Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

[Diane Merkel]

Indian Massacre Site Honored As Historic Site
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Opens Saturday

Although it has taken more than a century to build a memorial to the shameful attack Nov. 29, 1864, on a sleeping Indian village 160 miles southeast of Denver on Big Sandy Creek in Kiowa County, the crime was recognized almost immediately. Congress condemned the attack and territorial Gov. John Evans was fired by President Lincoln.

Several witnesses told a Congressional hearing that the victims were not hostile. Indian trader John S. Smith testified that Chivington knew the band at Sand Creek was peaceful, and not involved with attacks by a military society known as "The Dog Soldiers."

But in Denver, Col. John Chivington, the Methodist Minister and militia commander known as "the fighting parson," was greeted as a hero. "Among the brilliant feats of arms in Indian warfare, the recent campaign of our Colorado volunteers will stand in history with few rivals, and none to exceed it in final results," said a Rocky Mountain News editorial. Denver residents were terrified that the Confederacy would use Indians as their surrogates, and the scalps of a family killed by a roving band of Indians were put on display in Denver.

A Civil War Memorial installed at Colorado's State Capitol in 1909 listed Sand Creek as a great Union victory. A plaque was added in 2002 setting the record straight, giving details of the massacre.

Article: www.thedenverchannel.com/news/13215623/detail.html

[Scout]

Have they ever decided where the battle took place? I know another site was actually believed to be the site. There has been some controversy over the real location. Kind of like the Kidder site...

[gary]

There has been a lot of research on the precise location of the village in recent years. Scott and Greene's 'Finding Sand Creek' is worth reading. The NPS website also has links to some detailed reports on the location of the site:

www.nps.gov/sand/index.htm

There were previously quite a few documents linked from the site, but some seem to have disappeared, unless they have moved and I simply couldn't track them down.

I am sure that the controversy will continue however.

[Realbird]

During the congressional hearings calling for an Indian Peace Commission was direct result of the Sand Creek incident. during the hearings, Silas Soule (commander of a cavalry company who refused to attack the Cheyenne at Sand Creek) testified against Col. Chivington. He described the attack as a :

"cowardly coldblooded slaughter, sufficient to cover its perpetrators with indelible infamy, and the face of every American with shame and indignation."


Major Scott Anthony, U.S. Army:

"There was one little child, probably three years old, just big enough to walk through the sand...I saw one man get off his horse...and draw up his rifle and fire, he missed the child. Another man came up and said, "Let me try the son of a bitch; I can hit him"...but he missed him. A third man came up and made a similar remark, and fired, and the little fellow dropped."

1st. Lt. James Connor, U.S. Army:

I did not see a body of a man, woman, child but was scalped; and in many instances their bodies were mutilated in the most horrible manner."

Did the Indians committed such atrocities also? Absolutely! However, to my knowledge, they did not honor specific perpetrators of such despicable acts by naming a city after him for is "heroic" military duty.. And we call them "savages."

[chadron21]

realbird2 said:

Did the Indians committed such atrocities also? Absolutely! However, to my knowledge, they did not honor specific perpetrators of such despicable acts by naming a city after him for is "heroic" military duty.. And we call them "savages."

No. They made them chiefs and heaped war honors upon them.

[Realbird]

Actually, warriors received some of their greatest "honors" from their ability to steal horses. To do so and successfully escape involved stealth as well as courage. you can imagine what would occur if you were captured.

In addition, great esteem was awarded to the warrior who met and bested another warrior of equal or better martial prowess. In the "Coup" system, touching the enemy in close contact was a heroic act, any child could kill a "Brave" by shooting him from a distance.

After the Custer battle, I'm certain that many warriors danced themselves into a frenzy while reminiscing of their valiant deeds. While it is true I was not present during these "kill songs" I bet you not one of then crowed about killing a small child. I could be wrong, what do you think?

By the way, contrary to popular belief a, "Chief" was more often recognized for his wisdom rather than the ability to make war.

[chadron21]

realbird2 said:

After the Custer battle, I'm certain that many warriors danced themselves into a frenzy while reminiscing of their valiant deeds. While it is true I was not present during these kill songs; I bet you not one of then crowed about killing a small child. I could be wrong, what do you think?

I agree. The 7th didn't bring any small children with them.

However, it is well known that babies were grabbed by the feet and swung into trees, thus bashing their brains out. This was honorable among warriors.

Both sides committed these atrocities. In this age of PC, that is often forgotten.

[joetruglio]

I am interested in getting info for an article on John Chivington. I am looking for info on how he developed his hatred for Indians between his service to the Wyandotte and Sand Creek.
joetruglio

[gocav76]

I have a question about Sand Creek. David Cornut posted on Free Republic, "Why you should never vote Liberal" , remarks to the effect that Black Kettle's band had been raiding throughout Colorado and over 200 whites had been killed. After the battle on November 27 1864 he contends that Gregory F. Michno found the testimony of possible Atrocities committed by the cavalry were forgeries. Where can I find that statement by Michno? Seems I learn something everyday. Here is the link with Mr. Cornut's post. www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1596655/posts

[markland]

gocav76 said:

I have a question about Sand Creek. David Cornut posted on Free Republic, "Why you should never vote Liberal" , remarks to the effect that Black Kettle's band had been raiding throughout Colorado and over 200 whites had been killed. After the battle on November 27 1864 he contends that Gregory F. Michno found the testimony of possible Atrocities committed by the cavalry were forgeries. Where can I find that statement by Michno? Seems I learn something everyday. Here is the link with Mr. Cornut's post. www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1596655/posts

Larry, I believe Michno made an argument that the Sand Creek battle was not the utter massacre people say it was. He has a book about it, I spotted it at Upton and Son and I think he had an overview of the book in Wild West magazine. You might do a Google for Michno and then within the results for "Sand+Creek" Or reverse it. Now whether he stated that ALL the atrocities were forgeries or that is David waxing hysterical, I can't say as I haven't read the book and am not sure I read the article. I am debating getting the book but you know Upton prices

Billy

[gocav76]

Thanks Billy. I'll check my local library too. Seems like it would be a good book to have, not much on Sand Creek. Larry

[markland]

gocav76 said:

Thanks Billy. I'll check my local library too. Seems like it would be a good book to have, not much on Sand Creek. Larry

In the U.S. Serial Set is the complete report about Sand Creek. Granted, it is the government version but, since the government was Chivington's greatest critic, it should be complete insofar as government documents are concerned. I haven't copied it yet, having refused to delve into that controversial episode but when I go over to Leavenworth tomorrow night, after doing thirty or so pages of 1850's era enlistment register entries I will try to begin copying it.

It will take a while. You may want to check out the Making of American sites at Cornell or the University of Michigan to see if they are already on-line. The investigation was headed by Doolittle if memory serves me.

Be good,

Billy

[gary]

The Sand Creek report is available on line through the University of Michigan's Making of America site at:

quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=moa;idno=ABB3022

There is considerable evidence that the atrocities were genuine.

[gary]

If anyone doubts that atrocities were committed at Sand Creek, they need only read the Report of the Joint Special Committee on the Condition of Indian Tribes, 1867 (see my last post).

One prominent victim was the venerable peace chief, White Antelope who was not only killed, but also mutilated by the troops.

The sources for the mutilation of White Antelope are from the Report of the Joint Special Committee on the Condition of Indian Tribes, 1867, which includes the evidence of:

Captain L Wilson, 1st Colorado cavalry, who said that: "I saw... the ears cut off the body of White Antelope. ...and I heard that the privates of White Antelope had been cut off to make a tobacco bag out of it" (p.67).

Robert Bent, who reported that: "I saw the body of White Antelope with the privates cut off, and heard a soldier say that he was going to make a tobacco pouch out of them" (p.96).

[gocav76]

Gary, I don't doubt. I was just reporting what a Mr. Cornut wrote on another forum. You can find his comments on this link, paragraph 5 and 6. www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1596655/posts