Fort Morgan & the Sand Creek Massacre

On November 29, 1864, the 1st and 3rd Colorado Cavalry under the command of Colonel John Chivington attacked a peaceful Cheyenne village at Sand Creek (near Eads). Three of the companies involved in the massacre had recently been stationed in the Fort Morgan area: Companies C and H of the 1st Colorado Cavalry had recently been stationed at Camp Sanborn (near Orchard) and Company F of the 3rd Colorado Cavalry had recently been stationed at the Junction [site of Fort Morgan]. Raids along the South Platte River in the summer of 1864 led to this attack and the repercussions from the Massacre would have a tremendous impact on Fort Morgan.




A number of soldiers from Companies H and C described the battle. Private Alexander Safely of Company C recalled:

…I witnessed the commencement of the battle of Sand creek, being the first man on the ground. Lieutenant Wilson brought his battalion on the left of the village, while company H, of the first cavalry of Colorado, came up in line directly in front on the right of the village…. Wilson's battalion commenced firing, and at the same time company H, of the first, commenced firing. Before company H had taken their position, there were three Indians who had left the village and advanced to meet us. There was a company of the third regiment directly behind company H, and these three Indians, who were firing bows and arrows, shot over company H and took effect in the company of the third, directly behind company H. One of the Indians was killed right there. The next Indian that came out off the village from the side we were on was White Antelope. He came running directly towards company H; he had a pistol in his left hand, and a bow with some arrows in his right. He got within about fifty yards of the company; he commenced shooting his pistol, still in his left hand. There were a good many shots fired at him from off the horses, but the horses were jumping around so, that the men could hardly manage them, there being a company in rear firing. One of the men, who was considerably excited, asked “if no one could hit that Indian?” I told him if he would hold my horse, I would try and see if I could not get him. He did so; I got off and fired at the Indian, the ball taking effect in the groin. He turned then and ran back towards the village, and Billy Henderson, of H company, shot the Indian through the head when he was about the middle of the creek. That was the commencement of the fight, as near as I can recollect.

The battle lasted between six and eight hours and hundreds of Indians were killed. Chivington thought the attack a success, but other officers were horrified by the massacre. Lieutenant Joseph Cramer wrote:

…I am ashamed to own I was in it with my Co. Col. Chivington…came on to Black Kettles village of 103 lodges, containing not over 500 all told, 350 of which were women and children…. It is no use for me to try to tell you how the fight was managed, only that I think the Officer in Command should be hung, and I know when the truth is known it will cashier him.

We lost 40 men wounded, and 10 killed. Not over 250 Indians mostly women and children, and I think not over 200 were killed, and not over 75 bucks [warriors]. With proper management they could all have been killed and not lost over 10 men. After the fight there was a sight I hope I may never see again.

Bucks, women, and children were scalped, fingers cut off to get the rings on them, and this as much with Officers as men, and one of those Officers a Major, and a Lt. Col. cut off Ears, of all he came across, a squaw ripped open and a child taken from her, little children shot, while begging for their lives (and all the indignities shown their bodies that was ever heard of) (women shot while on their knees, with their arms around soldiers a begging for their lives) things that Indians would be ashamed to do. To give you some little idea, squaws were known to kill their own children, and then themselves, rather than to have them taken prisoners. Most of the Indians yielded 4 or 5 scalps. But enough! for I know you are disgusted already. Black Kettle, White Antelope, War Bonnet, Left Hand, Little Robe and several other chiefs were killed. Black Kettle said when he saw us coming, that he was glad, for it was Major Wynkoop coming to make peace. Left Hand stood with his hands folded across his breast, until he was shot saying, “Soldiers no hurt me - soldiers my friends…”

    

Very quickly the published details of the massacre created a public outrage and before the year was out, Congress undertook an investigation concerning the events leading to the Sand Creek Massacre. The allied Indian tribes had a different reaction - they would retaliate in force and their first strike would be along the South Platte River Road, a major supply line to Denver now devoid of troops. The retaliatory attacks would lead directly to the building of Fort Morgan.
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Photo Source:
Dunn, J. P., Massacres of the Mountains: A History of the Indian Wars, Volume 2 (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1886), p. 441.

Sources:
Alexander F. Safely interviewed by J. M. Chivington, May 19. 1865, Senate Executive Documents for the Second Session of the Thirty-Ninth Congress of the United States of America, 1866-67 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1867), p. 219-222.

Roberts, Gary L. & David Fridtjof Halaas, “Written in Blood: The Soule-Cramer Sand Creek Massacre Letters,” in Ben Fogelberg’ Western Voices: 125 Years of Colorado Writing (Golden, CO: Fulcrum, 2004), pp. 319-337.