New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-24
THE SAND CREEK MASSACRE.
? A SLAUGHTER OF FRIENDLY INDIANS
REPLY or "H. H." TO THE LETTER OF WILLIAM ~
INVESTIGATIONS FROM SWORN TESTIMONY AND


| To the Edftorof The Tribune
SIR: Ia reply to the letter in Sundays TRIBUNE,
headed " The Starving Utes," would like to place
before the readers of lHE TRIBUNE some extracts
from. sworn testimony taken IN Colorado on tue
subject of the Sand Crock Massacre. The writer OF
| this letter says:
Tae CHEYENNE and Arapahoe Indians assembled 81
sand Creek not under the protection OF Unieu
| States fort.
The following testimony is that of Lieutenant
Craven. Senate Document. Vol. 2. 1S6O-61' p. 40
| Lad conversation with Major DOWNING, l,eu
| tenant Alaynald and Colonel Chiyington stated
them MY feelings in regard 70 the matier that pe
rved II e. murder: and stated the oOhSauouS tao
we OF Major W, nkoops command were u"uei W 'O'''
| TO Colonel Chvlngton know STATED that Major
wyDkoop mad pledged mis- word as an oicer ana man 10
directly pledged in the eame manner tDat ne Was, uu
that felt that IL ws placing us ~ very ha ssvod
our lives. we all felt thar they had ,,,o - .,
Colonel Chivngtons reply was t"at ne Delsvea u 10
be right or honorable TO use any moons under Gods
Heaven Ia KIN Indians that would XIII women ana
children and" damn anyone that was ~ sympathy
myself had better get out OF the United STATES seVce
This conversation was testified to by other wit
nesses. Major Wynkoop. it will be remembered
was the officer in command at Fort Lyon when TINS
band of Cheyennes and Arapahoes came in there 10
claim protection IN consequence OF the Governors
proclamation saying that
the Arkansas River will go TO Major Colby United stntes
Il Fort Is VINO VIII give lhclh plo'iS
ions and show them place OF safety
Major Wynkoop was succeeded in the command
of Fort Lyon by Major Anthony, who continued TOT
n tine TO issue .rations to these Indians, AS MAJOR
Wynkoop had done; but after time be called
them together and told them he could not
feed them any longer: they would better go where
they could hunt Ne selected The place 10 which they
rere 10 more on Sandy CREEK. They obeyed. and he
gave back to them some of the arms whichhad been
taken away. They were moved TO Sandy Creek,
about forty miles from Fort Lyon. partly "or fear
of Some conflict between them and the
soldiers or emlgrants," Fort Lyon being on thor
oughfare of travel. One of the chiefs. lone Eye"
was hire1 by Major Anthony at 1925 month";" TO
obtain information for the of the military au-
thoritles. Several times he brought news to the
fort of proposed movements OfhOste Indians" This
chef was killed in the massacre.
THIS Is the testimony of Captain Soulc, 1st
COlored Cavalry;
Did you protest against attacking those Indians
| aid.
VINO your commanding oGHcerl
Dd you inform Major Anthony OF the relations exist
did He knew the relations. frequently talked to
what answer did Major Anthony make to your pro-
He said that we we're going TO fight the hostile In
dians Smoky HILL lie also said he was IN for killing
ali Indians aud that he had only been acting friendly
with them he could get force large enough to go
out and Kill al or them.
This is the testimony of s. f. Browns
Colonel Chvington in public speech said his policy
was TO XII aud scalp ALL little ana bg nts made lice
Governor Hunt testified as follows: Governor
Hunt was one Of the earliest settlers In Colorado.
He was United States Marshal Delegate to Con-
gress and afterward Governor Of the Territory
We nave always regarded Black Kettle and White An,
elopc the special friends OF the white man ever since
Do YOU know ofany acts Of hostility committee by
them or with tletr CONSENT
No. sir. DO not
them by any Onci
The regiment when uey marched into Denver ex-
hibitcd Indian scaips.
This is from the official report OF Major Wynkoop
Major commanding Fort Lyon.
In conclusion allow SAY that from the time
held the consultation with The Indian chiefs the head
81 smoky ili. mp to the date OF this massacre
by Colonel ChivugtOn, not one single depreciation had
been committed by The Cheyenne and Arrapahoe In,
10 their ranches from which they had bed had taken IN
nnder Sssanes from myself say that they would be in
danger for the present Since this last horrible muir
der by Co onel Chyngton hr country presents scene
OF dcsolailun. All II cut of with the
states oy sending large bodies Of troops. and
thc feirlul vene' ance OF these betrayed Indians.
January 10, ls6J.
The writer Of tins letter says in regard to tho
investigation of the Sand Creek Massacre by the
Congressional Committee that evidence was
answer for the defence
A large part of the testimony sworn evidence
given by the Governor of Colorado. by Colonel J.
NJ. Chivngton himself vino planned and executed
the massacre. aud by Major Anthony, who accom-
panied HIM with troops from Fort Lyon. The
writer Of this article says that 1.-THE investigation
was made for a certain selfish purpose, to
break down and ruin certain men,"
The names of Senator Foster, Senator DooittIe.
and honest Ben Wade" the best refutation Of
this statement. It will he hard 10 impoach the
trustworthness of reports signed by these names,
aud one Of these reports saysi
isdGlcut 10 believe that beings IN the form Of men,
and disgracing Inc uniform OF Unlted states soldiers
and officers could commit or councnance the commits
sion OF such acts Of cruelty and bar0arty
OF Colonel ChIvIngtOn. II says;
He deliberately planned and executed fou and das-
savage those who were tile victims OF his cruelty
And Of Major Anthony:
The testimony OF Major Anthony, who succeeded an
officer disposed to treat these Indians win justice and
and unwarnnted was this massacre: lie testhes that
he found these Indians eamped near Fort Lyon when he
assumed command OF that fore; thar they professod
their fendness to the whites aud their willingness TO
40 whatever he demanded or them that they delivered
their arms up TO him. that they went 10 and |
encamped on the place deslgnated by mmi that |
hey ga sc him Information from time to time OF acts of
hostility which we're mcdated by other hostile bands
and IN every way c0ndu ted themselves properly and
peaceabiy and yet no says 10 and not prnC
bic which prevented his killing them while they wero
completely In his pOwori aua, when Colonel Chying |
ION appeared Fort Lyon his OF murder and
barbarity. Major Anthony made haste TO accompany
him with aud artillery.
The writer of this letter SAYS that the evidence |
given in this "so-called investigation" was |
largely false and UNANIMOUSLY partial" If this were
the case why did not all persOhs so Gin
tamously0 sandcred see to it that before |
the year ended their own version of the |
affair should reach, if not tho general public. at
least the Department OF the Interiorf Why did |
they leave it possible for tho Secretary of the In
terror 10 incorporate in his Annual Report for 1865
to be read by all the American peope-these para
Qraphsf