On November 24, 1864, a force of some 700 soldiers under the command of Colonel John Chivington, mostly volunteers who had been chided in Denver as the “Bloodless Third” Regiment, began a ride from Booneville east of Pueblo, towards Fort Lyon, some 120 miles away. At Lyon, the expedition was augmented by an additional battalion.

“Boots and Saddles” was sounded around 8:00 p.m. on the evening of November 28. An all-night ride brought the soldiers to a ridge above Sand Creek. Here, in the stillness before dawn, the troops got their first sight of the camps of Black Kettle, White Antelope, and other well-known leaders. Soon, the troops leveled a barrage of fire, including howitzers, upon the camp and its fleeing inhabitants. Pursuit continued for hours and extended for several miles along the creek and onto the surrounding plains. The tribes used driftwood, clumps of sage, and underbrush as defense while women and children dug hiding pits along the banks and bed of Sand Creek. By day’s end, about 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho lay dead – many of the victims being women, children and the elderly. The soldiers also suffered, with dozens of wounded and the dead taken in wagons to Fort Lyon, 35 miles south.

Questions about the attack, claims of atrocities committed by some volunteers, and the event’s controversial aftermath engendered inquiry by a military commission and Congressional investigations. Soon, the events of November 29 would be labeled the Sand Creek Massacre.

Through depositions and testimony, many veterans, including the commanding Colonel John Chivington, defended the attack. Other officers and men condemned the actions, some detailing the ghastly scene in testimony and letters.

For additional information about the Sand Creek Massacre NHS and the site’s dedication ceremony, please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/sand/, or call the park at (719) 383-5051.