On this day in 1864, the US army massacred a peaceful village of Cheyenne & Arapaho Native Americans w/ canons, killing 150 ppl (mostly women, children & elderly men). They fired on villagers fleeing for their lives, then looted & set fire to the village. #SandCreekMassacre 
With the discovery of Gold in Colorado, territorial officials pressured the US government to help them push Native Americans off land, which had been guaranteed to them under the Treaty of Fort Laramie.
Colorado’s territorial governor John Evans had Colonel John Chivington create a Cavalry to hunt down Native Americans in Colorado. John Evans believed that Native Americans were “heathen savages” without souls. Today, Colorado’s 12th highest mountain peak is named after Evans.
On November 29, 1864, Chivington approached the village, headed by the “peace chief” Black Kettle and ignored the American & white flags it flew to signify that the village was friendly. Black Kettle had been assured the day before that his people would be safe at Sand Creek.
Chivington positioned his 700 troops & their four howitzers around the village then opened fire. Those in the village scattered in panic. The soldiers charged, hunting down men, women, and children, shooting them as they ran.
The troops kept up their assault for 8 hours, then cavalry returning later to finish off the wounded and mutilate and scalp the dead, including pregnant women, children, and babies. They then plundered the teepees & set fire to the village.
Witnesses described the massacre:
Initially, the Sand Creek engagement was reported as a victory against a brave and numerous foe. Within weeks, however, witnesses and survivors began describing the massacre.
While the Sand Creek Massacre outraged some, it was celebrated by many people in Colorado. Chivington later appeared on a Denver stage where he entertained enthralled audiences with his war stories and displayed 100 Native American scalps, including the pubic hairs of women.
Today, descendants of the survivors are still fighting for proper recognition of the massacre in Colorado.
westword.com/news/sand-cree…
westword.com/news/sand-cree…
