Howling Wolf (Cheyenne warrior)
Howling Wolf was a notable Southern Cheyenne warrior and leader, the son of Eagle Head, a principal chief. He distinguished himself as a capable warrior during the tumultuous period of the Plains Wars and eventually attained the rank of war chief. After the conclusion of the Red River War (1874-1875), Howling Wolf surrendered and was subsequently imprisoned at Fort Marion in Florida. During his imprisonment, he, along with fellow captives, was encouraged to express themselves artistically, leading to their collective recognition as the "Florida Boys."
Upon his release in 1878, Howling Wolf returned to Indian Territory, where he took on various roles, including that of a school janitor, and he adopted Christianity while also pursuing farming. His initial support for peace shifted as he became increasingly disillusioned by repeated violations of treaties by the government. In 1884, he took a leadership role as chief of the Dog Soldiers, a group that functioned as a form of reservation police for the Cheyenne. Howling Wolf became a vocal opponent of the 1887 General Allotment Act, which aimed to redistribute tribal lands among individual Native Americans. He passed away in 1927 due to a car accident, leaving behind a legacy as a warrior and a leader who witnessed significant changes in the Cheyenne community.
Howling Wolf (Cheyenne warrior)
- Born: c. 1850
- Birthplace: Indian Territory (now in Oklahoma)
- Died: July 2, 1927
- Place of death: Waurika, Oklahoma
Category: Artist, chief
Tribal affiliation: Cheyenne
Significance: Howling Wolf was a warrior, war chief, and artist
The son of Eagle Head, principal Cheyenne chief, Howling Wolf as a young man proved himself an able warrior, eventually becoming a war chief during the wars for the Plains. Following the Red River War of 1874-1875, Howling Wolf surrendered and was sent to Fort Marion, a military prison in St. Augustine, Florida. While imprisoned, Howling Wolf and fellow prisoners Bear’s Heart, Cohoe, and Zotom, were encouraged by Lieutenant Richard Henry Pratt to become artists. The artistic Indians became known as the Florida Boys.
After being released in 1878, Howling Wolf returned to Indian Territory, where he labored as a school janitor, converted to Christianity, and became a farmer. Although initially supporting peace, he quickly abandoned his white sympathies after witnessing recurrent treaty violations.
In 1884, he became chief of the Dog Soldiers, a self-styled Cheyenne reservation police force. He opposed the 1887 General Allotment Act, which provided for the redistribution of tribal lands to individual Indians. Howling Wolf died in 1927, the victim of a car accident.