In September last, Governor Evans, Major Wynkoop and Colonel Chivington had a talk with Black Kettle and several others of the principal chiefs of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, who then signified their desire for peace--Black Kettle and others declaring that they had nothing to do with the outrages that had been committed, but had always opposed them. These declarations were perfectly consistent with the actions of the chiefs in aiding Wynkoop in recovering several prisoners from the Indians, a short time before--among them a Miss Roper who had been captured at the first Indian attack on the Little Blue. Terms of amnesty were then entered into. The amnesty included a very large proportion of the plains Indians. They went to Fort Lyon, gave up their arms, and waited for Governor Evans to procure authority from Washington to negotiate a permanent treaty with them. In the mean time, they were to be supplied with food from the post. But provisions becoming short, the Indians were allowed their arms to hunt buffalo for their subsistance. They thus went out from Fort Lyon with their lodges, their women and children in perfect confidence, having the assurance of the highest authorities in Colorado that the amnesty should be fully carried out, and that they should be notified when the Great Father at Washington should send to them guarantees of peace. They were in their camp, they and their women and children, on the 29th of November, when Col. Chivington attacked and massacred them. The butchery was committed chiefly by men of the 3d Colorado--hundred days' men who had been enlisted especially to kill Indians--and who generally knew nothing of the stipulations of peace which had been made with the Indians. Men, women and children were indiscriminately butchered and barbarously mutilated. Black Kettle himself and other chiefs, who had always been for peace, were among the slain.
Source: Unknown, "The Indian Difficulties," Daily Mining Journal, Black Hawk, Colorado, Wednesday, 1 March, 1865, Page 2.
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Created November 18, 2005; Revised November 18, 2005
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