|
The Following is an Eye Witness Account of the Sand Creek Massacre -
November 29,1865
Congressional
Testimony of Mr. John S. Smith
Washington, March 14, 1865
Mr. John S. Smith sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where is your place of residence?
Answer. Fort Lyon, Colorado
Question. What is your occupation?
Answer. United States Indian interpreter and special Indian agent.
Question. Will you state to the committee all that you know in relation to
the attack of Colonel Chivington upon the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians in
November last?
Answer. Major Anthony was in command at Fort Lyon at the time. Those
Indians had been induced to remain in the vicinity of Fort Lyon, and were
promised protection by the commanding officer at Fort Lyon. The commanding
officer saw proper to keep them some thirty or forty miles distant from
the fort, for fear of some conflict between them and the soldiers or the
traveling population, for Fort Lyon is on a great thoroughfare. He advised
them to go out on what is called Sand creek, about forty miles, a little
east of north from Fort Lyon. Some days after they had left Fort Lyon when
I had just recovered from a long spell of sickness, I was called on by
Major S.G. Colley, who asked me if I was able and willing to go out and
pay a visit to these Indians, ascertain their numbers, their general
disposition toward the whites, and the points where other bands might be
located in the interior.
Question. What was the necessity for obtaining that information?
Answer. Because there were different bands which were supposed to be at
war; in fact, we knew at the time that they were at war with the white
population in that country; but this band had been in and left the post
perfectly satisfied. I left to go to this village of Indians on the 26th
of November last. I arrived there on the 27th and remained there the 28th.
On the morning of the 29th, between daylight and sunrise - nearer sunrise
than daybreak - a large number of troops were discovered from
three-quarters of a mile to a mile below the village. The Indians, who
discovered them, ran to my camp, called me out, and wanted to me to go and
see what troops they were, and what they wanted. The head chief of the
nation, Black Kettle, and head chief of the Cheyennes, was encamped there
with us. Some years previous he had been presented with a fine American
flag by Colonel Greenwood, a commissioner, who had been sent out there.
Black Kettle ran this American flag up to the top of his lodge, with a
small white flag tied right under it, as he had been advised to do in case
he should meet with any troops out on the prairies. I then left my own
camp and started for that portion of the troops that was nearest the
village, supposing I could go up to the m. I did not know but they might
be strange troops, and thought my presence and explanations could
reconcile matters. Lieutenant Wilson was in command of the detachment to
which I tried to make my approach; but they fired several volleys at me,
and I returned back to my camp and entered my lodge.
Question. Did these troops know you to be a white man?
Answer. Yes, sir; and the troops that went there knew I was in the
village.
Question. Did you see Lieutenant Wilson or were you seen by h im?
Answer. I cannot say I was seen by him; but his troops were the first to
fire at me.
Question. Did they know you to be a white man?
Answer. They could not help knowing it. I had on pants, a soldier's
overcoat, and a hat such as I am wearing now. I was dressed differently
from any Indian in the country. On my return I entered my lodge, not
expecting to get out of it alive. I had two other men there with me: one
was David Louderbach, a soldier, belonging to company G, lst Colorado
cavalry; the other, a man by the name of Watson, who was a hired hand of
Mr. DD Coolly, the son of Major Coolly, the agent.
After I had left my lodge to go out and see what was going on, Colonel
Chivington rode up to within fifty or sixty yards of where I was camped;
he recognized me at once. They all call me Uncle John in that country. He
said, "Run here, Uncle John; you are all right." I went to him
as fast as I could. He told me to get in between him and his troops, who
were then coming up very fast; I did so; directly another officer who knew
me - Lieutenant Baldwin, in command of a battery - tried to assist me to
get a horse; but there was no loose horse there at the time. He said,
"Catch hold of the caisson, and keep up with us."
By
this time the Indians had fled; had scattered in every direction. The
troops were some on one side of the river and some on the other, following
up the Indians. We had been encamped on the north side of the river; I
followed along, holding on the caisson, sometimes running, sometimes
walking. Finally, about a mile above the village, the troops had got a
parcel of the Indians hemmed in under the bank of the river; as soon as
the troops overtook them, they commenced firing on them; some troops had
got above them, so that they were completely surrounded. There were
probably a hundred Indians hemmed in there, men, women, and children; the
most of the men in the village escaped.
By the time I got up with the battery to the place where these Indians
were surrounded there had been some considerable firing. Four or five
soldiers had been killed, some with arrows and some with bullets. The
soldiers continued firing on these Indians, who numbered about a hundred,
until they had almost completely destroyed them. I think I saw altogether
some seventy dead bodies lying there; the greater portion women and
children. There may have been thirty warriors, old and young; the rest
were women and small children of different ages and sizes.
The troops at that time were very much scattered. There were not over two
hundred troops in the main fight, engaged in killing this body of Indians
under the bank. The balance of the troops were scattered in different
directions, running after small parties of Indians who were trying to make
their escape. I did not go so see how many they might have killed outside
of this party under the bank of the river. Being still quite weak from my
last sickness, I returned with the first body of troops that went back to
the camp.
The Indians had left their lodges and property; everything they owned. I
do not think more than one-half of the Indians left their lodges with
their arms. I think there were between 800 and l,000 men in this command
of United States troops. There was a part of three companies of the lst
Colorado, and the balance were what were called 100 days men of the 3rd
regiment. I am not able to say which party did the most execution on the
Indians, because it was very much mixed up at the time.
We remained there that day after the fight. By 11 o'clock, I think, the
entire number of soldiers had returned back to the camp where Colonel
Chivington had returned. On their return, he ordered the soldiers to
destroy all the Indian property there, which they did, with the exception
of what plunder they took away with them, which was considerable.
Question. How many Indians were there there?
Answer. There were 100 families of Cheyennes, and some six or eight lodges
of Arapahoes.
Question. How many persons in all, should you say?
Answer. About 500 we estimate them at five to a lodge.
Question. 500 men, women and children?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Do you know the reason for that attack on the Indians?
Answer. I do not know any exact reason. I have heard a great many reasons
given. I have heard that that whole Indian war had been brought on for
selfish purposes. Colonel Chivington was running for Congress in Colorado,
and there were other things of that kind; and last spring a year ago he
was looking for an order to go to the front, and I understand he had this
Indian war in view to retain himself and his troops in that country, to
carry out his electioneering purposes.
Question. In what way did this attack on the Indians further the purpose
of Colonel Chivington?
Answer. It was said - I did not hear him say it myself, but it was said
that he would do something; he had this regiment of three-months men, and
did not want them to go out without doing some service. Now he had been
told repeatedly by different persons - by myself, as well as others -
where he could find the hostile bands.
The same chiefs who were killed in this village of Cheyennes had been up
to see Colonel Chivington in Denver but a short time previous to this
attack. He himself told them that he had no power to treat with them; that
he had received telegrams from General Curtis directing him to fight all
Indians he met with in that country. Still he would advise them, if they
wanted any assistance from the whites, to go to their nearest military
post in their country, give up their arms and the stolen property, if they
had any, and then they would receive directions in what way to act. This
was told them by Colonel Chivington and by Governor Evans, of Colorado. I
myself interpreted for them and for the Indians.
Question. Did Colonel Chivington hold any communciation with these
Indians, or any of them, before making the attack upon them?
Answer. No, sir, not then. He had some time previously held a council with
them at Denver city. When we first recovered the white prisoners from the
Indians, we invited some of the chiefs to go to Denver, inasmuch as they
had sued for peace, and were willing to give up these white prisoners. We
promised to take the chiefs to Denver, where they had an interview with
men who had more power than Major Wynkoop had, who was the officer in
command of the detachment that went out to recover these white prisoners.
Governor Evans and Colonel Chivington were in Denver, and were present at
this council. They told the Indians to return with Major Wynkoop, and
whatever he agreed on doing with them would be recognized by them.
I returned with the Indians to Fort Lyon. There we let them go out to
their villages to bring in their families, as they had been invited
through the proclamation or circular of the governor during the month of
June, I think. They were gone some twelve or fifteen days from Fort Lyon,
and then they returned with their families. Major Wynkoop had made them
one or two issues of provisions previous to the arrival of Major Anthony
there to assume command. Then Major Wynkoop, who is now in command at Fort
Lyon, was ordered to Fort Leavenworth on some business with General
Curtis, I think.
Then Major Anthony, through me, told the Indians that he did not have it
in his power to issue rations to them, as Major Wynkoop had done. He said
that he had assumed command at Fort Lyon, and his orders were positive
from headquarters to fight the Indians in the vicinity of Fort Lyon, or at
any other point in the Territory where they could find them. He said that
he had understood that they had been behaving very badly. But on seeing
Major Wynkoop and others there at Fort Lyon, he was happy to say that
things were not as had been presented, and he could not pursue any other
course than that of Major Wynkoop except the issuing rations to them. He
then advised them to out to some near point, where there was buffalo, not
too far from Fort Lyon or they might meet with troops from the Platte, who
would not know them from the hostile bands. This was the southern band of
Cheyennes; there is another band called the northern band. They had no
apprehensions in the world of any trouble with the whites at the time this
attack was made.
Question. Had there been, to your knowledge, any hostile act or
demonstration on the part of these Indians or any of them?
Answer. Not in this band. But the northern band, the band known by the
name of Dog soldiers of Cheyennes, had committed many depredations on the
Platte.
Question. Do you know whether or not Colonel Chivington knew the friendly
character of these Indians before he made the attack upon them?
Answer. It is my opinion that he did.
Question. On what is that opinion based?
Answer. On this fact, that he stopped all persons from going on ahead of
him. He stopped the mail, and would not allow any person to go on ahead of
him at the time he was on his way from Denver city to Fort Lyon. He placed
a guard around old Colonel Bent, the former agent there; he stopped a Mr.
Hagues and many men who were on their way to Fort Lyon. He took the fort
by surprise, and as soon as he got there he posted pickets all around the
fort, and then left at 8 o'clock that night for this Indian camp.
Question. Was that anything more than the exercise of ordinary precaution
in following Indians?
Answer. Well, sir, he was told that there were no Indians in the vicinity
of Fort Lyon, except Black Kettle's band of Cheyennes and Left Hand's band
of Arapahoes.
Question. How do you know that?
Answer. I was told so.
By Mr. Buckalew:
Question. Do you know it of your own knowledge?
Answer. I cannot say I do.
Question. You did not talk with him about it before the attack?
Answer. No, sir.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question.
When you went out to him, you had no opportunity to hold intercourse with
him?
Answer. None whatever; he had just commenced his fire against the Indians.
Question. Did you have any communication with him at any time while there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What was it?
Answer. He asked me many questions about a son of mine, who was killed
there afterwards. He asked me what Indians were there, what chiefs; and I
told him as fully as I knew.
By Mr. Buckalew:
Question. When did you talk with him?
Answer. On the day of the attack. He asked me many questions about the
chiefs who were there, and if I could recognize them if I saw them. I told
him it was possible I might recollect the principal chiefs. They were
terribly mutilated, lying there in the water and sand; most of them in the
bed of the creek, dead and dying, making many struggles. They were so
badly mutilated and covered with sand and water that it was very hard for
me to tell one from another. However, I recognized some of them - among
them the chief One Eye, who was employed by our government at $125 a month
and rations to remain in the village as a spy. There was another called
War Bonnet, who was here two years ago with me. There was another by the
name of Standing-in-the-Water, and I supposed Black Kettle was among them,
but it was not Black Kettle. There was one there of his size and
dimensions in every way, but so tremendously mutilated that I was mistaken
in him. I went out with Lieutenant Colonel Bowen, to see how many I could
recognize.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question: Did you tell Colonel Chivington the character and disposition of
these Indians at any time during your interviews on this day?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What did he say in reply?
Answer. He said he could not help it; that his orders were positive to
attack the Indians.
Question. From whom did he receive these orders?
Answer. I do not know; I presume from General Curtis.
Question. Did he tell you?
Answer. Not to my recollection.
Question. Were the women and children slaughtered indiscriminately, or
only so far as they were with the warriors?
Answer. Indiscriminately.
Question. Were there any acts of barbarity perpetrated there that came
under your own observation?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw the bodies of those lying there cut all to pieces,
worse mutilated than any I ever saw before; the women cut all to pieces.
By Mr. Buckalew:
Question. How cut?
Answer. With knives; scalped; their brains knocked out; children two or
three months old; all ages lying there, from sucking infants up to
warriors.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Did you see it done?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw them fall.
Question. Fall when they were killed?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you see them when they were mutilated?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. By whom were they mutilated?
Answer. By the United States troops.
Question. Do you know whether or not it was done by the direction or
consent of any of the officers.
Answer. I do not; I hardly think it was.
By Mr. Buckalew:
Question. What was the date of that massacre?
Answer. On the 29th of November last.
Question. Did you speak of these barbarities to Colonel Chivington?
Answer. No sir; I had nothing at all to say about it, because at that time
they were hostile towards me, from the fact of my being there. They
probably supposed that I might be compromised with them in some way or
other.
Question. Who called on you to designate the bodies of those who were
killed?
Answer. Colonel Chivington himself asked me if I would ride out with
Lieutenant Colonel Bowen, and see how many chiefs or principal men I could
recognize.
Question. Can you state how many Indians were killed - how many women and
how many children?
Answer. Perhaps one-half were men, and the balance were women and
children. I do not think that I saw more than 70 lying dead then, as far
as I went. But I saw parties of men scattered in every direction, pursuing
little bands of Indians.
Question. What time of day or night was this attack made?
Answer. The attack commenced about sunrise, and lasted until between 10
and 11 o'clock.
Question. How large a body of troops?
Answer. I think that probably there may have been about 60 or 70 warriors
who were armed and stood their ground and fought. Those that were unarmed
got out of the way as they best could.
Question. How many of our troops were killed and how many wounded?
Answer. There were ten killed on the ground, and thirty-eight wounded;
four of the wounded died at Fort Lyon before I came on east.
Question. Were there any other barbarities or atrocities committed there
other than those you have mentioned, that you saw?
Answer. Yes, sir; I had a half-breed son there, who gave himself up. He
started at the time the Indians fled; being a half-breed he had but little
hope of being spared, and seeing them fire at me, he ran away with the
Indians for the distance of about a mile. During the fight up there he
walked back to my camp and went into the lodge. It was surrounded by
soldiers at the time. He came in quietly and sat down; he remained there
that day, that night, and the next day in the afternoon; about four
o'clock in the evening, as I was sitting inside the camp, a soldier came
up outside of the lodge and called me by name. I got up and went out; he
took me by the arm and walked towards Colonel Chivington's camp, which was
about sixty yards from my camp. Said he, "I am sorry to tell you, but
they are going to kill your son Jack." I knew the feeling towards the
whole camp of Indians, and that there was no use to make any resistance. I
said, "I can't help it." I then walked on towards where Colonel
Chivington was standing by his camp-fire; when I had got within a few feet
of him I heard a gun fired, and saw a crowd run to my lodge, and they told
me that Jack was dead.
Question. What action did Colonel Chivington take in regard to that
matter?
Answer. Major Anthony, who was present, told Colonel Chivington that he
had heard some remarks made, indicating that they were desirous of killing
Jack; and that he (Colonel Chivington) had it in his power to save him,
and that by saving him he might make him a very useful man, as he was well
acquainted with all the Cheyenne and Arapahoe country, and he could be
used as a guide or interpreter. Colonel Chivington replied to Major
Anthony, as the Major himself told me, that he had no orders to receive
and no advice to give. Major Anthony is now in this city.
By Mr. Buckalew:
Question. Did Chivington say anything to you, or you to him about the
firing?
Answer. Nothing directly; there were a number of officers sitting around
the fire, with the most of whom I was acquainted.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were there any other Indians or half-breeds there at that time?
Answer. Yes, sir; Mr. Bent had three sons there; one employed as a guide
for these troops at the time, and two others living there in the village
with the Indians; and a Mr. Gerry had a son there.
Question. Were there any other murders after the first day's massacre?
Answer. There was none, except of my son.
Question. Were there any other atrocities which you have no mentioned?
Answer. None that I saw myself. There were two women that white men had
families by ; they were saved from the fact of being in my lodge at the
time. One ran to my lodge; the other was taken prisoner by a soldier who
knew her and brought her to my lodge for safety. They both had children.
There were some small children, six or seven years old, who were taken
prisoners near the camp. I think there were three of them taken to Denver
with these troops.
Question. Were the women and children that were killed, killed during the
fight with the Indians?
Answer. During the fight, or during the time of the attack.
Question. Did you see any women or children killed after the fight was
over?
Answer. None.
Question. Did you see any Indians killed after the fight was over?
Answer. No, sir.
By Mr. Buckalew:
Question. Were the warriors and women and children all huddled together
when they were attacked?
Answer. They started and left the village altogether, in a body, trying to
escape.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Do you know anything as to the amount of property that those
Indians had there?
Answer. Nothing more than their horses. They were supposed to own ten
horses and mules to a lodge; that would make about a thousand head of
horses and mules in that camp. The soldiers drove off about six hundred
head.
Question. Had they any money?
Answer. I understood that some of the soldiers found some money, but I did
not see it. Mr. D. D. Colley had some provisions and goods in the village
at the time, and Mr. Louderback and Mr. Watson were employed by him to
trade there. I was to interpret for them, direct them, and see that they
were cared for in the village. They had traded for one hundred and four
buffalo robes, one fine mule, and two horses. This was all taken away from
them. Colonel Chivington came to me and told me that I might rest assured
that he would see the goods paid for. He had confiscated these buffalo
robes for the dead and wounded; and there was also some sugar and coffee
and tea taken for the same purpose.
I would state that in his report Colonel Chivington states that after this
raid on Sand creek against the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians he traveled
northeast some eighty miles in the direction of some hostile bands of
Sioux Indians. Now that is very incorrect, according to my knowledge of
matters; I remained with Colonel Chivington's camp, and returned on his
trail towards Fort Lyon from the camp where he made this raid. I went down
with him to what is called the forks of the Sandy. He then took a due
south course for the Arkansas river, and I went to Fort Lyon with the
killed and wounded, and an escort to take us in. Colonel Chivington
proceeded down the Arkansas river, and got within eleven miles of another
band of Arapahoe Indians, but did not succeed in overtaking them. He then
returned to Fort Lyon, re-equipped, and started immediately for Denver.
Question. Have you spent any considerable portion of your life with the
Indians?
Answer. The most of it.
Question. How many years have you been with the Indians?
Answer. I have been twenty-seven successive years with the Cheyennes and
Arapahoes. Before that I was in the country as a trapper and hunter in the
Rocky mountains.
Question. For how long time have you acted as Indian interpreter?
Answer. For some fifteen or eighteen years.
Question. By whom have you been so employed?
Answer. By Major Fitzpatrick, Colonel Bent, Major Colley, Colonel J.W.
Whitfield, and a great deal of the time for the military as guide and
interpreter.
By Mr. Buckalew:
Question. How many warriors were estimated in Colonel Chivington's report
as having been in this Indian camp?
Answer. About nine hundred.
Question. How many were there?
Answer. About two hundred warriors; they average about two warriors to a
lodge, and there were about one hundred lodges.
|
