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Colorado Governor John Evans issued a warning to peaceful Native Americans in the region, stating that they must report to the Sand Creek reservation or face the risk of being attacked. This decision set the stage for the tragic event known as the Sand Creek Massacre.
Governor Evans' offer of sanctuary was insincere at best. In 1864, his main objective was to eradicate all Native American presence in eastern Colorado Territory in order to boost his popularity and secure a future U.S. Senate seat. After ordering the Native Americans to the reservation, Evans issued a second proclamation that encouraged white settlers to indiscriminately "kill and destroy all...hostile Indians." Meanwhile, he formed a temporary militia force under Colonel John Chivington, who also sought political advancement through fighting Native Americans.
The Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe tribes of eastern Colorado were unaware of the deceitful political motives behind these actions. While some bands had previously engaged in violence against white settlers, by late 1864, many Native Americans were more inclined towards peace. Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle, having visited Washington, D.C. and witnessed the strength of the white people and their advanced technology, advocated for peace to avoid annihilation.
However, when news of Governor Evans' offer of sanctuary on June 24 reached the Native Americans, most remained distrustful and unwilling to surrender. Only Black Kettle and a few lesser chiefs accepted Evans' amnesty. Evans and Chivington, who desired a glorious victory, reluctantly assured Black Kettle that his people would be safe if they came to Fort Lyon in eastern Colorado. Following this assurance, in November 1864, the Native Americans reported to the fort as requested. Major Edward Wynkoop, the commanding federal officer, instructed Black Kettle to settle his band approximately 40 miles away on Sand Creek, promising their safety.
Regrettably, John Chivington disregarded Wynkoop's authority. With his militia nearing the end of their enlistment period and no combat experience, Chivington's political ambitions were fading rapidly. Driven by a desire to kill Native Americans, he saw Black Kettle's village on Sand Creek as a legitimate and easy target.
At dawn on November 29, 1864, Chivington led 700 men, many intoxicated, in a brutal assault on Black Kettle's peaceful village. Most of the Cheyenne warriors were away hunting. In the ensuing hours, Chivington and his men mercilessly slaughtered 105 women and children, along with 28 men. The soldiers scalped and mutilated the victims, carrying body parts back to Denver as gruesome trophies. Remarkably, Black Kettle and several other Cheyenne individuals managed to escape.
In the months that followed, news of the treacherous events at Sand Creek spread throughout the nation, eliciting horror and revulsion from many Americans. However, Chivington and his soldiers had already left the military and were beyond the reach of a court-martial. Chivington's political aspirations were shattered, and he spent the remainder of his insignificant life wandering the West. The scandal surrounding the Sand Creek Massacre forced Governor Evans to resign and dashed his hopes of a political career. Nonetheless, Evans went on to achieve success and wealth in the construction and operation of railroads in Colorado.
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