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The Custer Hotel
Bismarck, North Dakota
June 30, 1897

My own true loving little wife,

I received a letter from you at Ft. Yates and was glad to hear from you. I am about played out since two o’clock yesterday have ridden by wagon 10 miles and 40 of it in a lumber wagon. You probably will get this letter before the one wrote you yesterday as mailed it at Ft. Yates. I finished the picture of “Rain-in-the-face” and the other Indian I wanted had left and there happened to be a wagon going to Ft. Yates so I left and am (2) now one my way to the Crow Indians near Billings, Montana. Wish you could see “Rain-in-the-face” he is a noble looking fellow, so awfully dignified and reserved, says very little. I didn't dare be funny with him like I was with Geronimo. I used to poke Geronimo with my make stick. I tried to speak what little Sioux I knew to Rain and he would always stop and correct me. He made more of an impression on me than any Indian have seen. He was arrested once by Custer’s brother Tom at Ft. Yates the people there know the very spot and they heard “Rain-in-the-face” say he would kill Tom Custer (3) and cut his heart out and eat it and he kept his word. At the Custer fight Tom Custer was in it with his brother General Custer and “Rain-in-the-face” cut out Tom Custer’s heart and ate it, a part of it. Rain wanted me to send him a photo of his picture, he liked the picture, he had other Indians in to see it. I probably will go to the Pine Ridge Agency near the Black Hills on my return. The best way to go is via St. Paul. There I will get the Sioux (4) more in his native dress. I was at Cannon Ball this noon and all the Indians have gone to different places for the 4th. Last eve at Ft. Yates received a letter from Hamlin Garland and he was to be in Ft. Yates today but didn’t see him. He is going to the very same place I am. He’s going to write a book about the Indians and is going to camp out among them. I probably will meet him later on. Uncle Ed hasn’t commissioned me to paint the Indians yet, but he will buy some more sure of me. When I get to Billings will write to Uncle Ed to (5) send you $50.00. Just before I left Chicago, my dear, I sent you a check for $10.00. You haven’t said yet whether you received it or not, please be sure and let me know. I haven’t received any money yet from the 10 Indian pictures sold. Uncle Ed bought 8 and two ladies bought two. I had to draw my money out of the bank to come here but will put it back when am paid so it (6) will be the same. I had a lot to pay out before leaving Chicago, and this trip will cost me a good deal as well. Have so much traveling to do by wagon and stage. Have a pass from St. Paul to Tacoma and return. Have to pay my fare from St. Paul to Chicago. You can address your letter to Billings, Montana. I won’t go to Colorado this time, another time. I see the Indians in Idaho are having the Ghost Dance and the people are scared. Hope they will have it when I get there. I will put on a war bonnet and (7) dance with them. At Ft. Sill the Indians (Kiowa) were to have a muscatel dance soon and wanted me to join it, which intended to do. They eat muscatel a sort of medicine berry and it stupefies them and puts down to sleep. They say it is fine for one’s health. I met a lot of Indians who were in the Custer fight at Rock Creek and some who were in the Sitting Bull fight. Not many white people have been to Rock Creek (8) as it is 110 miles from Bismarck and by wagon, and used to be a dangerous place to go to. The Siouxs and Crows used to be deadly enemies and were always fighting, but now they are friendly and visit back and forth and take ponies along with them to make each other presents of. A while ago some Sioux went to visit the Crows and the Sioux had their hair cut short and white man’s clothes on and the Crows laughed at them and called them old women and they had better go back home, etc. so I have an idea. The Crows dress more in their native clothes, if they do not I will (9) call them old women also. I met some of the queerest men at Rock Creek. The man who drove the wagon I came on to Ft. Yates was a squaw man (a man who has a squaw for a wife) how Will would of laughed to hear that fellow talk. I would laugh so, would pretty near roll off the seat. He has lived with the Indians 25 years and has had five different squaws as they call them skippers because they skip around and don’t live with a white man (10) very long as a rule. He said he would be skeered, as he calls it, to live in a city was afraid he would be killed or knock down and then he has been in a good many fights with the Indians. Been shot at and shot them. I asked him if he ate raw liver and kidney he said yes, that it was fine. Well, my dear, I must close and go to bed. I leave tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock and will arrive in Billings sometime tomorrow eve. Give my love to Will & Lillie. Good night darling from your true loving husband.

Lots of love, hugs & kisses,

Elbridge