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.

In October 1876 General Miles and his command moved across the Yellowstone River near its junction with the Tongue River. Shortly afterwards they encountered a force of about one thousand Indian warriors under the general leadership of the Lakota chief, Sitting Bull. The Indians asked for a parley, and Miles rode out with six men to meet a like number with Sitting Bull. According to Miles, Sitting Bull asserted that the country around them “belonged to the Indians and not the white men, and declared that he had nothing to do with the white men and wanted them to leave that country.” Remington’s depiction shows the great chief on horseback confronting Miles and his staff.