The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-12-17
WIPED OFT THE EARTH
FIVE HUNDRED INDIANS WERE
SLAUGHTERED In "cHIV-
INGToN MASSACRE"
The Camp Observation-Disclosures
ment for Horrible outrages by
the Redskins Melted Gut
by Soldiers.
By C. B. Horton.

q
to take part in what is commonly known
as the Sand Greek or Chiyington mas
sacre, one of the bloodiest tragedies ID
the history of Indian warfare in the
west. was boy Of Ia when the mas
sacre occurred, and the impressions
stamped upon my youthful mind that
fateful Novem Der day 80 years ago Meth
er lapse of time nor change OF scene has
served to efface.
In the summer of 1864 / set out from
my home in Michigan for the west.
Finding nothing more acceptable to DO,
/ joined a freighting outfit at Nebraska
City, a town 40 miles south OF Omaha,
on the Missouri river, and drove an OK
team across the plains to Denver.
Outrages by Indians.
The Cheyennes ard the Arrapahoes
were on the warpath in Colorado that
summer, and after crossing the state
line We came upon the smoking ruins
of wagon trains they had burned and the
bodies of freighters they had murdered.
On our arrival at Denver we found that,
OW1IS III Liz 1liAiC1l u Ei 491iAe75 A4sAA SAG1
law had been declared and that it would
therefore be impossible for US to set
out then on our return trip, no one be-
ing allowed to go east. had little
money, and the prospect confronting me
was not very encouraging; but made
town to keep me in food, clothing and
shelter until, one day, it came to my
ears that regiment was being organ
lied to go out to guard the settlers in
the outlying districts against attacks
by the Indians, and fastened to enlist
in it.
The Indians had committed many
atroeious crimes in the state, pillaging
and numbering everywhere they went,
and the whites were determined to PM
fsh them severely. The one thing more
than any other that had fired the blood
of the people of Denver, and led to the
organization of the regiment / had
joined, was the cold-blooded murder of
a family named Humboldt. The killing
of that family was one Of the most hor-
rible exhibitions of savage cruelty
ever heard of. The redskins had tor
tured the women Of the family by run
ming red-hot king bolts taken from the
wagons into their bodies. and had mutt
lated the bodies of the men and children
in a most shocking manner. The dead
bodies were brought into Denver from
the scene Of the outrage, and the sight
of them had aroused the people to the
highest pitch Of excitement, indignation
and resentment.
The Chase Begun.
The regiment was raised by and was
under the command Of Col. Chivington,
the head of the department of Colorado,
and was known as the Third Colorado
cavalry, or Chivington's One Hundred
Day Men. We rode from Denver out to
Bijou Basin and drilled for six weeks,
going thence over the divide to Colorado
Springs. and proceeding from there
south through Pueblo to Fort Lyons,
where we went into camp for day to
prepare our rations for an indefinite
march After the issue of full rations
and ammunition We set out at nine
o'clock one night. accompanied by
battery Of mountain hoWitzers, follow
ing a trail running north from the fort.
/ had not been accustomed to sitting
up all night and. boylike, soon fell
asleep. was awakened by my horse
stepping into a prairie dog hole, falling
and throwing me headlong to the ground
BY the time had gathered my wits to-
gether and found my horse, the column
had passed me. I quickly overlook it,
however, but was sound asleep again
before Long, and did not awake till we
rode into pond Of water some 500 yards
wide. We halted here and filed our
canteens. At sunrise the scouts who
had been sent ahead came back and in
formed us that they had discovered In
dams on Sand Greek about three miles
further on. Between US and the Indian
camp some ponies belonging to the saw
ages were grazing. The scouts rode on,
killed the redskins herding the ponies
and drove the ponies off to the south
ward. We continued our march and
coming over the brow Of a hill, we saw
ILC SdH1p Va ZIG 41IilduS hCWu OIL The
banks Of the creek. Men, women and
children were coming out Of the tepees
and looking toward US. It seems that
they had been expecting officers of the
government to visit their camp to dis
cuss with their chiefs the terms of GER
tain treaty affecting their rights which
they proposed and desired to make with
the government, and, as we learned sub
sequently, they thought when they frs:
saw us that we were these officers. But
it did not take us very long to undeceiye
them.
The Camp she11ed.
From the brow of the hill few shells
from the howitzers were sent into their
camp. Looking up and seeing the
shrieking shells coming through the air
toward them, the sayages who were out
side the tepees scattered like a flock of
sheep set upon by pack of hungry
wolves. Those who We're asleep were in
stantly awakened, and in few minutes
the whole camp was alive, men, women
and children rushing excitedly hither
and thither to get out of the way of the
threatened danger.
s beautiful white horse upon which
one of our men was mounted took fright
at the first shot from the howitzers, and,
down the hill at breakneek
speed. plunged into the midst of the
scared and scurrying savages. Without
q moments hesitation they sent bul-
let through the heart of the rider. and
then with brutal savagery proceeded to
mutilate his body,
We divided into two columns after
firing a few shots into the camp from