ONEOFMANYFEATHERS'
The Sand Creek Massacre
Also known as the Chivington massacre or the Battle of Sand Creek. A massacre that shocked the nation, bringing a new wave of Indian-white conflict to Colorado's high plains along the Santa Fe Trail.
"Imagine a place of where families eat, sleep, learn; a place where people share knowledge, live in peace and where children run and play; a place where flags are flown to represent protection; a place of safety and security,"
"Now imagine this place disturbed by chaos, gunshots, cries and pleas from the innocent; peace disrupted by attacks of inhumanity. I could be describing the violent events that occurred a few weeks ago on a college campus; an event described as 'the most tragic event in American history, ' but I am not. I am talking about the Sand Creek Massacre."
The Cheyenne, led by their chief, Black Kettle, had offered to make peace with the white men and, at the suggestion of military personnel, had encamped at Sand Creek near Fort Lyon while awaiting word from the governor of the territory.
In a surprise dawn attack at Sand Creek on November 29, 1864, the Colorado Territory Militia, under the command of Methodist minister Col. John Chivington, attacked the camp of Southern Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle and his band, who had been told they would be safe on this desolate reservation. Although Black Kettle raised an American flag and a white flag of peace, the militia were instructed by Chivington to "kill and scalp all, big and little; nits make lice." Nearly 240 Cheyenne and Arapaho people were murdered, mostly women and children, their corpses often grotesquely mutilated. Women were raped and the dead were mutilated. Body parts of the slain Indians were paraded though Denver in celebration of the massacre.
"As I ran by Black Kettle's lodge he had flag tied to lodge pole and was holding it .. bullets were hitting all around me and bullets were hitting the lodges like hard storm...Indians were running north of the camp. Soldiers came due south of the village...It was about 2 miles where men, women, and children throwed up breastworks on bed of the Sand Creek. On way up, the feathers of my war bonnet were shot away and my shield was shot several times, but I did not get hit. As I was running by I seen lots of women and children that had been killed..."
~ Little Bear, Cheyenne ~
While the Sand Creek Massacre outraged easterners, it seemed to please many people in Colorado Territory. Chivington later appeared on a Denver stage where he regaled delighted audiences with his war stories and displayed 100 Indian scalps, including the pubic hairs of women.
While the massacre was a source of outrage among many people, despite an investigation by Congress, no real severe penalty was handed out to anyone involved.
Indian trader John S. Smith testified the militia's leader, Col. John Chivington, knew the band at Sand Creek was peaceful and was not involved in the attacks on settlers.
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Cheyenne Chiefs Chief Black Kettle Chief White Antelope Chief War Bonnet Chief Spotted Crow Chief Bear Robe Chief Little Robe |
Cheyenne Chiefs Chief Yellow Wolf Chief Lone Bear Chief Bear Man Chief Crow Chief Sand Hill |
Arapaho Chiefs Chief Left Hand |
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