Early January, 1865
Captain Soule, who just days before the massacre requested a furlough, returns to Denver with Cramer and other soldiers scheduled to muster out of service. Soule may muster out if he wishes, but Colonel Moonlight offers Soule the option to be retained in the Veteran’s regiment. Deciding he has few job prospects as a civilian, Soule accepts.
January 8, 1865
John Chivington musters out of the army, and Colonel Thomas Moonlight takes command of the Denver Military District. Although Chivington has been technically a civilian since September of ’64, he is now officially out of the reach of military prosecution for his conduct at Sand Creek.
On this same day, Captain Silas Soule writes a letter to his mother stating:
“I spent New Year’s day on the battle ground counting dead Indians. There were not as many killed as was reported. There was not more than one hundred and thirty killed, but most of them were women and children and all of them scalped. I hope the authorities at Washington will investigate the killing of those Indians. I think they will be apt to hoist some of our high officials. I would not fire on the Indians with my Co. and the Col. said he would have me cashiered, but he is out of the service before me and I think I stand better than he does in regard to his great Indian fight . . .”
(The Letters of Silas S. Soule – Recounting His Experiences in the Colorado Territory - 1861-1865. Western History/Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library.)
READ SOULE'S LETTERS
January 10, 1865
A bill is passed in Washington by the House of Representatives, directing the Committee on the Conduct of the War to initiate an investigation into the Colorado Third Cavalry’s attack on the Cheyenne Indians camped at Sand Creek.
January 11, 1865
Chief of Staff Maj. General Henry W. Halleck officially orders General Curtis to investigate the conduct of Chivington’s command at Sand Creek:
“Statements from respectable sources have been received here that the conduct of Colonel Chivington's command towards the friendly Indians has been a series of outrages calculated to make them all hostile.”
(United States, Congress, Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, "Massacre of the Cheyenne Indians,"
Report of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War at the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Volume III, Part VI., Washington, Government Printing Office, 1865. p.74.)
READ JANUARY REPORTS
January 12, 1865
General Curtis replies to Halleck:
“I will be glad to save the few honest and kindly disposed, and protest against the slaughter of women and children although, since General Harney's attack of the Sioux many years ago at Ash Hollow, the popular cry of settlers and soldiers on the frontier favors an indiscriminate slaughter, which is very difficult to restrain. I abhor this style, but so it goes from Minnesota to Texas. I fear that Colonel Chivington's assault at Sand creek was upon Indians who had received some encouragement to camp in that vicinity under some erroneous supposition of the commanding officer at Lyon that he could make a sort of "city of refuge" at such a point. However wrong that may have been, it should have been respected, and any violation of known arrangements of that sort should be severely rebuked. But there is no doubt a portion of the tribe assembled were occupied in making assaults on our stages and trains, and the tribes well know that we have to hold the whole community responsible for acts they could restrain, if they would properly exert their efforts in that way.”
(ibid. p.75)
January 14-15, 1865
Wynkoop arrives at Fort Lyon and immediately initiates his investigation. He wastes little time, and sends back a report that details the true events of the massacre, severely criticizing Chivington and calling him an “inhuman monster.”
Read the full transcript of Wynkoop's report.
Although Colonel Chivington is officially a civilian and immune to military court-martial, the army nevertheless orders a special military commission to gather evidence and call witnesses in its own investigation into the Sand Creek affair. In addition to the hearings ordered by the War Department and the House of Representatives, the existing Joint Special Committee of Congress initiates a third inquiry shortly thereafter. The Joint Committee had been established before the Sand Creek attack for the purpose of monitoring the general treatment of all Indian tribes by military and civilian entities.
January 20, 1865
Captain Soule appointed Assistant Provost Marshal in Denver by Colonel Moonlight. Among his first duties is to investigate reports that the stock captured at Sand Creek, along with much of the stock procured from local ranchers to be put in service of the 3rd Regiment, is unaccounted for. Accusations run rampant that many 3rd Regiment officers and soldiers, as well as some 1st Regiment men, have either kept the stock for themselves, or sold it. As word spreads that Soule is among the contingency of “high officials” that reported the atrocities at Sand Creek, his authority to investigate the 3rd Regiment rankles Chivington supporters in Denver.
January 21, 1865
Fearing that he will be left holding the bag for the massacre at Sand Creek, Major Scott Anthony resigns his commission and musters out of the army. He, too, is now immune from military court-martial.
February 1, 1865
Colonel Moonlight officially convenes the military investigation into the Sand Creek Massacre. He appoints the three highest-ranking officers of the Colorado 1st Regiment that were not present at Sand Creek to preside over the hearings. Ironically, Lt. Colonel Samuel Tappan, Chivington’s most ardent critic and foe, outranks Captain Edward Jacobs and Captain George Stilwell, and he will preside over the hearings.
Denver City is dividing into two camps. Indian war parties are escalating unprecedented winter attacks in reprisal for the Sand Creek Massacre, further proving that Chivington has lied about killing over 500 Cheyenne warriors. The majority of citizens now realize that Chivington’s attack at Sand Creek did more harm than good. Some of the “Bloody Thirdsters,” however, believe Soule, Wynkoop and Sam Tappan are the architects of a conspiracy to ruin their hero Chivington.
February – May 1865
The military commission takes testimony in Denver and at Fort Lyon from officers, soldiers, officials and civilians involved in the affair at Sand Creek. Colonel Moonlight stipulates that the hearing is not a trial, but rather an investigation into charges that the 3rd Regiment massacred Indians under the protection of the government and to fix responsibility and ensure justice to all. Chivington is allowed to present evidence and witnesses, and to cross-examine witnesses introduced by the army. Chivington enlists the services of a Denver attorney and Major Jacob Downing (an attorney and one of the key officers who led the Sand Creek attack). On the eve of the hearings, Chivington publicly announces that he will personally pay $500 to anyone who kills an Indian or those who sympathize with them.
The hearings are heated and contentious. With few exceptions, all evidence and testimony against Chivington comes from 1st Regiment officers and soldiers, and Chivington’s defense witnesses are officers and soldiers from the 3rd Regiment. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the defense continues to insist that hundreds of Indian warriors were killed at Sand Creek, very few women and children were killed, and no scalping, mutilating and other atrocities occurred.
The most damning testimony against Chivington is given by Major Wynkoop, Lieutenant Cramer and Captain Soule. Both Wynkoop and Soule, once regarded by Chivington as his most trusted officers, are severely chastised on the stand by Chivington and Downing in an attempt to deflect the mounting evidence against Chivington.
Throughout February, March and April, Captain Soule receives anonymous death threats, and several unsuccessful attempts to assassinate him are made. Assistant Adjutant General George Price will later testify that Soule told him he believed, if he is killed, Chivington will attempt to attack his character in order to nullify his testimony in the hearing.
March 15-18, 1865
Committee on the Conduct of the War takes testimony in Washington from Governor Evans, Jesse Leavenworth, John Smith, Scott Anthony, Samuel Colley and several soldiers and Denver officials.
April 1, 1865
Captain Silas Soule marries Hersa Coberly in a private ceremony in Denver. The couple takes up residence in town.
April 9, 1865
Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia.
April 14, 1865
The Stars and Stripes is ceremoniously raised over Fort Sumter. That night, Lincoln and his wife Mary see the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater. At 10:13 p.m., during the third act of the play, John Wilkes Booth shoots the president in the head. Doctors attend to the president in the theater then move him to a house across the street.
April 15, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency.
April 23, 1865
Around midnight, Captain Silas Soule investigates gunshots fired near his home. Soule is assassinated by Private Charles W. Squier, 2nd Colorado Cavalry, on present-day 15th St. between Lawrence and Arapaho in Denver. Squier, although shot in the hand by Soule, escapes with accomplice William Morrow.
It’s speculated that Squier murdered Soule both for Soule’s testimony against Chivington and his investigation into missing stock and equipment believed stolen by members of 3rd Colorado Cavalry Volunteers. Squier had been convicted of the attempted murder of mountain man Mariano Medina six months earlier, but the conviction was later overturned due to a jurisdictional “technicality.” Although never proven, many speculated that Chivington sanctioned Soule’s murder.
READ DETAILS OF SOULE MURDER
April 26, 1865
Captain Soule is buried with full military honors in Denver. The funeral is attended by Cramer, Anthony, Evans, and a large contingency of 1st Regiment soldiers (Wynkoop not present due to his assignment at Ft. Lyon). Chivington, who once regarded Soule like a son, is conspicuously absent. The ever eroding support of Chivington has now dwindled to just the hard-core Indian haters. Although many Denver citizens were puzzled by Soule and Wynkoop’s betrayal of Chivington, the witty and likeable Soule was regarded a true military hero. As the rumors of Chivington’s involvement in Soule’s murder flourish, Denver City’s patience with the “Fighting Parson” is running out.
READ SOULE OBITUARY
May 1865
After Soule’s assassination, his ominous remarks to George Price months earlier come true. Chivington presents witnesses at the military hearing who attempt to implicate Soule in a conspiracy with John Smith and Sam Colley to profit from the Indian war with the Cheyenne. Soule is accused of cowardice, drunkenness and thievery. The commissioners angrily dismiss Chivington’s transparent ploy.
May 30, 1865
The military investigation into the Sand Creek Massacre concludes. Transcripts are submitted to the War Department. Although all three government investigations resulted in the severe censure of Chivington and Anthony, no legal action was taken against them. Governor Evans, however, was blistered with criticism that would soon result in his removal from office.
Read the full transcript of the Sand Creek Massacre military Inquiry.
Read the full report of The Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.
Read "The Chivington Massacre" Joint Special Committee to Inquire Into the Condition of the Indian Tribes.
Chivington responds.
READ CHIVINGTON'S FULL TESTIMONY
Early June 1865
Acting on a tip from locals, Private Charles W. Squier is arrested in Las Vegas, New Mexico by Lieutenant James Cannon, a New Mexico soldier who was present at the Sand Creek Massacre. Cannon gave damaging testimony against Chivington at the military hearing.
June 12, 1865
Lieutenant Cannon brings Private Squier to Denver. Squier will face court-martial for desertion and the murder of Captain Soule.
June 14, 1865
Lieutenant Cannon is found dead in his hotel room in Denver. A postmortem examination reveals Cannon died of a lethal mixture of liquor and morphine. Cannon was seen drinking and gambling at a Denver saloon before his death, and witnesses reported hearing a struggle in his room later that night. Many soldiers of the time were addicted to alcohol and morphine, but the timely and coincidental circumstances of his death fuel speculation that Chivington's “Thirdsters” poisoned him. No evidence is ever produced to prove that Cannon was murdered, however.
July 18, 1865
Secretary of State Seward sends letter to Evans, recommending his resignation:
"Sir, I am directed by the President to inform your that your resignation of the office as Governor of Colorado Territory would be acceptable. Circumstances connected with the public interest make it desirable that the resignation should reach him without delay."
(Colorado State Archives)
READ EVANS RESPONSE
August 1, 1865
President Johnson removes Governor Evans from office, replaced by Alexander Cummings.
October 5, 1865
Just days before the commencement of his court-martial trial, Private Charles W. Squier escapes from the Denver jail with the help of three conspirators. Over the years, several alleged sightings of Soule’s murderer are reported, but Squier will never be brought to justice. Squier, who was harbored by his elder half-brother and noted archaeologist, E.G. Squire, drifted for a number of years in the East until his death in 1869 from injuries suffered in a railroad accident in New York.
Sand Creek Aftermath
Little Arkansas Treaty - Oct. 14, 1865
includes provision for reparations to victims of Sand Creek Massacre
1865 - 1869
The Dog Soldiers and their Sioux and Arapaho compatriots went on a bloody rampage throughout Kansas, Nebraska and eastern Colorado in reprisal for the Sand Creek Massacre. They were finally defeated in the Battle of Summit Springs, Colorado in 1869. The surviving Dogmen scattered and joined the Northern Cheyenne and Sioux warriors above the Republican. Before the hostile Indians were eventually subdued in the late 1870s, this alliance scored one final victory at the Little Big Horn River in 1876, where they annihilated General George Custer's 7th Cavalry, under the leadership of Sioux chiefs, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
November 27, 1868
Nearly four years to the day, then Colonel George Custer’s 7th Cavalry kills Black Kettle and his wife in a surprise dawn attack on his village at the Washita River (present day Oklahoma). Black Kettle, disgraced in the eyes of his people after Sand Creek, never managed to bring the Dog Soldiers under control. He nevertheless tirelessly campaigned for peace between the Cheyenne and whites, and participated in subsequent treaty negotiations. He was camped at the Washita under orders of the U.S. military.
September 12, 1891
Edward W. Wynkoop dies in Santa Fe, NM.
After being fully exonerated in the Sand Creek affair, Wynkoop was promoted and served for several years as Indian Agent to the Cheyenne and Arapahos. Wynkoop was instrumental in arranging treaties and agreements to compensate the families of those killed at Sand Creek, but all government promises to the Indians were eventually broken. Wynkoop angrily resigned when Black Kettle and his wife were killed at Washita. He moved to Pennsylvania for a time to join in the family iron business, which later fell on hard financial times. Wynkoop then ventured back to the west in government service, and eventually ended up in New Mexico, where he was warden of the federal penitentiary. Wynkoop forever harbored bitter hatred for Chivington, not only for the Sand Creek Massacre, but for the murder of his dear friend Silas Soule, whom Wynkoop insisted was killed by order of Chivington. Wynkoop died at the age of 55 of Bright’s Disease, a malady stemming from numerous injuries and wounds suffered on the rugged prairie as a young man.
October 4, 1894
John M. Chivington dies in Denver, CO.
Chivington’s political career ended after his attack at Sand Creek. He resigned as elder of the Methodist church and wandered for several years, with stops in California, Nebraska, Canada and Ohio. In the interim, his wife and son died, and he made scandalous headlines in 1868 when he married his son’s widow in order to make a claim on his son’s freighting business. He soon thereafter abandoned his daughter-in-law bride and was arrested several times on charges ranging from forgery to assault. Chivington was later soundly defeated in another attempt to enter politics in Ohio. Chivington returned to Denver in 1883, where a few of his old army cronies welcomed him. He was soon elected as Sheriff of Arapahoe County, and later assigned to the Denver coroner’s office. Scandal continued to follow Chivington for the rest of his life, as he was once charged with perjury as sheriff, and later arrested when, as Denver Coroner, he admitted to stealing $800 from the pockets of a corpse. Upon his death to cancer in 1894, the Rocky Mountain News called Chivington “one of Colorado’s greatest heroes.” At his funeral, the Methodist minister, Reverend Dr. Robert McIntyre, said of Chivington:
“I never in my life knew a man who so represented the soldierly element in Christianity as did the man whom we are here to honor . . . We shall not look upon his likes again.”
(Rocky Mountain News, October 8, 1894)
READ CHIVINGTON OBITUARY
July 3, 1897
John Evans dies in Denver, CO.
Evans quit politics after his removal from office in 1865, but for a time he mounted a campaign to defend his actions before the massacre. He said that, although he knew Chivington planned to mount an attack on the Indians before leaving the service, he was not privy to which Indians would be attacked, nor did he condone the atrocious massacre of the women and children at Sand Creek. Had he left the matter there, history might have been more sympathetic to his involvement, but Evans continued to defend Chivington and maintain that he and the Colonel were victims of a vast political conspiracy to ruin their careers. Evans remained in Denver, forever attached to Chivington and the Sand Creek Massacre, but he helped found the University of Denver, numerous churches and businesses, and was instrumental in the development of the Denver Tramway Company and major western railroad lines. Despite the positive contributions that John Evans made to Denver, his reputation was forever diminished by the stain of Sand Creek.
Fate of others involved in the Sand Creek affair:
Major Scott Anthony
After leaving Denver after Sand Creek, Anthony later returned and worked first in real estate, and then for Evans’ Denver Tramway Company. He bitterly condemned Chivington in the years following Sand Creek, but - ever the noble hypocrite – Anthony was among those who hailed the return of the Fighting Parson in 1883, and he proudly served as a pallbearer at Chivington’s funeral. Anthony died at Denver in 1903.
Bent Family
Perhaps the best friend of the Cheyenne and Arapahos, St. Louis trader William Bent’s efforts to maintain the peace with whites unraveled after the Sand Creek Massacre. Bent’s Cheyenne wife was soon thereafter killed by Union Soldiers and Bent died alone of pneumonia in 1869. His youngest son, Charley, survived the Sand Creek attack, but became a murderous renegade and was killed by Pawnees in 1868. Oldest son Robert Bent continued to work as an army interpreter and scout until his death in 1889. Middle son, George Bent, survived the massacre and joined the Dogmen raids until their defeat in 1869. He married Black Kettle’s niece and lived peaceably on a reservation until his death in 1916. George became the best known of the Bent family, eventually compiling a half-century of Cheyenne history published by historian George E. Hyde.
Dog Soldier Chief Bull Bear
The only Dog Soldier leader who supported Wynkoop’s effort to make peace went into a rage after Sand Creek. He joined numerous war parties that brought devastation to the Plains in the five-year reprisal for Chivington’s massacre. After the Dogmen were defeated in 1869, Bull Bear surrendered and moved his family to the Darlington Agency reservation in Oklahoma, where he became a Christian and peaceably lived among the whites until his death in 1904.
Lieutenant Joseph Cramer
Resigned from the military and became sheriff of Dickinson County, Kansas. He fell ill from complications of injuries received in military service and died in 1870 at the age of 31.
Major Jacob Downing
Amassed a fortune in cattle and horses in Denver. Was the major developer of north Denver and present-day Lakewood, CO. He died in Denver in 1907.
Arapaho Chief Left Hand
Mortally wounded at Sand Creek, the Arapaho leader died several days later with the Dogmen and Sioux at their Smoky Hill camp.
Arapaho Chief Little Raven
Continued to campaign for peace with the whites. He visited President Ulysses Grant and received a peace medal before his death at Oklahoma in 1889. In a belated but sincere gesture, the City of Denver named a street in 1994 to honor the great Southern Arapaho Chief.
Colonel George Shoup
Although second in command of the Third Regiment at the Sand Creek Massacre, Shoup seemed to fall through the cracks of accusations and scandal and mustered out of the army unscathed. He went on to become first Governor and then Senator, representing the state of Idaho. He died at Boise, Idaho in 1904.
Samuel Tappan
Tappan moved to New York City after Sand Creek and became a political activist in the Indian reform movement, serving many years on the Indian Peace Commission. Tappan adopted one of three Indian children who survived the Sand Creek Massacre, but the young girl died while attending a school in New York just a few years later. Tappan died in Washington D.C. in 1913 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
