New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-24
rHE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
ON THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.
Massacre of the Cheyenne indians.

report Of the Committee on the Conduct of the WAR;
In the House of OF Repres entatives January ~ 1902
on motion of Mr.. Orth: W..
BE Ie?sIsd 70 into and Tsror, 81 " COLORADO Voan
VIZ tne ate aSoS o. we % vsse Of the Chevenne
fIibe Of Indians near Fort Lyon - -. s., ,Yr.,
The Joint COnmttee on the C0nduct OF tue ""F SUI
NIT the following report:
In the Summer ofls64, Gov Evans of Colorado Ter.
ritory as Acting Superintendent o. Indian Affairs,
aent notice the various bands and tribes Of Indians
within his Jurisdiction that such desired TO be
ridered friendly the whites should at repair To
the nearest military post IN order TO he protected from
the soldiers who were TO take the field againS. the
About the close Of the Summer some Chevenne H.
dians in the neighborhood OF the Smoke Hills sent word
% Major WynsOOI, the cOmmaLdant of tie post OF
Fort Lyon. tha. they had in their possession and were
willing to deliver up some white captives they had pur-
chased of other indians. Major Wynkoop VITA q
force OF men, visited those Indians and received
the white captives On his return be was accompanied
by number of the chiefs and leading men OF TIC In
dams whom he had invited 10 visit Denver for the pur
pose of comforting with the authorities there IN regard
10 keeping peace. Among them were Black Kettle and
White Antelope Of the Cheycunes and some chiefs of
the ArGpaboes The council was he'd and these chiefs
stated that they were friendly 10 the whites ana eways
had been. and that they desired peace. Gov. Evans
and Col ChiyinCton the commander of that military
district advised them 20 repair 10 Fort Lyon end sub
nit TO whatever terms the military commander there
should impose This was done by the Indians, who
were treated somewhat prisoners Of receiving
rations, and being obliged TO remain within certain
bounds
All the testimony goes to show that the Indians IN.
der the immediate control of black Kettle add White
nelope of the Cheyennes and Left Hand of the ara.
pahoes were and had been friendly to the whites and
had not been guilty of any acts Of hostility depreda
tion. The Indian agents the Indian Interpreter and
others examined by your committee all testify 20 the
good character Of those indians. Even Gov. Evans
and Major Anthony. though evidently willing TO con-
vey to your committee false impression OF the eharac-
ter OF those Indians forced in spite of their pre-
varcation, TO admit that they knew of nothing they
had done which rendered them deserving OF punish
ment. .
Dog Soldiers. had been guilty of acts of bosttyi but
all the testimony gees prove that they had con-
necton with Black Kettles band bat acted in despite
of his authority and nhuente Black Kettle and his
band denied all connection with or responsibility for
the Dog Soldiers. and Left Hand and his band OF Ara
pahoes were equally friendly.
Col. Chivingtcn repaired TO Fort Lyon and placed
themselves under tue protection OF Major Wynkoop
They led TO believe that they regarded in
the light OF friendly Indians, and would be treated as
such so long as they conducted themselves quietly
The treatment extended 10 those Indians by Major
WynkOOD does not 10 have satisfied these in
authority there ana for some cause which does not
pear he was removed and Major Scott j. ALthcny
was assigned to the command Of Tort Lyon bat even
Major Anthony TO have found 1t difcllt at INST
to pursue any different toward the Indians he
found thore. They were entirely within the power OF
the military. Major Anthony having demanded their
arms which they endcred to him. they conducted
themselves quietly, ard III every way manifested dis
position TO remain at peace with the whites. For
time even he continued issuing rati0ns TO them as
Major WypkoOp had done; bat il determined by
suggestion Of Others Goes not appear 20 pursue
different course toward these friendly indians. They
were called together and told that raons could be
longer issued TO them and they had better go where
they could obtain subsistence 10y bunting At the sug
geston Of Major Anthony (and from one in his position
a suggestion equivalent TO a cOmmand) these
Indians went 10 place Sand Creek, about 50 miles
from Fort Lyon, and there established their camp the
arms being restored to them lie told them that he
then had authority 70 MAKE peace with ttem but IN
be received such authority lie would inform them
OF it. IL his testimony hs says
az told them they might 20 back Sandy Greek. or
between there and the head waters Smoky Till and
remsned until received instructions ron the depart
meat headquar from Gen Curtis and that "a did
.oeive sutbori.y rske them. we9A
Eould Sire aoee IN case re ninfed 70 0ias mem
Thew went away with that understandings that in case
received INSTRUCTIONS from department headquarters was to
let them know IT."
And in order as 1t were to render these Indians less
annrebensive OF any danger One Eye Cheyenn chief
Was allowed TO remain with item t. obtar information
for the use Of the military authorities lie was EN-
poyed at Sl25 month, and several times brought 10
Major Anthony. at Fort Lyon, Information oi proposed
movements OF other and hostile bands. Jack Smith,
halfbreed son Of John s Smith, Indian interpreter
employed by the Government, also there for the
same pnfDose A United States soldier we allowed 10
remain there. and two days before tue massacre Nj
Smith tie interpreter was permitted TO 90 there Win
goods to trade TO the Indians EVoything seems 10
have been done TO from the minds Of these IN
dams any fear of approaching danger; and when Co..
Chiy;pqon commenced his movement he took all the
precautions in his power TO prevent these Indians learn
Ing Of his approach For some days all travel on that
route forciby stopped by him not even the mail
lpllQ 10
November he appeared at Fort Lyon with over 700
mounted men and pieces OF artillery. One Of his
FIRST acts to throw guard around the post 70 pre-
vent any leaving 1t. AT this place MaJoT An
thony joined him with 10 men ana TWO pieces Oh arm
lery. 90, -, -,
Fort Lvon and by forced march, arrived ~ The In
dian camp on Sand Creek, shortly after daybTeak
Tbis Indiso camp consisted Of about 00lodges Cbey
ennes under Black Kettle and from eight to ten lodges
of Arar ahCes under Left Hand IL is estimated that
each lodge contained FIVE OF more per.ons, and that
more than oDe-half were women and children.
Upon observing The approach OF the soldiers Black
Kettle the head chief ran up to tnetopc ms ioase an
American flag which had been presented 10 I'M some
Years before BY Commissioner Greenwood with small
white flag under il. as he mad been ADVISED 10 40 IN
case he met with any troops on the prares MI smith
the interpeter surprising they might be strange troops
unaware Of the character OF the Indians eneamped
there advanced from his lodge 70 meet them, Dut was
fired upOn aud returned to his lodge.
And then the scene Of murder and baIDaIIty began
men women end children Unfortunately slaugh
tered In a few minutes all the Indians were nyIug
over the plain in terror and confusion. lew VINO en-
deayOred 10 hide themselves under the bank OF the creek
were surrounded and shot down in cold blood, Offering
but feeble resistance From the sucking BABE 10 the
old warrior all who we're Oycrtakeu were deliberately
murdered Not content with killing women ard child
rem who were Incapable Of Of ring resistance the
soldiers INDUCED in acts OF barbsTty Of the most revolt
inc ehatac;4r such IL is 10 be hoped never before
disg1acrl the acts OF claiming 10 be clVlzed NO
attempt made by the officers to RESTRAIN the savage
cruelty OF the under their command, Dut toy sloo
By and witnessed these acts without one word OF reroo
II they did not ince their commission For more than
two hours the work Of murder aud bnrbeflty was cor
tnued until more than hundred dead bodies. three
fourhs OF them OF women ana cndren lay on TIE pun
as evidences of the foDdish majgnty and cruelty OF
the officers who had seduCn,ly aud carefully pio,led
the ma sacre aud Of the soldiers Who had 80 ialHiun
acted cut toe spirit OF their officers - -,
Ii Is dlihcut 10 believe mat DelneS III ~" e,,s