Sioux Beaded and Quilled Hide Cradle Collected by Medal of Honor Recipient James M. Burns

Lot 65

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American Indian and Western Art: Live Salesro...

By Cowan's Auctions

Sep 25, 2015 - Sep 26, 2015

Set Reminder 2015-09-25 09:30:00 2015-09-26 09:30:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American Indian and Western Art: Live Salesroom Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-indian-and-western-art-live-salesroom-auction-858 Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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Lot Description

Sioux Beaded and Quilled Hide Cradle Collected by Medal of Honor Recipient James M. Burns

thread and sinew-sewn, with cradle hood formed of thick, softly tanned hide and quilled with purple, yellow, green, and blue; roundel at crown is flanked by undulating lines and elongated oval elements; edge of hood wrapped with greasy yellow, light blue, dark blue, and red white-heart glass beads; wide, quilled, hide tab hangs from back of hood and is finished with fringe. Interior of hood and body lined with patterned cotton; exterior made of red wool stroud, length 38 in. x width of hood 11.5 in.
fourth quarter 19th century

James Madison Burns was born in Jefferson County, Ohio in 1845. In 1861, at the age of 16, Burns enlisted in the West Virginia Infantry. On May 15, 1864, at the Battle of New Market, Virginia while under a heavy fire of musketry from the enemy he voluntarily assisted a wounded comrade from the field of battle, thereby saving him from capture by the enemy (Heitman 1988:265). This act of valor earned Burns the Congressional Medal of Honor.

According to census records, in 1870, Burns was located in the Fort Sully vicinity, Dakota Territory, and had been promoted to Second Lieutenant in the 17th US Infantry. The 17th US Infantry was mustered to Fort Abraham Lincoln, D.T. alongside companies from the 6th US Infantry and the 7th US Cavalry. In 1876, when General George Custer rode to Little Big Horn, Burns remained at the Fort as acting commanding officer.

Two days after the battle, Captain Miles Keogh’s horse, Comanche, the sole US survivor of the battle, was found wounded. Burns assisted the fort’s veterinarian, Dr. Charles A. Stein in removing the bullets. Dr. Stein [spoke] favorably of the assistance he received, in extracting the bullets, from Lt. [James M.] Burns (Gray 1977). It is possible that during his time in the Dakota Territory, Burns acquired the cradle.

Burns returned to Lebanon, Ohio and wed Caroline Corwin Sage in 1883. He remained in the military until he retired in 1899. He died in 1910 and is buried in the Lebanon Cemetery, Lebanon, Ohio.

Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the U.S. Army. Volume 1. Washington, G.P.O., 1988.

Gray, John S. “Veterinary Service on Custer’s Last Campaign.” Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains. Autumn 1977 (Vol. 43. No. 3). pp 249-263. (Accessed 24 August 2015 at https://www.kshs.org/p/veterinary-service-on-custer-s-last-campaign/13275)

Provenance: Deaccessioned from the Warren County Historical Society; Collected by James M. Burns (1845-1910)

Condition

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