Sophie Mousseau (1859–1936)

A lot of history in a single image

This photograph, taken by an unknown photographer in 1867 or 1868, gathered dust in a Smithsonian Institution cabinet until it was digitized by Google in 2018. The original caption read: “Members of the Peace Commission pose with an unidentified Indian woman. From left to right: Generals Terry, Harney, and Sherman; Commissioner Sanborn, Samuel Tappan, and General Augur.”

At far left, Alfred Howe Terry signed the Fort Laramie Treaty giving the Dakotas to the Sioux. He commanded the troops that intercepted the Nez Perce’s escape to Canada and imprisoned Chief Joseph. The Nez Perce called him “Koot-nee-to-koot,” “the long beard.”

William S. Harney was known among the Lakota as “Woman Killer” (“Wiŋyan Waṡiču-ŋni”) and “Mad Bear” (“Mahto Ocinsica”). He enjoyed tormenting and beating to death his slaves, including a young woman. He destroyed entire villages and laid waste to crops in the Seminole War and mistreated prisoners and slaves in the Mexican War. Against the Sioux, he commanded the rape and murder of women and children at…