Hodges Soileau (American, B. 1943) "Red Cloud" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Canvas laid on foam board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 10c Red Cloud stamp issued August 15, 1987. Born in 1822 on Blue Creek in Nebraska, Red Cloud earned a reputation as a warrior, diplomat and leader. Described as a natural born gentleman, Red Cloud led an independent band in the 1860's, and was eventually accepted as leader of the Oglala Sioux -- the largest Teton Sioux tribe. Throughout this period the Oglala dominated the rich Powder River hunting grounds of Wyoming and Montana. Meanwhile, as the Civil War raged eastward, John Bozeman was sent to map a trail through Oglala territory to the Montana gold fields. Red Cloud strongly opposed the route, and, in hopes of peaceably stopping its use, he attended a council at Fort Laramie in June 1866. There he discovered a column of soldiers leaving to build three forts for protection of travelers to the gold fields. Red Cloud immediately left the council, and during the next few months gathered two thousand warriors to constantly harass the forts. On December 21, 1866, the Indians set an ambush that annihilated Captain W.J. Fetterman and his eighty men. During the following months, Red Cloud kept relentless pressure on the three forts until he succeeded in forcing their abandonment. He won both victory and peace with the treaty he signed on November 6, 1868. In his later years, Red Cloud continued to lead the Oglalas, while heading the Red Cloud Agency at Fort Robinson. On October 7, 1878, he established the Sioux Agency. Blind and ailing, Red Cloud died December 10, 1909. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 18.25 x 16.25 in. Unframed. (B11201) See More