Learn Our History Today: On November 29, 1864, one of the most infamous episodes in the United States’ long running war against the Native Americans, the Sand Creek Massacre, took place in eastern Colorado. The roots of this terrible massacre go back to 1851, when the Treaty of Fort Laramie was signed, guaranteeing ownership of the lands that make up the eastern portions of Colorado to the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indian tribes. The rights given in the treaty would not last long, and before the decade was out, American miners began flowing through the Indian land to get to the Gold Rush that was occurring in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Naturally, tensions between the new settlers and the Indians began to rise, and soon, in order to avoid open conflict, a meeting was arranged between the Indians and the authorities. Under the leadership of Chief Black Kettle, a delegation representing the Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes journeyed to Fort Wise, where they quickly commenced to coming up with a new treaty. The new agreement gave the Indians a 600 square mile reservation and annuity payments, but lost them a majority of their land. However, most of the Indians were happy with the arrangement, but that would soon change. The coming of the Civil War made it much harder for the government to continue giving food and money to the reservation confined Indians, and as less food came in tensions once again began to rise. Violence broke out between settlers and Indians, as the Native Americans were accused of stealing livestock, and soon the military was involved. In spite of the lack of food and government payments, Chief Black Kettle still desired peace. He took his group of little more than 200 Indians to Fort Lyon, where it was said that any Indians who wanted peace should report. The commanders at the fort agreed to Black Kettle’s proposals, and told him to have his people camp near Sand Creek, where he was to fly a U.S. flag to let it be known that he was friendly. Soon after they had made camp, in what can only be described as sheer treachery, 700 Colorado Volunteers attacked the encampment after the able bodied men had left to hunt buffalo. The soldiers surprise attack scattered the Indians in all directions, with the Volunteers, many of whom were drunk, chasing the Native Americans down and killing them indiscriminately. By the time the terrible tragedy was over, 133 Indians were dead, 105 were women and children.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 13:00:00 +0000
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