Red Armed Panther

Red Armed Panther, or Red Sleeve (also known as Red Around the Mouth, Red Arm, and Bloody Arm), was a Northern Cheyenne Scout at Fort Keogh during the late 1870s. He was brought into the Chiefs Council of Forty-four during the summer of 1864. He actively participated during Chief Little Wolf’s trail back to the homeland, which is now the Northern Cheyenne Reservation located in the south eastern part of Montana. He put his life on the line to save his comrade, Black Horse, during a horse stealing raid. He had a large family growing up, with six sisters and a brother. He had two children, Shell Woman and “Man Bear,” known as John Red Sleeve. The exact date of his death is uncertain, but he died in his home of electrical shock in the Muddy Cluster district on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.

Family Red Sleeve had a big family. His eldest sister was Wolf Woman, Elk Woman was the second eldest, and Medicine Woman was the third oldest. Others in the bunch were Young Medicine Woman, Buffalo Woman, and Mrs. Ford Wounded Eye. His brother was William Yellowrobe. His children’s names were Shell Woman and “Man Bear,” also commonly known as John Red Sleeve.

Political history During the summer of 1864, Red Arm, along with ten other Cheyenne men, was named in the Chiefs’ renewed Council of Forty-Four. This renewed council then took their first action, choosing the new Sweet Medicine Chief. They all decided in choosing the young Little Wolf, which was surprising to the people. Little Wolf, was however, also sitting as head chief for the warrior society, the Elkhorn Scrapers. He was supposed to step down from that position to serve on the council, but the Elkhorns would not allow him to step down, instead he became the only man in Cheyenne history to serve as head chief in both the Council of Forty-four and a warrior society at the same time.

Humiliated and fearing the area unsafe, the Cheyenne returned to their camp on the Rosebud. On their way home, they warned two wagon trains that Red Cloud was on a war path. However, one warning had come too late, Red Cloud had attacked them. Two were killed in this fight.