Skirmish Near Sand Creek, Colorado, August 11, 1864.
Skirmish Near Sand Creek Colorado,
August 11, 1864.

CHAP. LIII.) SKIRMISH NEAR SAND CREEK, COLO. TER. 237

AUGUST 11, 1864.--Skirmish near Sand Creek, Colo. Ter.

REPORTS.

    No. 1.-Major Edward W. Wynkoop, First Colorado Cavalry.
    No. 2.-Lieutenant Joseph A. Cramer, First Colorado Cavalry.
    No. 3.-Lieutenant Horace W. Baldwin, Independent Battery Colorado Light Artillery, commanding detachment First Colorado Cavalry.
    No. 4.-Lieutenant Ira Quinby, First Colorado Cavalry.

No. 1.

Report of Major Edward W. Wynkoop, First Colorado Cavalry.

                                            FORT LYON, COLO. TER., August 13, 1864.
    SIR: I have the honor to report, for the information on the colonel commanding, that on the 11th instant while my ordnance sergeant, Kenyon, was a few miles north of this post in search of a stray horse, he was pursued by fifteen Indians, they following him to within sight of the commissary building. In ten minutes I had thirty men in the saddle, and dividing them into two squads started them immediately in pursuit. The detachments were respectively commanded by Lieutenants Cramer and Baldwin, copies of whose reports I inclose. Toward night, after hearing that Lieutenant Cramer was fighting the Indians, and receiving a message from him to the effect that he believed there to be a very large body in his neighborhood on Sand Creek, I hurriedly dispatched Lieutenant Quinby with thirty men to re-enforce Lieutenant Cramer. In the meanwhile Company E, Captain Gray,

238 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. (CHAP. LIII.

having arrived from Camp Wynkoop, I left them to garrison the post and followed in person with a section of the battery, Lieutenant Hardin, and a small detachment of cavalry, Captain Soule. I was accompanied by Captain Robbins, chief of cavalry. It was very dark when I left the post, and I had gone but a few miles when a thunder-shower arose, making it impossible to know with any certainty what direction I was proceeding. I still kept on, and after a march of over six hours succeeded in finding Sand Creek; there halting the command I sent out scouts and remained until daybreak. On account of having been thrown considerably out of my course by the storm, I was unable to find either Lieutenant Cramer or the whereabouts of the Indians. The Indians are supposed to be Kiowas. There is a probability that they are Arapahos. At all events, it is my intention to kill all Indians I may come across until I receive orders to the contrary from headquarters. Just as I was about leaving the post with the above-mentioned command two men were driven in by the Indians who were proceeding up the river. I have received official intelligence to the effect that thirty men of Company A, First Cavalry of Colorado, have had a fight with a large body of Indians, near the crossing of the Arkansas, and lost all their horses. A few days before that two men of Company A were murdered while out alone; two men of Company E while at Camp Wynkoop are supposed also to have been murdered. I desire also to report the fact that the carbines with which our regiment is armed are absolutely worthless, it being impossible to discharge over two-thirds of them. I am obliged to depend almost altogether on the pistol and saber, and you are aware that a large number of the men are without pistols. I have no doubt that the post was surrounded by Indians for the purpose of endeavoring to run off my herds, but so far I have entirely baffled, not having lost a single head. I will continue to remain as vigilant as possible.
    All of which is respectfully submitted.
        I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
                                                             E. W. WYNKOOP,
                     Major First Cav. of Colo., Commanding Fort Lyon, Colo. Ter.
J. S. MAYNARD,
        Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, Dist. of Colo., Denver, Colo. Ter.

No. 2.

Report of Lieutenant Joseph A. Cramer, First Colorado Cavalry.

                                        FORT LYON, COLO. TER., August 12, 1864.
    SIR: In pursuance to Special Orders, Numbers 169, dated at these headquarters, Fort Lyon, Colo. Ter., August 11, 1864, I started from this post at 12 [p.] m., proceeding down the river a distance of four or five miles and took a due north course for three miles, and there came in sight of a band of Indians who were from five to six miles in advance of us, they going in a northeast direction. I immediately gave chase, and after a race of fifteen or twenty miles I came up with them, fourteen in number, who immediately turned and charged my command, and at the same time endeavoring to get to our rear. At the time that the fight commenced I had but six men; the rest, whose horses had failed, were to our rear, coming up as fast as possible. As soon as the rest of our

CHAP. LIII.) SKIRMISH NEAR SAND CREEK, COLO. TER. 239

men had joined us we advanced, driving them and following them four miles, in which it was a running fight, resulting in wounding four Indians and capturing one pony, with no loss on our side. I here sent back a messenger to report the facts to you, and ask for instructions. We were then twenty-five miles from the post; all of our horses given out. After a rest of a few moments we went over on Sand Creek for water, which we found in abundance; then followed on for twenty miles farther, but were unable to get nearer than three quarters of a mile of them. Our horses all gave out but three. Went into camp on Sand Creek at an Indian crossing, where from 100 to 150 had crossed but an hour or two before we arrived, their trail leading southeast. At 10 at night there came up a very heavy rain-storm spoiling all our ammunition, thereby obliging us to start for the post, where we arrived a little after sunrise on the 12th, traveling a distance of ninety miles.
    Allow me here to speak of the men who accompanied me, all of whom, with one exception, behaved with coolness and bravery. I would more particularly speak of Sergeant Forbes, Company D; Corporal Yakee Company D; and Sergeant Reed, of Company L, and recommend them to your notice. Had we had good arms I am satisfied we could have captured the whole band, but our carbines (Starr) were useless, only two out of eleven that could be fired.
    Respectfully submitted to Major Wynkoop for approval.
        Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
                                                               JOS. A. CRAMER,
                             Second Lieutenant Company G, First Cavalry of Colorado.
    Major E. W. WYNKOOP.

No. 3.

Report of Lieutenant Horace W. Baldwin, Independent Battery Colorado Light Artillery, commanding detachment First Colorado Cavalry.

                                          FORT LYON, COLO. TER., August 12, 1864.
    LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that in compliance with Special Orders, Numbers 169, dated Fort Lyon, Colo. Ter., August 11, 1864, I crossed the river at this post with a command of one non-commissioned officer and fifteen privates of K Squadron, First Cavalry of Colorado. I proceeded down the river on the south side until I had satisfied myself that the Indians had not crossed, and believing that I could render more effective service by crossing, I crossed the river about twelve miles below this post and immediately took the trail of the enemy. I followed this trail until about 4 p. m., when I met a messenger from Lieutenant Cramer's command, who told me that by riding five miles directly north I would find Lieutenant Cramer engaged with the Indians. I made all haste in the direction named, but failed to find Lieutenant Cramer. I continued to travel in this direction until it became so dark that I could not see an object at 100 feet distant. I was at this time near the lime bluffs on Sand Creek, but believing that it would not be safe for me to camp with horses in such condition I marched back to the lakes, ten miles from Sand Creek, where I rested my stock about two hours. My men being very poorly supplied with clothing, and having no rations, the night being cold and rainy, I thought it advisable for me to return to this post and

240 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. (CHAP. LIII.

report again for orders. My men were in the saddle about eighteen hours and rode within that time sixty-five miles. I arrived at this post about one hour before daylight August 12, 1864.
        Respectfully submitted.
                                                           HORACE W. BALDWIN,
        Second Lieutenant, Ind. Batty. Colo. Vol. Arty., Commanding Detachment.
    Lieutenant W. W. DENISON,
        First Colorado Cavalry, Post Adjutant.

No. 4.

Report of Lieutenant Ira Quinby, First Colorado Cavalry.

                                          FORT LYON, COLO. TER., August 12, 1864.

        SIR: Agreeable to Special Orders, Numbers 169, dated Fort Lyon, Colo. Ter., August 11, ordering me with twenty men of Company K, First Cavalry of Colorado, to re-enforce Lieutenant Cramer, I left this post at 7.30 p. m. the 11th and proceeded as I supposed in the direction he had taken, but owing to the darkness of the night I lost my way, and after wandering about until nearly midnight I camped until morning, then started in the direction I supposed he had gone. After traveling about fifteen miles I struck his trail returning to this post, upon which I immediately returned. I did not see any Indians on the trip.
        I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
                                                                IRA QUINBY,
      First Lieutenant, First Cavalry of Colorado, Commanding Company K.
    Major E. W. WYNKOOP,
        Commanding Fort Lyon, Colo. Ter.


Source:

United States. War Dept., United States. Record and Pension Office., United States. War Records Office., et al., "Price's Missouri Expedition," The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Published Under the Direction of The Hon. Daniel S. Lamont, Secretary of War, By Major George B. Davis, U. S. A., Mr. Leslie J. Perry, Mr. Joseph W. Kirkley, Board of Publication. Series I - Volume XLI - In Four Parts. Part I-Reports. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1893. pp. 237-240.

Created October 17, 2003; Revised October 17, 2003
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wynkoop/index.htm
Comments to [email protected]

Copyright © 2003 by Christopher H. Wynkoop, All Rights Reserved

This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without my written consent.

Site map

The Wynkoop Family Research Library
Home