Two Moons (1847–1917), or Ishaynishus (Cheyenne: Éše'he Ôhnéšesêstse),[1] was the son of Carries the Otter, an Arikara captive who married into the Cheyenne tribe. Perhaps known best for his participation in battles such as the Battle of the Rosebud against General Crook on June 17, 1876, in the Montana Territory, the Battle of Little Big Horn on June 26, 1876 and what would prove to be his last battle which was that of the Battle of Wolf Mountain on January 8, 1877. Two Moons defeat in the battle at Wolf mountain by General Nelson A. Miles would inevitably lead to the surrender of his Cheyenne band at Fort Keogh in April, 1877.[2]
Two Moons | |
|---|---|
| Ishaynishus, Éše'he Ôhnéšesêstse | |
 Two Moons was one of the models for the Buffalo nickel. | |
| Cheyenne leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1847 Montana |
| Died | 1917 |
| Resting place | Alongside U.S. Route 212, west of Busby, Montana |
| Parent(s) | Father, Carries the Otter |
| Known for | Participation in the Battle of the Rosebud, the Battle of Little Big Horn, and the Battle of Wolf Mountain; Indian Scout; Chief of the Cheyenne Northern Reservation |
After the surrender of Two Moons' Cheyenne band in 1877, Two Moons would choose to enlist as an Indian Scout for the same General, Nelson A. Miles, that he had not long since surrendered to. As a result of Two Moons' pleasant personality, the friendliness that he showed towards the whites as well as his ability to get along with the military, Two Moons was thus appointed head Chief of the Cheyenne Northern Reservation by General Miles. As head Chief, Two Moons would prove to play a crucial role in faciltating the surrender of Chief Little Cow's Cheyenne band to Fort Keogh.[3]
Two Moons would later serve the Cheyenne Northern reservation by traveling on multiple occasions to Washington, D.C., where he discussed and fought for the future of his people. In 1914 Two Moons actually met with President Woodrow Wilson to discuss exactly that. Later that year, Two Moons was one of the models selected for James Fraser's famous Buffalo Nickel.[4]
Two Moons died three years later at his home in Montana at the age of 70. Two Moons' grave still lies alongside U.S. Route 212, west of Busby, Montana.[5]
References
- ^ Cheyenne Dictionary by Fisher, Leman, Pine, Sanchez.
- ^ Hardorff, Richard G. Indian Views of the Custer Fight. University of Oklahoma Press 2005, p.107
- ^ Garland, Hamlin. Account of The Battle at Little Bighorn (Recalled in 1898 by Two Moons). McClure's Magazine, 1898
- ^ Bowers, Q. David (2007). A Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels. Atlanta, Ga.: Whitman Publishing. pp. 38–39. ISBN 978-0-7948-2008-4.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - ^ Hatch, Thom. The Custer Companion. Stackpole Books 2002, p. 221, 222
- Time Life Books. (1993). The Wild West. Time Life Books.
- Richard G. Hardorff, Cheyenne memories of the Custer fight, University of Nebraska Press, 1998 ISBN 0-8032-7311-8.