There are no pithy titles for this: the aftermath of the Sand Creek Massacre.

https://www.americanindianmagazine.org/story/art-and-healing-sand-creek-massacre-150-years-later

It's really all about healing, isn't it? The question for me, becomes Dear Reader, how does one grow from, or put such a past into a healthy perspective for future generations? Sh*t, is that even possible? Well, if any people have accomplished catharsis, I believe it may be the modern Native American.

The modern Native people remember death and life in pictures and words:

 Sand Creek Cottonwoods

At first

the shade

of the gnarled cottonwoods

lining the dry creek bed

is a relief.

Sun blazes

in the cloudless azure sky.

At first

the rustle 

of the cottonwood leaves

in the near-constant wind

is a susurrus.

Leaf-babble

in the wide silent plains.

But suddenly

the age

of the gnarled cottonwoods

and the dates on the battleground marker

sink in.

These trees witnessed

the Sand Creek Massacre.

And now

the rustle 

of the cottonwood leaves

repeats the names of slaughtered elders, women, and children

in a dirge.

Leaf-testimony

in the wide silent plains.

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2020

Let's return, then, to the morning of the massacre, and it's aftermath.


Once Chivington's volunteers realized that they had murdered just about every possible Native American present (children included), the mutilations began.  Now, I'm going to skip ahead of our chronological narrative for a second, and go straight to testimony taken from observers and/or participants, which was taken during a Congressional inquiry the following year.  These witnesses clearly relate, in ghastly detail, the actions of Chivington's 'men' (I'm being charitable here) after the massacre (and, if anyone calls this the "Battle of Sand Creek" in my presence, I'm gonna have to get out my cricket bat).

Warning...this next bit is disturbing.

I'm not kidding.

After the firing the warriors put the squaws and children together, and surrounded them to protect them. I saw five squaws under a bank for shelter. When troops came up to them they ran out and showed their persons, to let the soldiers know they were squaws and begged for mercy, but the soldiers shot them all…. There were some thirty or forty squaws collected in a hole for protection; they sent out a little girl about six years old with a white flag on a stick; she had not proceeded but a few steps when she was shot and killed. All the squaws in that hole were afterwards killed, and four or five bucks outside. The squaws offered no resistance. Every one I saw dead was scalped. I saw one squaw cut open with an unborn child, as I thought, lying by her side. Captain Soule afterwards told me that such was the fact…. I saw quite a number of infants in arms killed with their mothers.”
-Robert Bent, guide


Next morning after the battle, I saw a little boy covered up among the Indians in a trench, still alive. I saw a major in the 3rd regiment take out his pistol and blow off the top of his head. I saw men unjointing fingers to get rings off, and cutting off ears to get silver ornaments. I saw a party with the same major take up bodies that had been buried in the night to scalp them and take off ornaments. I saw a squaw with her head smashed in before she was killed. Next morning, after they were dead and stiff, these men pulled out the bodies of the squaws and pulled them open in an indecent manner. I heard men say they had cut out privates, but did not see it myself.”
-Corporal Amos C. Miksch, Company C

I saw some Indians that had been scalped, and the ears were cut off of the body of White Antelope. One Indian who had been scalped had also his skull all smashed in, and I heard that the privates of White Antelope had been cut off to make a tobacco bag out of. I heard some men say that the privates of one of the squaws had been cut out and put on a stick.”
-Captain L. Wilson, First Colorado Cavalry


“In going over the battle-ground the next day I did not see a body of a man, woman, or child but was scalped, and in many instances their bodies were mutilated in the most horrible manner—men, women, and children’s privates cut out, &c. I heard one man say he had cut out a woman’s private parts and had them for exhibition on a stick; I heard another man say that he had cut the fingers off an Indian to get rings off his hand…. I also heard of numerous instances in which men had cut out the private parts of females and stretched them over the saddle-bows, and wore them over their hats while riding in the ranks…. I heard one man say he had cut a squaw’s heart out, and had stuck it on a stick.”
-First Lieutenant James D. Cannon, New Mexico Volunteers


This last one is especially chilling:


There was one little child, probably three years old, just big-enough to walk through the sand. The Indians had gone ahead, and this little child was behind, following after them. The little fellow was perfectly naked, traveling in the sand. I saw one man get off his horse at a distance of about seventy-five yards and draw up his rifle and fire. He missed the child. Another man came up and said, let me try the son of a b-. I can hit him.’ lie got down off his horse, kneeled down, and fired at the little child, but he missed him. A third man came up, and made a similar remark, and fired, and the little fellow dropped.”
–Major Scott Anthony, 1st Colorado Cavalry

https://www.sandcreekmassacrefoundation.org/

https://sandcreekmassacre.net/

Now, these testimonies were taken from a later congressional report, representing an inquiry into the massacre.  I would like to relate what happened next, when our 'conquering heroes' (gag) finally got back to Denver with their "trophies" (i.e. the mutilated and butchered body parts of Native Americans, taken at Sand Creek).

These are some editorials published after Sand Creek:

Rocky Mountain News, December 17, 1864


THE BATTLE OF SAND CREEK.


Among the brilliant feats of arms in Indian warfare, the recent campaign of our Colorado volunteers will stand in history with few rivals, and none to exceed it in final results. We are not prepared to write its history, which can only be done by some one who accompanied the expedition, but we have gathered from those who participated in it, and from others who were in that part of the country, some facts which will doubtless interest many of our readers...

...Among the killed were all the Cheyenne chiefs, Black Kettle, White Antelope, Little Robe, Left Hand, Knock Knee, One Eye, and another, name unknown. Not a single prominent man of the tribe remains, and the tribe itself is almost annihilated. The Arapahoes probably suffered but little. It has been reported that the chief Left Hand, of that tribe, was killed, but Colonel Chivington is of the opinion that he was not. Among the stock captured were a number of government horses and mules, including the twenty or thirty stolen from the command of Lieutenant Chase at Jimmy's camp last summer.

[Uh, I hate to tell this journalist that Black Kettle actually died at the later Washita Massacre.]

Whoopsie.

NOTE:  if you're gonna look into the massacre a little more carefully, you might want to look at the documents linked on this website:  https://kclonewolf.com/sand-creek-documents.html

Here's a little ditty that Chivington shot off to the media following the brutalities at Sand Creek.  Let's parce this 'statement,' shall we?

"November 29, 1864.

Messrs. BEYERS and DAILEY,

Editors News, Denver, Colo. Ter.:

SIRS: I have not the time to give you a detailed history of our engagement of to-day, or to mention those officers and men who distinguished themselves in one of the most bloody Indian battles ever fought on these plains. You will find enclosed the report of my surgeon in charge, which will bring to many anxious friends the sad fate of loved ones who are and have been risking everything to avenge the horrid deeds of those savages we have so severely handled. We made a forced march of forty miles, and surprised, at break of day, one of the most powerful villages of the Cheyenne nation [uh, not quite], and captured over five hundred animals killing the celebrated chiefs One Eye, White Antelope, Knock Knee, Black Kettle, and Little Robe, with about five hundred of their people, destroying all their lodges and equipage, making almost an annihilation of the entire tribe."

[SCHMUCK. I'm speechless at his gruesome self-aggrandizement.) 

"I shall leave here, as soon as I can see our wounded safely on the way to the hospital at Fort Lyon, for the villages of the Sioux, which are reported about eighty miles from here, on the Smoky Hill, and three thousand strong so look out for more fighting. I will state, for the consideration of gentlemen who are opposed to fighting these red scoundrels, that I was shown, by my chief surgeon, the scalp of a white man taken from the lodge of one of the chiefs, which could not have been more than two or three days taken and I could mention many more things to show how these Indians, who have been drawing government rations at Fort Lyon, are and have been acting.

Very respectfully [GAG], your obedient servant [PUKE],
[
J. M. CHIVINGTON, [ACTUAL DICKHEAD]"

https://kclonewolf.com/sand-creek-reports-chivington-reports.html

Wait, Chivington gets worse...what a shocker, right?

"HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF COLORADO,

Denver, C. T., December 16, 1864.

GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit the following report of operations of the Indian expedition under my command, of which brief notice was given you by my telegram of November 29, 1864:

Having ascertained that the hostile Indians had proceeded south from the Platte, and were almost within striking distance of Fort Lyon, I ordered Colonel Geo. L. Shoup, 3d regiment Colorado volunteer cavalry, (100-day service,) to proceed with the mounted men of his regiment in that direction.

On the 20th of November I left Denver and Booneville, C. T. on the 24th of November joined and took command in person of the expedition which had been increased by a battalion of the 1st cavalry of Colorado, consisting of detachments of companies C, E and H. I proceeded with the utmost caution down the Arkansas river, and on the morning of the 28th instant arrived at Fort Lyon, to the surprise of the garrison of that post. On the same morning I resumed my march, being joined by Major Scott J. Anthony, 1st cavalry of Colorado, with one hundred and twenty-five men of said regiment, consisting of detachments of companies D, G and H, with two howitzers. The command then proceeded in a northeasterly direction, travelling all night, and at daylight of the 29th November striking Sand creek about forty (40) miles from Fort Lyon.

Here was discovered an Indian village of one hundred and thirty (130) lodges, composed of Black Kettle's band of Cheyennes and eight (8) lodges of Arapahoes, with Left Hand. My line of battle was formed with Lieutenant Wilson's battalion of the 1st regiment, numbering about 125 men, on the right, Colonel Shoup's 3d regiment, numbering about 450 men, in the centre, and Major Anthony's battalion, numbering 125 men, 1st regiment, on the left.

The attack was immediately made upon the Indian's camp by Lieutenant Wilson, who dashed forward, cutting the enemy off from their herd, and driving them out of their camp, which was subsequently destroyed.

The Indians, numbering from 900 to 1,000 [LIE], though taken by surprise, speedily rallied and formed a line of battle across the creek, about three-fourths of a mile above the village, stubbornly contesting every inch of ground.

The commands of Colonel Shoup and Major Anthony pressed rapidly forward and attacked the enemy sharply, and the engagement became general, we constantly driving the Indians, who fell back from one position to another for five miles, and finally abandoned resistance and dispersed in all directions and were pursued by my troops until nightfall.

It may, perhaps be unnecessary for me to state that I captured no prisoners. [DICK] Between five and six hundred Indians were left dead upon the field. About five hundred and fifty ponies, mules and horses were captured, and all their lodges were destroyed, the contents of which has served to supply the command with an abundance of trophies, comprising the paraphernalia of Indian warfare and life. My loss was eight (8) killed on the field and forty (40) wounded, of which two have since died. Of the conduct of the 3d regiment (100-day service) I have to say that they well sustained the reputation of our Colorado troops for bravery and effectiveness were well commanded by their gallant young Colonel, Geo. L. Shoup, ably assisted by Lieutenant Colonel L. L. Bowen, Major Hal Sayre and Captain Theodore G. Cree, commanding 1st, 2d and 3d battalions of that regiment.

Of the conduct of the two battalions of the 1st regiment I have but to remark that they sustained their reputation as second to none, and were ably handled by their commanders, Major Anthony, Lieutenant Wilson and Lieutenant Clark Dunn, upon whom the command devolved after the disability of Lieutenant Wilson from wounds received...

...Night coming on, the pursuit of the flying Indians was of necessity abandoned, and my command encamped within sight of the field.

On the 1st instant, having sent the wounded and dead to Fort Lyon, the first to be cared for, and the latter to be buried upon our own soil. I resumed the pursuit in the direction of Camp Wynkoop on the Arkansas river, marching all night of the 3d and 4th instant, in hopes of overtaking a large encampment of Arapahoes and Cheyennes, under Little Raven, but the enemy had been apprized [spelling, Johnnie!!] of my advance, and on the morning of the 5th instant, at 3 o'clock, precipitately broke camp and fled. My stock was exhausted. For one hundred miles the snow had been two feet deep, and for the previous fifteen days--excepting on November 29 and 30--the marches had been forced and incessant.

Under these circumstances, and the fact of the time of the 3rd regiment being nearly out, I determined for the present to relinquish the pursuit. Of the effect of the punishment sustained by the Indians you will be the judge. Their chiefs Black Kettle, White Antelope, One Eye, Knock Knee, and Little Robe, were numbered with the killed and their bands almost annihilated...."

"...I was shown the scalp of a white man, found in one of the lodges, which could not have been taken more than two or three days previous. For full particulars and reports of the several commanders I respectfully refer you to the following copies herewith enclosed, of Colonel George L. Shoup, 3d regiment, December 6, 1864 Colonel Shoup, 3d regiment, December 7, 1864 Colonel L. L. Bowen, 3d regiment, November 30, 1864 Major Hal Sayr, 3d regiment, December 6, 1864 Captain Theodore G. Cree, 3d regiment, December 6, 1864 Major Scott J. Anthony, 1st regiment, December 1, 1864 Lieutenant Clark Dunn, 1st regiment, November 30, 1864 Lieutenant J. J. Kennedy, November 30, 1864.

If all the companies of the 1st cavalry of Colorado and the 11th Ohio volunteer cavalry, stationed at camps and posts near here, were ordered to report to me, I could organize a campaign, which, in my judgment, would effectually rid the country between the Platte and Arkansas rivers of these red rebels.

I would respectfully request to be informed, if another campaign should be authorized from here, whether I could employ one or two hundred friendly Utes, (Indians,) furnishing them subsistence, arms and ammunition for the campaign.

I cannot conclude this report without saying that the conduct of Captain Silas S. Soule, Company D, 1st Cavalry of Colorado, was at least ill-advised, he saying that he thanked God that he killed no Indians, and like expressions, proving him more in sympathy with the Indians than with the whites."

 

"The evidence is most conclusive that these Indians are the worst that have infested the routes of the Platte and Arkansas Rivers during the last spring and summer. Amongst the stock captured were the horses and mules taken by them from Lieutenant Chase, 1st Cavalry of Colorado, last September several scalps of white men and women were found in the lodges also various articles of clothing belonging to white persons. On every hand the evidence was clear that no lick was struck amiss."

"I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. M. CHIVINGTON,

Col. 1st Cavalry of Colorado,

Commanding District of Colorado

Major General S. R. CURTIS,

Commanding Department of Kansas, Fort Leavenworth."

**********************

I wish I could tell you that it halted at this d*ckhead's bravado (lies), but it didn't.  As soon as Chivington and his volunteers made it back to Denver, they were lauded as heros, by white denizens.  Yeah, you read that right:  returning, valiant, warriors.

What happened next isn't very well documented, but there were reports that immediately after returning to Denver, the soldiers and Chivington displayed the body parts on a stage of a theater in the city, to a full house of cheering crowds.

I have no words, Dear Reader.

Let’s return to the Congressional inquiry:

Note that it says the "late Colonel J.M. Chivington...." That was an indicator that the cowardly d*ckhead resigned his commission before he could be court martialed.


If you'd like to read more, go here: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/SERIALSET-01277_00_00-021-0026-0000/context

The end of the inquiry was predictable...and yet not--there was a condemnation of the actions taken by Chivington and his men, bur no further legal action was taken beyond the attempt to remove Chivington from the army.

BUT the government couldn't ignore the actions of these hideous men.  Here's an excerpt of testimony by the infamous Kit Carson in the Congressional investigation of the events:

"Colonel Kit Carson sworn:
I have heard read the statement of Colonel Bent, and his suggestions and opinions in relation
to Indian affairs coincide perfectly with my own. I came to this country in 1826, and since that
time have become pretty well acquainted with the Indian tribes, both in peace and at war. I
think, as a general thing, the difficulties arise from aggressions on the part of the whites. From what I have heard, the whites are always cursing the Indians, and are not willing to do them justice."

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AZ_9dWta2w-iuXqIcioUDGkdYLn-klv8/view?pli=1

A sad PS for you, Dear Reader....  I wish I could tell you, that contemporaries viewed Sand Creek with horror, but I can't:

“[The Sand Creek Massacre was] as righteous and beneficial a deed as ever took place on the frontier.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

Once again, I have no words.