Colorado War Black Kettle

black kettle



a delegation of cheyenne, kiowa, , arapaho chiefs in denver, colorado on september 28, 1864. black kettle in front row, second left.



this rare photograph unknown photographer shows ill-fated cheyenne chief, black kettle, , number of associates @ camp weld, on outskirts of denver. had assembled there september 28, 1864.

by summer of 1864, situation had reached boiling point. southern cheyenne hardliners, along allied kiowa , arapaho bands, raided american settlements livestock , supplies. took captives, women , children, adopt tribes replacements lost members. on july 11, 1864, indians killed family of settlers, attack whites called hungate massacre after family. pro-war whites displayed scalped bodies in denver. colorado governor john evans believed tribal chiefs had ordered attack , intent on full-scale war.

evans issued proclamation ordering friendly indians of plains report military posts or considered hostile . sought , gained war department authorization establish third colorado cavalry. colonel john m. chivington led unit, composed predominantly of 100-daysers , enlisted limited 100-day terms fighting against cheyenne , arapaho.

black kettle decided accept evans offer , entered negotiations. on september 28, concluded peace settlement @ fort weld outside denver. agreement assigned southern cheyenne sand creek reservation , required them report fort lyon, formerly fort wise. black kettle believed agreement ensure safety of people. after went reservation, commanding officer @ fort replaced 1 ally of chivington.

betrayal @ sand creek

ambitious, chivington felt pressure governor evans make use of third colorado cavalry before terms expired @ end of 1864. on november 28, chivington arrived 700 men @ fort lyon. according eyewitness, john s. smith:

[h]e stopped persons going on ahead of him. stopped mail, , not allow person go on ahead of him @ time on way denver city fort lyon. placed guard around old colonel bent, former agent there; stopped mr. hagues , many men on way fort lyon. took fort surprise, , got there posted pickets around fort, , left @ 8 o clock night indian camp.

at dawn on november 29, chivington attacked sand creek reservation; event became known sand creek massacre. of warriors out hunting. following indian agent instructions, black kettle flew american flag , white flag tipi, signal ignored. 3rd colorado cavalry killed 163 cheyenne shooting or stabbing. burned down village encampment. of victims women , children. months afterward, members of militia displayed trophies in denver of battle, including body parts had taken souvenirs.

aftermath

black kettle escaped massacre , returned rescue severely injured wife, suffered 9 bullet , shrapnel wounds. continued counsel pacifism, believing military resistance doomed fail. majority of southern cheyenne chiefs disagreed. allied comanche , kiowa, went war against u.s. civilians , military forces.

black kettle said of time:

although wrongs have been done me, live in hopes. have not got 2 hearts.... once thought man persevered friend of white man, since have come , cleaned out our lodges, horses, , else, hard me believe white men more.

black kettle moved south , continued negotiate u.s. officials. achieved treaty of little arkansas river on october 14, 1865. document, u.s. promised perpetual peace , lands in reparation sand creek massacre. however, practical effect dispossess cheyenne yet again , require them move indian territory (present-day oklahoma). black kettle s influence continued wane. roman nose , dog soldiers took prevailing hard line , continued warfare.