On November 29, 1864 Cheyenne and Arapaho campgrounds were attacked by United States soldiers. The raid was lead by John Chivington along with his 700 drunk and angry solders. This event was named a massacre because of all the innocent lives taken. Cheyenne chief Black Kettle approached the solders upon hearing their arrival. He and others in the village held white truce banners hoping for peace but were acknowledged with gunfire. Close to 200 elderly men, woman, and children were slaughtered and mutilated by these American men. Before leaving they burned the teepees down and brought body parts of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians back as trophies to remember this “battle”, or as we now know, massacre.
In the summer of 1864, a white family in Denver was murdered by Cheyenne or Arapaho men. It is suspected that the Indians killed this family because the white man of the household killed one of the Indian men for stealing some of their food. Tensions flared and governor John Evans called upon citizens to “kill and destroy” hostile Native Americans. He also ordered the “friendly” Indians to seek safety at U.S. forts. Black Kettle was known for being a peacemaker and went to speak with many white authorities. The last fort commander told him and the Indians …show more content…
Later though a different story emerged. Captain Silas Soule was among Chivington at the massacre and was horrified. He did not agree with the chaos and destruction the troops were creating so we instead was a witness and documented what happened in detail. Soule described the scene as Indian woman and children on their knees in surrender to the soldiers but still getting brutally beaten and killed. Most Indians retreated for the creek and tried their best to defend themselves but most