Sand Creek, CO

[The Battle at Sand Creek, Colorado by O. Y. Rookstool - Courtesy of Wikipedia]

Date(s): November 29-30, 1864

Campaign(s): Sand Creek Campaign [1864]

Battles in Campaign:

• Sand Creek, CO - November 29-30, 1864 B

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union:  Col. John Chivington

• Indian: Black Kettle, Cheyenne

Principal Forces:

• Union: Third Colorado Regiment (approx. 700 men) 

• Indian: 500 Cheyenne and a few Arapahos

Description:

• Scattered Indian raids had caused much ill-will between the white settlers and the Native Americans.

• In the autumn, Territorial (Colorado) officers had offered a vague amnesty if Indians reported to army forts.

• Black Kettle with many Cheyenne and a few Arapahos, believing themselves to be protected, established a winter camp about 40 miles from Fort Lyon.

• On November 29, Col. John Chivington, who advocated Indian extermination, arrived near the camp, having marched there from Fort Lyon.

• In spite of the American flag and a white flag flying over the camp, the troops attacked, killing and mutilating about 200 of the Indians, two-thirds of whom were women and children.

Slide Presentation: None

Classification¹: B

Casualties²:

• Union: Unknown

• Indian: 200

Results: Union Victory

Battlefield Websites: 

• Sand Creek Massacre - Wikipedia

• The Sand Creek Massacre

• Sand Creek Massacre - National Park Service

Recommended Resources:

¹ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

² Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/02/2009