The Indians of the Pike's Peak Region: Including an Account of the Battle of Sand Creek, and of Occurrences in El Paso County, Colorado, during the War with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, in 1864 and 1868Howbert, Irving
History
The Indians of the Pike's Peak Region: Including an Account of the Battle of Sand Creek, and of Occurrences in El Paso County, Colorado, during the War with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, in 1864 and 1868
Howbert, Irving
El Paso County, Colo. -- History; Indians of North America -- Colorado; Sand Creek Massacre, Colo., 1864
"In the summer of 1864 Governor Evans, of Colorado Territory,
as acting Superintendent of Indian Affairs, sent notice to the
various bands and tribes of Indians within his jurisdiction,
that such as desired to be considered friendly to the whites
should repair to the nearest military post in order to be
protected from the soldiers who were to take the field against
the hostile Indians."
This statement is true as to such notice having been sent,
but conveys the false impression that it was at the beginning
of hostilities, and the declaration of war. The truth is, it
was issued by authority of the Indian Department months after
the war had become general, for the purpose of inducing the
Indians to cease hostilities, and to protect those who had
been, or would become, friendly from the inevitable dangers to
which they were exposed. This "notice" may be found published
in the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for 1864,
page 218.
The report continues:
"About the close of the summer some Cheyenne Indians, in the
neighborhood of the Smoky Hill, sent word to Major Wynkoop,
commanding at Fort Lyon, that they had in their possession,
and were willing to deliver up, some white captives they had
purchased of other Indians. Major Wynkoop, with a force of
over one hundred men, visited these Indians and recovered the
white captives. On his return he was accompanied by a number
of the chiefs and leading men of the Indians, whom he had
brought to visit Denver for the purpose of conferring with
the authorities there in regard to keeping the peace. Among
them were Black Kettle and White Antelope, of the Cheyennes,
and some chiefs of the Arapahoes. The council was held, and
these chiefs stated that they were friendly to the whites and
always had been."
Again they say:
"All the testimony goes to show that the Indians under the
immediate control of Black Kettle and White Antelope, of the
Cheyennes, and Left Hand of the Arapahoes, were, and had always
been, friendly to the whites, and had not been guilty of any
acts of hostility or depredations."
This word, which the committee say was sent to Major Wynkoop,
was a letter to United States Indian Agent, Major Colley,
which is published in the report of the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs for 1865, page 233, and is as follows:
"CHEYENNE VILLAGE, August 29, 1864.
"MAJOR COLLEY:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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