A DEFENSE OF THE BATTLE OF SAND CREEK (_Continued_) If anything in addition to Governor Evans's statement were needed to prove the hostility of the Indians attacked at Sand Creek, it will be found in the admission of the Indians themselves at the council held by Governor Evans with the Cheyenne and Arapahoe chiefs in Denver about sixty days prior to the battle. At this council, there were present Black Kettle, leading chief of the Cheyennes, White Antelope, chief of the central band of the Cheyennes, Bull Bear, leader of the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, Neva, sub-chief of the Arapahoes, and several other minor chiefs of that tribe. These chiefs admitted that their people had been, and were still committing depredations, as the following extract from the report of the council, taken down at the time, conclusively shows: GOV. EVANS: Who committed the murder of the Hungate family on Running Creek? NEVA: The Arapahoes, a party of the northern band who were passing north. It was the Medicine Man, or Roman Nose, and three others. I am satisfied from the time he left a certain camp for the north, that it was this party of four persons. AGT. WHITLEY: That cannot be true. GOV. EVANS: Where is Roman Nose? NEVA: You ought to know better than me, you have been nearer to him. GOV. EVANS: Who killed the man and boy at the head of Cherry Creek? NEVA: (After consultation) Kiowas and Comanches. GOV. EVANS: Who stole the horses and mules from Jimmy's Camp twenty-seven days ago? NEVA: _Fourteen Cheyennes and Arapahoes together._ GOV. EVANS: What were their names? NEVA: Powder Face and Whirlwind, _who are now in our camp, were the leaders_. COL. SHOUP: I counted twenty Indians on that occasion. GOV. EVANS: Who stole Charlie Autobee's horses? NEVA: Raven's son. GOV. EVANS: I suppose you acknowledge the depredations on the Little Blue, as you have the prisoners then taken in your possession? WHITE ANTELOPE: We [the Cheyennes] took two prisoners west of Ft. Kearney and destroyed the trains.