Sand Creek Massacre Virtual Reality Tour:

The Sand Creek Massacre set off one of the bloodiest chapters of the Indian Wars. Apparently, the U.S. Army Commander Col. John Shivington (a Methodist preacher, freemason, and opponent of slavery), acted on his own accord to order the massacre of 70-163 men, women and children. Many of his men protested the raid.

In the following years, Indian Dog Warriors retaliated with even harsher treatment of their white civilian captives.

“The Sand Creek raid was a massacre in the American Indian Wars that occurred on November 29, 1864, when a 675-man force of Colorado U.S. Volunteer Cavalry attacked and destroyed a village of Cheyenne and Arapaho in southeastern Colorado Territory, killing and mutilating an estimated 70–163 Native Americans, about two-thirds of whom were women and children. The location has been designated the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site and is administered by the National Park Service.” … read more Wikipedia

Colonel Chivington should have, at the very least, been court marshaled for this raid. One of his officers told the true story and was later gunned down in the streets of Denver, by known associates. They were never brought to justice. Chivington never expressed any regret for his actions that day.

This park is remote to get to, but well worth the effort.

Address: 55411 County Rd W, Eads, CO 81036

#sandcreek

Beecher’s Island Indian Battle: 

Battle of Beecher’s Island Monument

“Fought September 17, 18 and 19, 1868 between Col. George A. Forsyth’s company of citizen scouts, numbering 61 men and a large party Indians comprising Northern Cheyennes, Ogallalah, Brule Sioux and Dog Soldiers commanded by the noted war chief Roman Nose. The scouts were surrounded and held on this island for nine days subsisting on horse and mule meat. Indian killed: 75. Wounded: unknown. Here Roman Nose and Medicine Man fought their last battle.”

“The first Night Stillwell and Trudeau crawling out on hands and knees started for relief, and hiding days and traveling nights, reached Fort Wallace. The 3rd night Donovan and Pliley started arriving at Fort Donovan with four others immediately started back, and coming upon Col. Carpenters command on the south fork of the Republican [river] guided them in a 20 mile dash. Reaching the Island at 10 AM the 9th day, 26 hours in advance of Col. Bankhead with scouts Stillwell and Trudeau. The return to Fort Wallace was began on September 27, the wounded being carried in government wagons.”

The location is named for 1st Lt. Fred Beecher, killed in the battle.

Location: 20563 County Rd KK, Wray, CO 80758

A virtual reality tour of the battlefield:

 

Battle of Beecher’s Island from athensofthesouth.design on Vimeo.

#indianwars