By Mike Bowen, co-author, We Found the Lost Sand Creek Site
We began a new blog series last week focusing on the claims that alleged Sand Creek was a massacre. Last week we covered the claim that the Indians at Sand Creek were unarmed. If you missed it, read it here: SandCreekUnarmed
Another claim is the Indians did not commit any depredations or atrocities before Sand Creek—in other words, the Indians camped in Black Kettle’s village at Sand Creek were peaceful.
The Indians rely on oral history, so there isn’t a lot of information that can be cited. It has been told the Cheyenne and Arapaho at Sand Creek were a peaceful group of women, children and elderly which stems from oral history accounts. However, one Dog Soldier (warrior), George Bent, wrote letters to historians about forty years after Sand Creek, while working as an Indian agent in Colony, Oklahoma. He went on many raids with other warriors. His documentation often refutes oral history accounts, and he gives details showing the warriors not to be peaceful. It is also shown through his letters warriors were in the village at Sand Creek.
“Dog Soldiers were in fact outlaws. Their young men were always in mischief,” George Bent said (Bent to Hyde, 6-20-1904). On the surface this letter doesn’t appear to be alarming about the Dog Soldiers. He used the word mischief. That sounds more like Dennis the Menace than Indians killing and scalping white settlers, taking captives or running off stock. However, taking a deeper dive into his letters, we learned he used the word mischief in another letter. Bent also said tornados caused mischief (Bent to Hyde, 7-1908). The second use of the word brings additional context to what he meant about the Dog Soldiers. Bent would often use the wrong word or not a strong enough word. Tornados certainly don’t cause “mischief,” they cause total destruction. They kill and destroy.
George Bent provides the Sand Creek account from fellow Dog Soldier, Little Bear.
“As I was going up on hill I met King Fisher, Indian running back towards the camp. He told me lot of white men were driving off herds of ponies. As he said this I looked towards Fort Lyon Trail south of the village when I seen long black line. Then I knew soldiers were coming to attack the village. I ran back fast as I could. When I got back women, children and men were running up the Sand Creek and good many men did not leave until the soldiers were in the village.
I ran behind the lodges much as I could so the soldiers couldn’t shoot at me good. When I got to the bank of the creek I seen Big Head, Crow Neck, Cut Lip, Bear, and Smoker, standing behind the bank so I joined them.
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,” Little Bear said, per George Bent (Bent to Hyde, 4-14-1906).
In the summer of 1864, months before Sand Creek, Dog Soldiers were attacking settlers and troops.
“I was in one of the largest villages on Solomon River of Cheyennes, Siouxs and Arapahoes in summer of 1864. I had just returned from my father’s ranch on Purgatoire River that summer. As I rode by each village I seen scalp dances in centre of these villages. War parties came in from all directions, bringing in lots of plunder. Cheyennes and Siouxs made raids on South Platte down to Little Blue River. I seen all kinds of stuff. They brought fine silks, cloaks, bonnets, in fact everything in line of fine dry goods they took from trains that they plundered…There was no particular leaders in these war parties. Those white women that Maj. Wynkoop came out after on Smoky Hill were captured in these raids that summer. At Fremont Orchard was the fight where Bull telling Tales killed an officer. Several trains were captured on Little Blue River by Cheyennes and Siouxs. Arapahoes made raids towards Denver. They had fight with soldiers near there,” George Bent said (Bent to Hyde, 2-28-1906).
“At that time Black Kettle’s Band had gone south across Arkansas River. Little Chief and Good Bear who were in that fight at Fremont’s Orchard in spring of 1864 say Bull Telling Tales did shoot off of his horse an officer with bow & arrow and he took his coat and watch,” George Bent said (Bent to Hyde, 3-19-1912).
“At the Forks I marked where Cheyennes and Sioux were camped together 1864 when they brought in lot of plunder, silks, bonnets, shoes and lots of other fancy stuff,” George Bent said (Bent to Hyde, 5-14-1913).
“Sept 1864 Cheyennes and Arapahoes had fight with Genl Blunt on Ash Creek 60 miles north west of Fort Larned Kas. I was in this fight. He had Shawnees as scouts. We kill 2 Shawnees and several soldiers I took as Kansas Vol. as they were green in this fight,” George Bent said (Bent to Hyde, 10-15-1904).
It was common for Indians to take or run off stock that belonged to the United States government.
“20 Cheyenne started north to visit Northern Cheyennes in April 1864. On South Platte they found some stray mules and did not know who they belong to and kept them with them and about same number of soldiers charged up to their camp, an officer at head of them with drawn pistols. The Cheyennes had their ponies picketed close, so they jumped on them and stood in line. Wolf Coming Out and Bull Telling Tales were both on foot holding their ponies by the bridles little head of the others. Bull Telling Tales holding his bow with some arrows ready to shoot and Wolf Coming Out with pistol in hand ready also, seen that soldiers meant to fight without any talk. The soldiers opened fire. Bull Telling Tales soon as they fired, he jumped at the officer and shot him through the head. The officer fell right in front of him. So Bull Telling Tales cut his head off, took his field glass, water, and pistol. Wolf Coming Out also shot one off his horse. They killed 3 soldiers and officer,” George Bent said (Bent to Hyde, 3-6-1905).
During the hearings following Sand Creek, a report was read from the Council at Camp Weld where Governor Evans asked who killed the Hungate family, per Amos Stock’s testimony.
“Neva said it was Big Roman Nose and two or three other Arapaho,” Stock testified of the Camp Weld report.
“We haven’t come here to talk about the past; we have been fighting you, and are willing that bygones should be bygones; what we want is peace for the future,” Stock testified Neva said,” Amos Stock testified (We Found the Lost Sand Creek Site).
From our book, We Found the Lost Sand Creek Site:
“One of the events Howbert describes is the murder of the Hungate family on June 11, 1864. ‘The father and mother had been shot down and mutilated with horrible brutality, and the children who had tried to escape had been pursued and killed, so that not one of the family was left alive. This news made the people of Colorado City, and the settlers along the Fountain and on the Divide, very uneasy, and of course, after that, they were constantly on the lookout, not knowing where the savages might next appear’” (We Found the Lost Sand Creek Site).
One of the girls was two and a half years old and the other was five months old.
It was known that Indians didn’t like to fight in the winter; they liked to fight in the spring and summer. Winter was soon approaching, and it was in their best interest to talk about peace, albeit, temporarily, and likely go back on the war path in the spring. Neva admitted their past but didn’t want to talk about it.
Due to the many depredations and atrocities committed by the Cheyenne and Arapaho, Colorado Territory Governor John Evans sought help from the government to fight back and protect the citizens of Colorado Territory.
Simeon Whiteley, Indian agent, made a report of the proceedings at Camp Weld held two months prior to Sand Creek. From his testimony:
(Governor Evans replied): “you have gone into an alliance with the Sioux who were at war with us; you have done a great deal of damage, have stolen stock—your people went away and smoked the ‘war pipe’ with our enemies” (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
“So far as making a treaty now is concerned, we are in no condition to do it; your young men are on the war path, my soldiers are preparing for the fight. The time when you can make war best is in the summer time; the time when I can make war best is in the winter. I have learned that you understand that as the whites are at war among themselves, you think you can now drive the whites from this country, but this reliance is false. The Great Father at Washington has men enough to drive all the Indians off the plains, and whip the rebels at the same time. Now, the war with the whites is nearly through, and the Great Father will not know what to do with all his soldiers, except to send them after the Indians on the plains,” Whiteley testified (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
“John Evans, Governor of C. T. and Superintendent of Indian Affairs:
To the friendly Indians of the plains:
Agents, interpreters, and traders will inform the friendly Indians of the plains that some members of their tribes have gone to war with the white people.
They steal stock and run it off, hoping to escape detection and punishment. In some instances they have attacked and killed soldiers and murdered peaceable citizens. At this the great father is angry, and will certainly hunt them out, and punish them.
The war on hostile Indians will be continued until they are all effectually subdued” (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
June 3, 1864
Fort Leavenworth
To Colonel Chivington, Denver:
Send out force to crush the Indians that are in open hostility, as requested by Governor Evans.
S. R. Curtis, Major General (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
September 28, 1864
Fort Leavenworth
To Colonel Chivington:
I shall require the bad Indians delivered up; restoration of equal numbers of stock; also hostages to secure. I want no peace till the Indians suffer more…I fear the agent of the Interior Department will be ready to make presents too soon. It is better to chastise before giving anything but a little tobacco to talk over. No peace must be made without my directions.
S. R. Curtis, Major General (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
Samuel Ashcraft testified that he had been in C.T. since 1857 and had known the plains Indians since 1847. “I have been with them and traded with them,” Ashcraft said.
“Do you know whether or not the Cheyenne and Sioux Indians have been at war with the whites?” Chivington said.
“Yes…and more than that, I know that they commenced the war.” The Sioux “said that the Cheyennes were going to war against the whites on the road in the spring; that they were going to clean out all the ranchmen that were on the road,” Ashcraft said.
“Do you know of any acts of hostility perpetrated by the Indians?” the commission said.
“They drove off some of my stock and killed one of my men,” Ashcraft said (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
For those that believe these depredations were committed by Indians that were not at Sand Creek, many white scalps were found in Black Kettle’s village.
Stephen Decatur, Company C, Colorado 3rd Cavalry, lived among the Indians nearly seven years.
“I saw them take …a number of white persons’ scalps–men’s, women’s…I saw one scalp of a white woman in particular that I want to describe to you. It had been taken entirely off the head; the head had been skinned, taking all the hair; the scalp had been tanned to preserve it; the hair was auburn and hung in ringlets…very long. There were two holes in the scalp in front, for the purpose of tying it on their heads when they appeared in the scalp dance.”
“Were the scalps…of white men, women and children?” the commission said.
“Yes, they were,” Decatur said (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
Dr. Caleb Birdsal served as First assistant surgeon, Colorado 3rd Cavalry.
“Did you see any white scalps?” Chivington said.
“I was in the lodge dressing the wounded; some man came to the opening of the lodge and hallooed to me to look at five or six scalps he had in his hand. I should judge…they were the scalps of white persons,” Birdsal said.
“What reason have you for saying the scalps…were those of white persons?” the commission said.
“I judge by the color of the hair…I think there were some white, some sandy brown. I don’t think there were any that were very black,” Birdsal said.
“My impression is that one or two of them were not more than ten days off of the head…The skin and flesh attached to the hair appeared to be yet quite moist,” Birdsal said (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
Thaddeus Bell was another soldier at Sand Creek that testified to seeing white scalps in Black Kettle’s village.
“Did you see any white scalps?” Chivington said.
“I saw a good many white scalps. I have not any idea how many. There were some that looked old…others not..and one that was quite fresh…five to eight days old…from a red haired man,” Bell said (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
Major Anthony, Commanding Officer at Fort Lyon, was present at Sand Creek for the fight and also testified during the hearings.
“They (the Indians) came in and inquired of me whether I had any authority to make peace with them. They said that they had heard through the Arapahoes that ‘things looked dark’–that was the term they used…I stated to them that I had no authority to make peace with them. That their young men were then out in the field fighting against us, and that I had no authority and no instructions to make any peace with them. I told them they might go back on Sand creek, or between there and the headquarters of the Smoky Hills, and remain there until I received instructions from the department headquarters, from General Curtis; and that in case I did receive any authority to make peace with them I would go right over and let them know it.
I did not state to them that I would give them notice in case we intended to attack them. They went away with that understanding, that in case I received instructions from department headquarters I was to let them know it. But before I did receive any such instructions Colonel Chivington arrived there, and this affair on Sand creek took place,” Major Anthony said (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
Captain Silas Soule was a witness for Lt. Col. Sam Tappan, who lead the hearings against Colonel Chivington. He was asked if the Indians committed any violent acts.
“Did the Indians commit any acts of hostility against the whites in the vicinity of Fort Lyon prior to the time when Major Wynkoop’s expedition left there?” the Commission said.
“They had. They killed two men about two miles from the post. I don’t remember the exact time, but I think about two weeks before Wynkoop’s expedition went out,” Captain Silas S. Soule testified (Report on the Conduct of the War, 38 Congress, 2nd session, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865).
Multiple examples have been presented to show the Cheyenne and Arapaho camped with Black Kettle at Sand Creek did commit atrocities and depredations, per George Bent, soldiers at Sand Creek, Major Anthony, Governor of Colorado Territory John Evans and General Curtis. The idea the Indians were peaceful is debunked.
The Bowens’ discovery of over 4,000 battle and village artifacts is the most important in documenting where events at Sand Creek took place and how spread out the village and battle areas were. The artifacts are also the most important in learning about the Sand Creek event. It’s not a new massacre location—it proves Sand Creek was a running battle against Dog Soldiers, not a massacre of peaceful Indians. The artifacts cannot lie. This massive discovery led us to learn the truth about Sand Creek.
The information in this blog has been silenced over the years—it doesn’t fit the narrative. Truth is greater than a narrative. We are steadfast in telling the truth.
Sand Creek was branded as a massacre in an attempt to destroy Colonel Chivington. It’s now being used to destroy patriotism. The goal for the massacre claim is to make people hate this country and feel ashamed of their white ancestors. But as we’ve demonstrated, Sand Creek was fighting back. It was not a starting point for any Indian wars, and Sand Creek certainly was not a genocide. Colorado is trying to pass a bill that would require Sand Creek to be taught in schools as a genocide, and as if it were a holocaust. Please reach out to your Colorado representatives and let them know you oppose SB25-123. You can locate and contact your legislators here: ColoradoLegislators. Click on the search box and type in your address and your legislators will show on the right. You can then click on the email address for each and let them know you oppose SB25-123.
Learn about our Sand Creek site discovery and the truth about that November 29, 1864 battle. Click the Buy the Book tab in the top right of the page. You can also click on the link here: WeFoundTheLostSandCreekSite.
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