Works of Art

During the time he was travelling to the West as an artist-correspondent for Harper’s, Remington’s work was noticed by Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles, a capable and very ambitious U.S. Army commander. Miles frequently opened doors for Remington to be an “official artist” on numerous occasions, allowing him easy access to the officers and troops in the field. In return, Remington supported General Miles’ efforts to be noticed in the press and praised for his exploits, whether deserved or not. The culmination of this was the publication in 1896 of the Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, a weighty self-serving tome that was designed to help propel Miles to the presidency of the United States. The volume featured a great many illustrations by Remington, including full-page black and white reproductions taken from paintings. Fourteen of these illustrations were printed in rotogravure for a portfolio issued by the book’s publisher, the Werner Company, in 1898.

Following the defeat of General George Armstrong Custer’s command at the Little Big Horn in July 1876, the U.S. Army troops under General Miles relentlessly pursued Chief Sitting Bull and his Lakota people. When Sitting Bull’s village was located, an attempt was made to negotiate a surrender; when the chief refused the army attacked them, forcing them to flee without many of their belongings. The army pursued them for more than forty miles, forcing them to keep moving. This print shows the army troops drawn up in “open order” in a hollow square, defending their position during the brisk fighting.