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P.S. The flower came from the Custer battlefield.

Ditch Camp, Montana
July 04, 1897

My own true loving little wife,

I arrived here yesterday from Crow Agency 40 miles by wagon I just wish you could see the Crow Indians here Tattie, there are over 1,000 and every one of them is fixed up in war costume. The war dance commenced at 12, at noon. At 4 it commenced to rain and they quit as they would dance for several hours. You just ought to of seen the way the Indians were fixed in the first place. They were stark naked except they had a breech cloth on and their whole body – legs, arms, stomach, face and all was painted (2) the most gorgeous colors you ever saw. Then on their head they wore dance bonnets, war bonnets, feathers etc. died (sic) the most beautiful colors. Then they would have beautiful moccasins on, bracelets and fixings. There was 500 of them fixed like this and it was the most gorgeous effect I ever saw. Never saw anything on the stage to compare with it. Some would have their face and whole body painted a pea green others vermillion red and others yellow and varied and most of them would be tattooed all over, their faces also tattooed. Where they have the dance is the most picturesque at the foothills and their Tipis form a circle about a mile around it and in the (3) center they form another large circle for the dance. The dancers will sit in a circle and when the musicians start up (sounds like the midway) then get up and dance. The spectators form a circle back of the dancers. The squaws do not dance, but look on and they are all painted and fixed up. Then you ought to see the little papooses. They are all fixed up and painted. The horses are all fixed up with beautiful saddles made just for the occasion and I saw some dogs painted and fixed up. They acted as though they liked. The Indians can fix themselves up the most artistic of many people in the world. When I was looking at the dance I wondered why (4) Buffalo Bill doesn’t have his Indians fix up the same and a man told me when used to be with Buffalo Bill that the government wouldn’t allow it, that the Indians with him must have clothes on. I went to the Indian camp early this AM, where I sleep in a tent is 3 miles from it, and I asked several Indians if they would fix up like that for me and they said they would. I couldn’t possibly painting a more artistic thing or more saleable. The dance didn’t comments until 12 so I got an Indian to sit for me at 9 to 12 he was all fixed up elegant. The Indians at Ft. Sill are not to be compared with the Crows. I have to paint in a (5) tipi, but got along all right. They are going home right after the 5th but the one am painting lives six miles from the Crows and see where I will be so I can finish. He says he will get the Indians to except for me just like they were today nearly all the Crows have their costumes, war bonnets, etc. because they can so much. Nearly every Sunday they have small dances by themselves. The Crows are awfully nice Indians, very gentle. They have always been friendly with a white man. I will leave here Wednesday and stop halfway to Crow Agency at a Catholic mission there, as four houses are there. There is a Mr. Campbell there who (6) is a fine fellow. De Forest Brush, Walter Shirlan, and Remington have stopped with him. Brush for two years. I will stay with him a week. A celebrated chief by name of Pretty Eagle lives 3 miles from him and he will get him to sit for me. Mr. Weare of Chicago told me to be sure and get Pretty Eagle. How do you think an Indian washes his face? They take a cup and fill their mouth full of water and squirt the water on their hands and washed that way. The government is putting in a big irrigating ditch here and a lot of men our working here. They lived in tents and dugouts and log houses. I eat with them, I (7) don’t like their food. It has stopped raining and the Indians have commenced to dance again can hear the drums beating. I saw some Crow kitties today and petted and hugged them, one of them cried. Well, I must close now and see the dance again. Goodbye darling.

Your loving husband.
Lots of love, hugs & kisses,

Elbridge

P.S. I went over to where the Indians were and about 300 were horseback, naked except for breech cloth and all painted up. One fellow was green his whole body, hair and all and he had a white horse and it was tattooed green. The Indians rode just as fast as they could, shooting off (8) guns and yelling the war cry, enough to scare one. The Crows are about the nicest Indians there are, so peaceful. Have never killed a white man by themselves only when they were with the Cheyenne xxxxx xxx bad Indians and xxx at the Crows all the time to join them in some out break that the Crows won’t do it. Goodnight darling.

Your loving husband.

Elbridge
PS address me to
Crow Agency, Montana