Comparison
Godkin photo / Brady 1877 photo —
Buffaloman
dated
circa 1875. William F. Cody (center) with scouts.
Standing on far left is John Nelson; sitting right is
George Sword.
This
image of George Sword seems identical to his individual
portrait taken in 1877 with the delegates to Washington
D.C.
If
so, I would suggest that this new photograph is dated 1877.
George Sword was not actually a member of the 1877 delegation
but he and another Oglala (Two Bears if I recall correctly)
had been hired to be in a play with Cody that year. When
the 1877 delegation from the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail
Agencies came to Washington D.C., Cody and his troupe were
playing in the city at the same time. The delegation came
to see the play and Sword accompanied the delegation on
several of its trips, including to the photographer's studio.
That is when the classic portrait of Sword taken by Charles
M. Bell was made. — Ephriam
Dickson
From
Pine Ridge, in the fall of 1877, Cody hired at least George
Sword and Two Bears, also John Y. Nelson as interpreter,
for his Buffalo Bill Combination of 1877-78. Two Bears is
said to have been a Hunkpapa.
This surprising "new" photo of Sword and Cody
has already been on its way for some time. It is published
in Louis S. Warren, BUFFALO BILL'S AMERICA: WILLIAM CODY
AND THE WILD WEST SHOW; New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.
— Hans Karkheck
George
Sword does appear to be wearing the same outfit in the 1877
delegation photos and does suggest this is an 1877 photograph.
The moccasins look to be the same in the Bell photo. The leggings,
blanket, shirt, otter braid wraps with a single beaded wrap
are in the delegation photos. An upright eagle feather is
worn in the delegation photos, but the feather is worn sideways
in the "new" photo. Metal armbands, and a dentalia
shell choker is worn by Sword in the delegation photos, but
not in the new photo. — Buffaloman
George
Sword as Captain of Police at Pine Ridge
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