Crow Indian - Red Wing

["Hunk" Papa]

I have been contacted by a lady who lives in England but who is descended from the Crow tribe. Apparently, her great grandfather was named Red Wing, who married a woman of the Turtle Clan of the Tuscarora tribe and she is looking for as much information as she can obtain on this man.

I have found two references to a Red Wing in 'Plenty Coups' by Frank B. Linderman. This man was a contemporary of Plenty Coups and fought with him in actions described on pages 273 and 279, but I have not been able to locate anything more than that.

Any information or pointers as to where it may be obtained will be much appreciated.

"Hunk" Papa

[jinlian]

In Edward Curtis's The North American Indian. Volume 4 (Apsaroke, Hidatsa) there's the picture of a Crow Indian called Red Wing:



described as it follows:

Red Wing - Ahpishshish (sorry, couldn't manage with diacritics) -
Born about 1858 - Piegan Lodge clan - Lumpwood society (this is one of the two most important Crow military societies or clubs, the other being that of the Fox).Obtaining no medicine by fasting, he purchased that of brown crane and owl and led a successful war party with it. Captured two guns in battle. When stationed at Fort Custer as United States scout, he accompanied a detachment of troops in pursuit of Sioux horse-raiders; the latter surrendered and Red Wing shook hands with one of them, subsequently claiming "dakshe" (coup) since he had been the first to touch the enemy. A strict interpretation of the rules allowed the honor.

In his autobiographical book Memoirs of a White Crow Indian Thomas H. LeForge mentions a fellow Crow scout called Red Wing ("quiet, cool, good-natured,reliable, brave but not foolhardy...an accurate marskman with his rifle"), who seems to be the same man described by Curtis - what's strange is that LeForge's Red Wing is described as having but one eye (and therefore nicknamed "One-eyed Riley" by the soldiers at the Fort) and the man in the picture's eyes both look all right...

Hope this helps a little, anyway.

["Hunk" Papa]

jinlian, that is great information, especially the photograph. I will alert the lady in question to look at what you have posted as I have no idea whether she has ever seen a photograph of her great grandfather, if indeed this Red Wing is the right man.

Many thanks for your help.

Hunk

[Diane Merkel]

There is something about that photograph that keeps me coming back to look at it again and again. There's a lot of strength and wisdom in that face!

I'm wondering if perhaps his having one eye meant one good eye. There is a difference in size. Perhaps the photographer had him looking so far to the right to disguise that his left eye is what used to be called (perhaps still is) a lazy eye, stuck in the corner.

[jinlian]

Hi Diane,

I hadn't thought of this, but it might have been so. Guess I had in mind other Indians who lost one eye in more dramatic ways (Shot-in-the-Eye, Blue Horse and so on)

I sincerely hope that the lady in question will find the info and the picture substantial to establish the kinship.