in 1874. He was one of the leaders during the Fetterman disaster of 1866, the worst defeat the U.S. Army had suffered on the frontier up to that time. His prowess as a warrior continued throughout the Sioux Wars. Wounded and lamed during the fight, he led his band against Custer, and later followed Sitting Bull into exile in Canada. Rain-in-the-Face and his followers surrendered to General Miles at Fort Keogh, Montana, in September of 1880. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Rain-in-the-Face, 'Iromagaja' (ca. 1835-1905). Warrior of note during the Red Cloud Wars. He became known to the army through the ears of Charley Reynolds, Custer's chief scout. Reynolds overheard a boast by Rain-in-the-Face during a war dance at the Standing Rock Agency in December of 1874. 'Iromagaja' told of killing two civilians traveling with Custer's 1873 Yellowstone Expedition. The tale was reported to General Custer, then Commander of Fort Abraham Lincoln, D.T. Captain Thomas Custer (brother of the General) was ordered to arrest the chief. He was imprisoned at Fort Lincoln but he managed to escape, vowing to avenge his incarceration at the hands of Captain Custer. 'Iromagaja' united a large band of warriors and joined Sitting Bull's hostiles, where in June 1876 in the valley of Little Bighorn, it is said Rain-in-the-Face was avenged. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Multiple yellow accretion marks down right edge of picture. Backing paper is almost completely torn off on the perimeter edges. Frame has multiple abrasions and chips all around frame edge. Bottom two mitre joints are separated.
