On November 29, 1864, \u00a0about 700 Colorado 1st &\u20203rd Regiment troops and troops from New Mexico,
\nslaughtered over 150 men, women, and children in the southeastern Colorado Territory. \u00a0\u00a0This act became known
\nas the Sand Creek Massacre.<\/p>\n
Lt,. Captain Silas S. Soule wrote a letter dated December 19, 1864 from Ft. Lyon, C. T., to Major Ed Wynkoop, his
\ncommanding officer. \u00a0\u00a0It reads in part what he witnessed at Sand Creek, \u201c\u2026hundreds of women and children were
\ncoming towards us and getting on their knees for mercy. \u00a0Anthony shouted, \u2018Kill the sons of bitches\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
The letter goes on to say in part, \u201c\u2026the massacre lasted six to eight hours\u2026I tell you Ned it was hard to see little
\nchildren on their knees have their brains beat out by men professing to be civilized. \u00a0Some tried to escape on the
\nPrairie, but most of them were run down by horsemen \u2026They were all horribly mutilated. \u00a0One women was cut
\nopen and child taken out of her, and scalped\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
In a letter dated, December 19, 1863, Fort Lyon, C.T.,Lt. Joseph Cramer wrote to Major Ed Wynkoop, his
\ncommanding officer a letter about what he witnessed at Sand Creek. \u00a0It reads, in part, \u201c\u2026\u201cDear Major, This is the
\nfirst opportunity I have had of writing you since the great Indian Massacre, and for a start, I will acknowledge I am
\nashamed to own I was in it with my Co. Col. Chivington came here with the gallant third, known as Chivington
\nBrigade, like a thief in the dark\u2026marched all night up Sand, to the big \u00a0bend in Sandy\u2026and came to Black Kettle\u2019
\ns village of 103 lodges, containing not over 500 all told, 350 of which were women and children\u2026We lost 40 men
\nwounded, and 10 killed. Not over 250 Indians mostly women and children, and I think not over 200 killed, and not
\nover 75 bucks. \u00a0With proper management they could all have been killed and not lost over 10 men. \u00a0After the fight
\nthere was a sight I hope I may never see again\u2026Bucks, women and children, were scalped, fingers cut off to get
\nthe rings\u2026a squaw ripped open and a child taken from her, little children shot, while begging for their lives (and
\nall the indignities shown their bodies that ever was heard of)(women shot while on their knees, with their arms
\naround soldiers a begging for their lives)\u2026Most of the Indians yielded 4 or 5 scalps\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
The letter continues in part, \u201c\u2026Black Kettle said when he saw us coming, that he was glad, for it was Major
\nWynkoop coming to make peace. \u00a0Left Hand stood with his hands folded across his breast, until he was shot
\nsaying, \u2018Soldiers no hurt me \u2013 soldiers my friends.\u2019<\/p>\n
About 130 years after the Sand Creek Massacre, the 1990\u2019s, \u00a0Florence Blunt (1894-1969)was going through two
\nstored trunks of a family member who was a rancher who was in the habit of taking supplies to Fort Lyon before
\nand after the Sand Creek Massacre. \u00a0She found Captain Silas S. Soule and Lt. Joseph Cramer\u2019s letters. \u00a0The lady\u2019
\ns daughter, Linda Rebek of Evergreen, Colorado, retains possession of the letters. \u00a0She is seeking someone to
\nappraise the letters to see what they are worth. \u00a0The American Indian Genocide Museum needs help in locating
\nan appraiser and funding to pay for the appraiser and acquisition of the letters to place in the museum.\u201c<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","yoast_head":"\n