WHAT HAPPENED THERE?
Black Kettle flew an American Flag over his lodge to show the surrounding
soldiers that they are friendly and prevent attacks. Chivington and his troops were
heavily intoxicated and attacked the Native Americans. Captain Silas Soule and
Lt. Joseph Cramer ordered them to not follow Chivington’s orders, but they
ignored them. A white flag was flown up to stop the firing, but the soldiers didn’t
stop until about 133 Indians were killed. 105 were women and children.
WHERE DID IT HAPPEN?
The massacre occurred in the great plains. It was in the South Eastern Colorado
Territory, at Sand Creek.
WHY DID IT HAPPEN?
The battle was out of cold blood from the militia. There was no definite reason for
the massacre to take place. Although, it’s said that the militia men were drunk.
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE:
Black Kettle- Chief of Cheyenne native group.
Chief Niwot- Leader of Arapaho natives.
John Chivington- Leader of the militia that
attacked the native camp.
EFFECT ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
NATIVES AND THE U.S.
The Militia men were proud of themselves, while the natives were devastated. The
U.S. Government created the Treaty of the Little Arkansas. It promised Indians
free access to the lands south of the Arkansas River, excluded them from the
North of the Arkansas River, and also promised land and cash reparations. Less
than two years later, the government ignored the treaty and reduced their land by
90%.
IMPACT ON WESTERN SETTLEMENT
Originally, the Treaty of Little Arkansas limited western settlement on land
promised to Natives by the government. Two years later, the government went
back on their promise and took 90% of the land away.