Sand Creek

Daily Alta California, 12 January, 1865

Gambling for a Grave.— The best thing told of late illustrative of the “ruling passion” being strong in life or death, is that gotten up on the detail of men sent out to dig the graves for the soldiers killed in the Indian fight on Sand Creek. ” The chap that got up the joke made one grave  too many, which was left vacant,  and that next day the wounded in the hospital played a game of “freeze out” to determine who should have the extra grave. The winner immediately sent to the commander of the post for a chaplain, asserting that he had fairly won a grave and wished to prepare himself to take possession of it in proper person !  This shows that our Colorado volunteers will have their jokes at any hazard, Under all circumstances, and upon every, subject, death not even excepted.—Denver News.

13 January, 1865

The Battle of Sand Creek.

Among the brilliant feats of arms, in Indian warfare, the recent campaign of our Colorado volunteers will stand in history with few rivals and none to exceed it in final results. We are not prepared to write its history, which can only be done by some one who accompanied the expedition; but we have gathered from those who participated in it, and from others who were in that part of the country, some facts which will doubtless interest many of our readers. The people of Colorado are well aware of the situation occupied by the Third regiment during the great snow storm which set in the last of October.
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At Fort Lyon the force was strengthened by about two hundred and fifty men of the First Regiment, at nine o’clock in the evening the command set out for the Indian village. Their course was due north and their guide was the Polar star. As daylight dawned they came in sight of the Indian camp, after a forced midnight march of forty-two miles, in eight hours, across the rough, unbroken plain. But little time was required for preparation. The force bad been divided and arranged for battle on the march, and just as the sun rose they dashed upon the enemy with yells that would put a Camanche army to the blush.

Although utterly surprised, the savages were not unprepared, and for a time their defence told terribly against our ranks. Their main force rallied and formed in line of battle on the bluffs beyond the creek, while their were protected by rudely constructed rifle pits from which they.maintained a steady fire until the shells from Company C’s (Third Regiment) howitzers began dropping among them, when they scattered and fought each for himself in genuine Indian fashion. As the battle progressed the field of carnage widened until it extended over not less than twelve miles of territory. The Indians who could, escaped or secreted themselves, and by three o’clock in the afternoon the carnage had ceased. It was estimated that between three and four hundred of the savages got away with their lives. Of the balance there were neither wounded nor prisoners. Their strength at the beginning of the action was estimated at nine hundred.
The village consisted of one hundred and thirty Cheyenne and eight Arapahoe lodges. These, with their contents, were totally destroyed. Among their effects were large supplies of flour, sugar, coffee, tea, etc. Womens’ and childrens’ clothing were found ; also books, and many other articles which must have been taken from captured trains or houses. One white man’s scalp was found, which had evidently been taken but a few days before. The chiefs fought with unparalleled bravery, falling in front of their men. One of them charged alone against a force of two or three hundred, and fell, pierced with balls, far in advance of his braves.
Our attack was made by five battalions.
The First regiment. Col. Chivington — part of companies C, D, E, G, H and X, numbering altogether about 250 men — was divided into two battalions; the first under comand of Major Anthony, and the second under Lieut. Wilson — until the latter was disabled, when the command devolved upon Lieut. Dunn. The three battalions of the Third, Col. Shoup, were led respectively by Lieut.Col. Bowen, Major Sayr, and Capt. Cree. The action was begun by the battalion of Lieut. Wilson, who occupied the right, and by a quick and bold movement cut off the enemy from their herd of stock. From this circumstance we gained our great advantage. A few Indians secured horses, but the great majority of them bad to fight or fly on foot.
Major Anthony was on the left and the Third in the centre. Among the killed were all the Cheyenne chiefs— Black Kettle, White Antelope, Little Robe, Left Hand, Knock Knee, One Eye and another name unknown. Not a single prominent man of the tribe remains, and the tribe itself is almost annihilated. The Arapahoes probably suffered but little. It has been reported that the chief, Left Hand, of that tribe, was killed, but Col. Chivington is of the opinion that he was not. Among the stock captured were a number of Government horses and mules, including the twenty or thirty stolen from the command of Lieut. Chase at Jimmy’s camp, last summer. The Indian camp was well supplied with defensive works. For half a mile along the creek there was an almost continuous chain of rifle pits, and another similar line of works crowned the adjacent bluff. Pits had been dug at all the salient points for miles. After the battle twenty-three dead Indians were taken from one of these pits, and twenty-seven from another. Whether viewed as a march or as a battle, the exploit has few if any parallels. A march of 260 miles in but a fraction more than five days, with deep snow, scanty forage and no road, is a remarkable feat, whilst the utter surprise of a large Indian village, is unprecedented. In no single battle in North America, we believe, have so many Indians been slain.
It is said that a short time before the command reached the scene of battle, an old squaw partially alarmed the village by reporting that a great herd of buffalo were coming. She heard the rambling of the artillery and tramp of the moving squadrons, but her people doubted. In a little time the doubt was dispelled, but not by buffaloes. A thousand incidents of individual daring, and the passing events of the day might be told, but space forbids. We leave the task for eye witnesses to chronicle. All acquitted themselves well, and Colorado soldiers have again covered themselves with glory. — Denver Argus.