Carte de visite portrait of the Dakota spiritual leader Wa-Kan-O-Zhan-Zhan, also known as Medicine Bottle, photographed by Upton of St. Anthony, Minnesota. The image shows Medicine Bottle seated with a solemn expression, wrapped in a wool blanket, his hands clasped and resting beneath his chin. The photograph was taken shortly before his execution on November 11, 1865, at Fort Snelling, following his conviction for involvement in the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.

The CDV is captioned with the sitter’s name, tribal name, and execution date, serving as both a photographic likeness and a historical artifact from one of the most turbulent periods in U.S.-Native American relations. Medicine Bottle was a respected leader who fled to Canada after the war but was later captured and extradited. His trial and execution, along with that of fellow leader Shakopee, were deeply controversial and symbolized the harsh federal reprisals that followed the conflict.

CDVs of Native American figures associated with the U.S.-Dakota War are extremely scarce, especially those that document individuals directly tied to wartime events and their aftermath. A powerful image that intersects Native American history, 19th-century photography, and the fraught legacy of westward expansion and military justice.