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 response to the call of the governor for a regiment of
cavalry for one hundred day service, over a thousand of
our citizens—the large majority of them leaving lucrative
employment—rapidly volunteered, and in that short time, despite
the greatest difficulties in securing proper equipments,
organized, armed, made a long and severe campaign amid the
snows and storms of winter, and visited upon these merciless
murderers of the plains a chastisement smiting and _deserved_.
The gratitude of the country is due to the men who thus
sacrificed so largely their personal interests for the public
good, and rendered such important service to the Territory;
and their work, if it can be followed up with a vigorous winter
campaign, would result in a permanent peace.
The necessity of such a campaign, and the imperative demand for
immediate and complete protection for our line of communication
with the States has been, and is now being, earnestly urged on
the Government at Washington, and with a prospect of success.
These efforts should be seconded by your honorable body with
whatever influence there may be in resolution or memorial,
setting forth the facts and necessities of our situation.
The testimony of Governor Evans, Major Anthony, Colonel Chivington,
Colonel Shoup, and Acting Governor Elbert covers every phase of the
matter in controversy. Governor Evans's statement proves beyond question
that the Cheyennes and Arapahoes were viciously hostile during the
entire summer preceding the battle of Sand Creek, and this was admitted
by Black Kettle in his letter to Major Colley, the Indian agent, and
by the other chiefs in the council at Denver. Governor Evans also makes
it plain that he refused to consider the question of making peace, and
turned the Indians over to the military. The telegram of General Curtis,
commander of the Military Department, sent at the time the council was
being held, says, "No peace must be made without my direction." And peace
had not been made when the battle was fought. Major Anthony, commander
of the military post of Fort Lyon, near the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indian
agency, says that the Indians attacked were hostile and not under his
protection, and that he would have punished them had his force been
strong enough to fight also the large band on the Smoky Hill River.
Colonel Chivington's testimony confirms the statement of Governor Evans
as to the hostility of both Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and both he and
Colonel Shoup say that this was corroborated by Major Anthony, and Major
Colley, the Indian agent, each of whom told them, while at Fort Lyon
prior to the battle, that the Indians camped on Sand Creek were hostile
and should be punished. Major Anthony admits that there were Arapahoes
camped near the Fort when he assumed command, and that, in compliance
with his demand, they surrendered twenty head of stock, stolen from the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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