Night Skirmish (Henderson Ledger Artist A) 1862 - 1902

Frank Henderson, a Cheyenne artist, made "Night Skirmish" with graphite, colored pencil, and ink on paper, sometime between 1880 and 1885. Henderson was among those Native American artists detained as prisoners of war at Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida. "Night Skirmish" is an example of ledger art which emerged during a tumultuous period of cultural transition and violent conflict for Native American tribes. It depicts a battle scene, blending traditional Plains Indian artistic conventions with newly introduced materials. Here, we see a Cheyenne warrior in mid-battle. The warrior, adorned in traditional regalia, including a shield and feathered lance, engages in combat with U.S. soldiers, represented by the line of rifles. The artwork embodies themes of resistance, cultural resilience, and the preservation of indigenous identity in the face of systemic oppression. It serves as a visual record of historical events. It tells a personal story of identity, survival, and cultural continuity amidst displacement and conflict.