A framed, double sided, 19th century, Native American colored pencil drawing. One side of the 14 3/4-inch by 6-inch lined paper ledger is a detailed drawing of six cavalrymen and their horses. The drawing shows a line of five troopers (one sergeant and four enlisted men) standing at attention with carbines in their left hands and reins in their right. Behind the troopers are five cavalry horses with bridles, bits and stirrups visible. Standing opposite the troopers is an officer with a drawn saber in his right hand and the reins of his mount in his left hand. The troopers are wearing either M1872 or M1895 forage caps with the number "7" on the front. The troopers are wearing dark blouses, medium blue pants and what appears to be Mills type cartridge belts. The NCO has yellow sergeant's strips on both sleeves. The officer is also wearing a forage cap with "7" on the front, a dark blouse and trousers with yellow stripes on the sides and yellow officer's epaulettes on his shoulders. The weapons carried by the troopers clearly show the 'trapdoor' breech blocks and hammers; one of the weapons is larger and may be a rifle. The scene appears to depict an inspection and contains incredible detail. The opposite side of the ledger page is a drawing of Native American subjects. In the left corner of the drawing are three warriors. Two of the warriors appear to be dancing; the third is emerging from a lodge. One dancing figure has a feather in his hair and a ceremonial pipe in his right hand. The second figure is wearing a buffalo headdress, a fringed jacket which covers his face and has a pipe in his left hand. The figure emerging from the lodge is wearing a single feather, appears to be painted and has an un-identified object in his right hand. Two red and two blue circles appear above the three figures. Below the dancing figures is a wolf or coyote with a spotted feather on his head. Drawn on the remainder of the ledger are seven other animal figures which the consigner identifies as spirit figures; one appears to be the head of a buffalo. Across the center of the ledger are what appear to be a student's efforts to practice cursive writing. These rare and fascinating drawings of radically different but historically related subjects, drawn on opposites sides of the same ledger page capture the unique visual perspective of two cultures as seen by a 19th century Native American artist.

Excellent. The ledger is matted and framed so the both drawings are visible. The paper is slightly yellowed from age but is not torn or stained. The drawings appear to have been done with colored pencils and the colors remain bright. This is a really unique piece of Native American art with a rare depiction of the U.S. Cavalry as seen through the eyes of a Native American artist.