Wooden Leg's Scalp

"A new kind of scalp"

When Wooden Leg (Northern Cheyenne) was 18 years old he participated in the Battle of Little Bighorn. During the fight, he helped to kill an Arikara scout and afterward took a grim trophy from one of the dead soldiers; what he referred to as a "new kind of scalp."

Wooden Leg

The soldier in question had a "long beard growing from both sides of his face & extending several inches below the chin. He had also a full mustache. Most of the soldiers had beards but this was the longest one I saw among them."

You know what happens next...

Wooden Leg

Per Wooden Leg "I skinned one side of the face and half the chin, so as to keep the long beard yet on the part removed. I got an arrow shaft & tied the strange scalp to the end of it."

Following the battle, Wooden Leg gifted this trophy to his grandmother.

There's no way of knowing for sure, but the fallen trooper may have been Custer's adjutant William W. Cooke (RIP). Lt Cooke was said to have been known for his "dundrearies."

Lt. William W. Cooke

Dundrearies is evidently an old-time way of saying bushing sideburns.

The officer’s fate notwithstanding, maybe it’s time we start making facial hair like this in style again.

Look for an episode (probably a two-parter) on Wooden Leg in the very near future. Until then I hope you and yours have a very happy Thanksgiving!