Sand Creek Massacre, 1864: Tragedy on the Big Sandy 

Ummm Roman Nose wasn’t Arapaho he was Cheyenne

U have done a great job with your presentation, thank you. :) Many decades ago I was a State utility worker and lived close by this site, way before it was developed, and I would go there frequently to walk the fort area and battle area. I remember at the fort if I kicked the soil artifacts from the fort would be visible, they clearly were not very deep. I remember one early summer night, fairly cloudy sky partial moon and I was walking the battlefield, being parked at the monument and had wandered a ways away when all of a sudden the hair on my neck and arms rose up, I felt a sense of dread and chills and had a feeling of being watched and felt a presence and great anxiety, I quickly and with haste made it back to my utility vehicle and never again visited that location at any time other than full day light. It is a special place.

I lived only a couple of miles from the sand creek massacre site! When I was about fourteen. I hunted all of that country, with 22s and a old 410 shotgun. Over the years I was caught having to cross the site in the late evening, about dusk. I always found that walking through this site, would make your skin crawl. My father was the manager of the Kiowa County Grazing Ass.

The only means to sovereignty is territory. Denying a peoples' sovereignty is usually not taken lying down.

I’m learning more about the Indian wars from Your channel then I ever did anywhere else. Keep up the good work

My Great great grandfather Charles Hall was a Lieutenant in the 2nd Colorado Calvary and served in the action at Sand Creek. Later, Chipeta wife of Ouray of the Ute, gave a young white girl child to Charles and Mary Hall at their Ranch in South Park. That was my Great great Aunt Mildred Hall later Mildred McQuade, she passed on the family ranch in 1947.

All this happened back in the dark days before Dale Carnegine wrote his best seller, "How to win friends and influence people'

Been looking for a chanel like this one, thank you.

Appreciate your efforts. Raised in Franktown learned of this entire event as a child from grandma. 30 some years later purchased a dry land farm close to sight on the big sandy. I understand skepticism but I’m pretty sure that land is haunted or something, very odd feeling amongst the grove and down in one of the gullies. The history of man is complicated business.

It was a pleasant surprise to get a reasoned and fair account of the events that took place at Sand Creek.

This telling makes the most sense to me. A real logical accounting!

Fast becoming one of my favorite YT channels. Keep up the great work!

Thank you for covering this incident in its proper context! THIS is an example of the stuff that "they don't teach you in school"!

Excellent videos!

Chiming ton is my great , great great grandfather. My grandfather who was a settler in Northern NM Circa 1910 met a old mountain man who was in Chivingtons army. His story was very different than some history books. It was much more a story of survival.

Awesome work !

Good video. Thanks

As a european this is highly interesting, as we never learned anything about the native americans.

When I first came across this story I was about 10 years old reading, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee." I was sickened and outraged. I subsequently came across other accounts of the Sand Creek Massacre as it has been long dubbed. From all of the accounts that I have in recollection, Chivington's assault took place at dawn as a surprise attack as outlined here. However, my recollection was that it had been described as a surprise attack that lasted less than an hour. Although oppositional fighting was cited as to have occurred, the "battle" was described in detail as very one sided, with very little resistance from fighting warriors from Black Kettle's band. But rather a full scale slaughter of mostly women, children and elderly men. Detailed in great measure were the gruesome accounts of rape and mutilation of the women. In particular, the decidedly wretched and ghoulish recitation of women's breasts being cut off and paraded on the ends of bayonets, torture, and sickening accounts of mass rape and the slaughter of babies were also cited. This is the first account that I have ever run across that attempts to, in any way, advocate for, or provide a differing account of the accepted historical narrative of the Sand Creek ordeal. One thing is for certain: With very few historical exceptions, peoples or groups who have been ravaged savagely tend to reciprocate that same savagery back onto their assailants or others in the same manner in which they themselves had been previously victimized given the opportunity. And, given that the most galling and salacious recitation of the savagery exacted upon the Black Kettle band are in fact accurate and true, they do not at all exceed in any way the very same depredations enacted upon the white settlers and others as a deliberate and common practice in an ongoing campaign carried out by the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Commanche and other tribes upon the whites and other native enemies at that time or previous to it. The vast depredations described in this account and accepted by the vast majority of historians as accurate, as gruesome and inhumane as they surely are, do not rise above the level of the disgusting brutality and debased savagery commonly practiced by plains tribes and others in all reality. And so, sadly, to assign a moral high ground and higher level of victimization to the Native Americans here and in others instances is in fact a hypocrisy and a denial of true history.

I am of an age brought up on the lies of Hollywood, how different I now look upon the history of that time.

The army carried out what would now be considered atrocious war crimes. The indians carried out similar atrocities in rebellion against the occupiers. Both sides felt righteous. Neither side was right.

Proud to say that I am a descendant of that tragedy, plus the Battle of Little Bighorn. Our last name was originally Redcherries but the government forced my grandfather to take up the last name Whitecrow. I sadly didn’t figure this out until I was 27, I turned 28 last year Dec 22. Tsitsistas and proud of my ancestors! 🤎✊🏾🟤

I love the artwork.

Thanks for bringing realistic history, many false narratives about that period of history

Is there a transcript for this somewhere?

At Sand Creek, Chief Black Kettle posted an American Flag and a White Flag above his teepee, to make clear that his intentions were peaceful; but, his teepee was rifled with shot anyway, and his wife was wounded. I don't think that Black Kettle was able to restrain some of the warriors from carrying out raids.

No matter how you try to lodge a defense on the actions of the military on that day there is no way to justify the actions and atrocities perpetrated by Chivington and his men on that day.

It is pronounced Ft. Lion not Lee-on just saying.

Sand Creek was a Massacre

l9ve the battle history!

You are def one of the best story tellers on RU-vid, and certainly are not afraid of telling the whole uncomfortable history of these conflicts. The part about the fresh scalps on the tipis of a “peaceful Indian village,” is something that I never heard anywhere, but given how violent that period was and the ascended power of the dog soldiers, I def believe that account, which totally changes how we should see this battle. If people want to call it a massacre because women and children were killed, then fine, but every single raid on white settlements was a massacre then. While today we may look at scalping your dead enemy as a war crime, the Indians did far worse while their victims were still unfortunately alive. The frequent gang rape of women, the horrific torture of captives, whether they be children, is something that is not mentioned much today. While I do believe that the American government engaged in genocidal actions against the indigenous tribes of the Americas, it must be always remembered that most vicious killer of natives was not the white mans guns, or cannon balls, but the scourge of European diseases. These were wars of annihilation, perpetrated by both sides. The constant raiding of settlements, and the horrific treatment of the settlers proves that. The whites just had more advantages and thus were victorious. Please keep making this eye opening and greatly informative and entertaining content Doorus!

This is sad on both sides but we keep displacing so many tribes from there ancestral homelands. In Michigan we displaced the Odawa , Ojibwa, and Potawatomi from here. I wish I could know more about those tribes history to know more about my home and the people that lived here before my white ancestors.

Missed some things..and much of what you presented is questionable ..no mention of the American flag Black Kettle was flying in the camp that he was told if flown that no attack would be..but I suppose it doesn't matter ..and you didn't say what happened to Black Kettle at the next attack on his camp when in Oklahoma ..where the cluster attacked ..Black Kettle was killed at this one..he should have never trusted any who said they would be safe

U hunted artifacts at the location in the 1960s. The movie Soldier Blue made it famous in 1970.

Putting the family in unprotected areas is beyond me

Jerry Reed, civility is superficial while the worldview of one's civilization is domination.

This video offers more historical context to a tragic event. However, it leaves out some very important details. Black Kettle flew a white flag indicating peaceful intent on the morning of the attack. The video also omitted the killing of an unarmed chief - Lean Bear which led to the murders of the Hungate family in response.

I believe it's pronounced "LIE-on"

Seems both sides indulged in cruelty to the opposing side.

The Sand Creek Massacre did not happen in a vacuum. Current sentiment ignores the depredations by the tribes before the massacre.

History with BALLS

When the army wiped out a village it was a massacre when the Indians wiped out a settlement it was a raid

Great video! I would love to watch your re-telling of the battle at Big Hole. The Indians actually capture one of our artillery pieces in that battle. Also, look into how Horse Thief Canyon in Southern California got its name. An interesting tale of posses, horse thieves, and blown up dams that I think would be right up your alley.

TELL ME HOW HE DIED!

Jerry Reed, that is fine. You be well.

Why does the immediate response have to be defensive. Why can’t we educate one another with facts. Native/American history is dark, but we have to learn to talk about it.

A complex history with an inevitable result

who is the walrus really

I immediately knew you were not credible. John Chivington was in all purposes not a Methodist minister when he arrived in Denver. The Methodist Church had previously removed him from their rolls of active ministers. And had informed him that he would never be assigned a new church. Plus, you never breeched how Chivington later became a low rent con man. Who would abandon his wife according to the divorce decree his ex-wife was awarded.

You state that "massacre" description is a lie ... Please explain how surprising women and children in their sleep and then killing them as they flee not a massacre.

also the way this is being told Chivington acted on his own orders not by higher command

What!!! No TAZER FACE ??

There is always 2 sides of every story. I'm glad you speak the truth of the Sand Creek. I often pointed out this to my liberal friends that history should never be political. Just the truth good or bad.

These narrations are great but I think that when mention is made of Indian captives, which were always women and children, the names of those captives should be given. For instance, at Sand Creek Black Kettle's village held Laura Roper who was about 16-17 years old. With Laura were Ambrose Asher, Danny Marble and Isabel Eubanks 7 or 8 and 4-5 years old respectively. Laura was subjected to gang rape and violent physical abuse by the squaws. Amazingly, she survived and lived quite a while. All of these captives were eventually returrned by Danny Marble died shortly after his return to authorities, likely from thyphoid fever. These same Cheyenne had only recently murdered, scalped and dismembered members of the Hungate family. These few named are only a drop in the bucket of innocent and typically unarmed people who were murdered by the Cheyenne and other plains tribes. People need to understand these are the typies of atrocities that inspired men like Chivington and later Custer, under Sheridan and Sherman, to do all they could, to decimate indian villages.

What about the Indian accounts? We need to hear from both sides, not just the whites.

Well hello Uncle Doorus :)

at 13:25 it states Col. Chivington declared martial law, to my understanding he could not because was still in the US Army. Only Gov.s could declare martial law of each state. I guess is state is different from others. Chivington was not Gov. just then only after this occurred.

Why isn’t it reasonable to assume that were always more Indians than settlers

I'm here because of the Mandarin from Iron Man 3.

This was a complete tragedy of innocent lives lost. Hubris of Col. Chivington who had two brave 😢soldiers who refused to carry out his orders. Capt. Silas Soule and Lt Joseph Cramer would not let either of the companies they led fire upon 300 natives, mostly women and children. The massacre killed all the Indians at the encampment.

I still can’t believe they named a community Chivington literally 10 miles south of the crime scene. Insane.

The truth of tit for tat violence is too much for some people to wrap their head around. Things aren’t always black and white

So this Chivington guy was supposed to be a minister huh ?

I visited the Sand Creek National site. I read from the diary of officers and men that were at the massacre that day. It doesn't put Chivington in a good light with descriptions of Indian children and women with their brains bashed out. Wasn't one of the officers that testified against Chivington assassinated in Denver during the trial? One wrong doesn't make another right.

after watching this a person learns more, from this is telling the damn politicians twists things around to their liking

Your accuracy is impressive. Native American resistance was justifiable. However, in my opinion, their ruthlessness was counterproductive. Thank you for your objectivity.

So..Black Kettle tried to surrender to the military..was told he couldn't and had to camp on sand creek..I see.

Wow! You need to do actual research. If this is how you research, I would not share my truths as a Native with you. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. I do see the same mistakes in you as in your hero of Chivington.

History is always written by the victors, to make them look good, where did you get the information? like the Alamo.

… Left Hand was an Arapaho chief. Just read a Book about him and the southern Arapaho by Margaret Coel. Guess there are more mistakes in this video . Don’t forget to mention that the event happened during the civil war.

If only the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes were as friendly as the Shoshone. I think they have just as many descendants as the Cheyenne today and avoided much of the bloodshed.

So many of the comments here are devastating to read. History is not truth, it is not objective. Sources (letters, diaries, etc) are created with the subjectivity of the author.

People talk about the difference between a massacre and a raid. The army wasn’t trying to steal things from the Indians, so it’s not a raid they were going there to kill. The Indians were primarily concerned with stealing things that’s a raid. There is a difference, even though people get killed in both one is to plunder as the primary goal so yes, there is a difference. The Vikings went on many raids. Their primary goal wasn’t to kill people but they killed plenty. It’s all about mission..

I had no idea there was an Arapaho named Roman Nose. I knew about the Cheyenne Roman Nose. Guess you learn something everyday.

Wow. Such beautiful people! Natives really didn't get what was coming to them

When Might makes Wright...Injustice will occur

Remember Geronimo’s Skull! Chivington was a mason. Tomorrow we have March 22nd - 322. That number is used by the "US-presidential club" at Yale University, “SKULL AND BONES”.

Quite a difference in this account and others I have heard.

The movie "Soldier Blue" is based on this massacre. It was extremely graphic.

I’d like to meet this “Roman Nose” …😂😂

Soldier Blue by Buffy Sainte-Marie I'll tell you a story and it's a true one And I'll tell it like you understand And I ain't gonna talk like some history maid I look out and I see a land Young and lovely, hard and strong For fifty thousand years we've danced her praises Prayed our thanks and we've just begun Yes, yes Yes this is my country Young and growing Free and flowing, see to see Yes, this is my country Ripe and bearing miracles in ever pond and tree Her spirit walks the high country She's giving free wild samples And setting an example how to give Yes this is my country Retching and turning She is like a baby learning how to live i can stand upon a hill at dawn Look all around me Feel her surround me Soldier blue Can't you see her life has just begun Beating inside us, telling us she's here to guide us Soldier Blue, Soldier Blue, Soldier Blue Can't you see that there's another way to love her This is my country And I sprang from her And I'm learning how to count upon her Tall trees and the corn is high country I guess I love her And I'm learning how to take care of her When the news stories get me down I take a drink of freedom to think of North America from toe to crown It's never long before I know just why I belong here Soldier Blue, Soldier Blue Can't you see that there's another way to love her

Remind's me of the Liberal Hollywood 1971 film "Little Big Man".

Well, when you are culture revolving around murder, theft, and enslavement and you go up against a superior opponent you're going to reap what you sow. This myth going around claiming the settlers didn't try to get along with the indian is ridiculous.

*Never is there an excuse to murder.* Never can slaughter of Women and Children be justified, on either ethnic side of the line. *Who reaped the benefits that resulted? Who profited and who continues to profit?* *Therein lies your Truths.*

I have respectfully listened to your version of the Sand Creek Massacre and do not agree with your opinions. There are at least two sides to everything. It does not match the historical and oral history my studies have found.

When traveling thought Denver I can feel the dead souls in the air when I was little I feel it too and found this out I know why

152 scalps on that Indian war chief jacket....and they wonder why today.

I LOVE THIS STUFF TURN TO JESUS TODAY FOR WHOSEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL, BE SAVED ROMANS 10-13

It's cavalry not calvary. I'm sure all good American Christian's must know the difference

We were never taught any American history until the civil war due to tea being thrown into Boston harbour

I enjoy watching your videos. Keep up the good work. You should make a video about the Cheyenne exodus raid. At least 41 white men and boys were killed and at least 25 white women and girls were raped by the Cheyennes in the fall of 1978 in western Kansas. Those Cheyennes were mean against white settlers.

I'm ignorant of the truth of this massacre, except what movies show. Apart from yourself, who else supports your rendition of this horrible incident? Is this conjecture on your part or taken from actual records. I mean no disrespect, but when history is being rewritten, it'd help a lot with some provenance. Otherwise, a great presentation, thanks.

Well times were different and war is not a nice Thing. Women and children died on both sides.

They always forget that the Indians were here first. The Indians did what they had to do to survive from invaders.

There were also acts of cannibalism by the Colorado Volunteers

Great history

This report is taken solely from the White side of the controversy! Nowhere in it does it take into consideration the Native side of the story so, take the information in it, with a grain of salt! I live on the Arapaho side of the Wind River Indian Reservation and have heard from a great many of the descendants of those that were at the Sand Creek Massacre! Some of those descendants are from people that were scalped and or mutilated during this atrocity! Nowhere in this report does it mention the fact that soldiers of the "Bloodless 3rd" as this regiment was called by others at the time, paraded in the streets of downtown Denver City with scalps, severed breasts, and male and female genitalia adorning their hats and caps as "trophies of war"! That alone would tend, with Captain Silas Soule's, and others' accounts of the atrocities done at the massacre to throw great suspicion on this flawed account! It is up to the reader/listener to make his or her decision as to the veracity of this piece! I would urge you to do more research into this massacre before making any decision as to the veracity of this particular report! The mad man leading this expedition, when asked as to the disposition of, prisoners if any were taken, "Knits make "lice!" meaning take no prisoners of any age, kill them all! Nowhere in this piece will you find mention of both the Colorado Governor's or Chivington's political ambitions! THOSE ambitions had a great deal to do with why this happened yet, there is no mention of them! So, without reporting ALL sides of this event, how can one hope to do a fair and IMPARTIAL telling of the events? He can't! What you have here is a one-sided piece of trash! I believe that, if you research this event in any number of places, you will find that it WAS a massacre and not JUST another battle in the Indian Wars!

I think this was objective

Nothing like good old fashioned Revisionist history.

The. Apache last of hold outs. 1930s