Sand Creek to Medicine Lodge: Massacre on the Plains

When people think of the “Wild West”, they think of cowboys, gunfights, saloons, and riding into the sunset. Though these things existed and did occur, it was much more dangerous than some thought. A lot of this danger came from the ongoing battles between the United States and the Native American tribes out in the west. Sand Creek is an example of one of these battles and how brutal and sudden they can be.

Sand Creek took place on November 29th, 1864. About 700 US soldiers fought in Sand Creek and around 60-200 Native Americans fought as well. The group who carried out the attack was called the “Colorado Volunteers”, lead by US Commander John M. Chivington. The volunteers attacked the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Cheyenne chief Black Kettle, before the battle, tried to defuse the situation by raising an American flag as a sign of friendship, which ultimately failed. That day, around 400 Native Americans, mainly women and children were killed while only 24 US soldiers died. The troops disemboweled and scalped the Native Americans. It is also said that some troops emptied their rifles on the tribe’s infants. Chivington even displayed his scalps as trophies publicly. As word of the massacre got out to other Plains tribes. The tribes decided that the United States must be resisted. The Sioux tribe, in rebellion, attacked William J. Fetterman and his 81 soldiers. None of them survived.

In 1867, United States officials and the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache met at Fort Larned by Medicine Lodge, Kansas in 1867. This was due to all of the fights going on in the west between the United States and the Plains tribes. Wanting to put an end to the fighting, the officials came with food for all of those who came. The Medicine Lodge treaty was actually three treaties, but they all went under the name Medicine Lodge. That day, the treaties were signed, and Fort Larned became a supply depot for the tribes. The goal for the meeting between the parties and the treaty was to make peace between the tribes and the U.S. by moving the tribes, which ultimately did not happen.

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"Plains Indians Sign Key Provisions of the Medicine Lodge Treaty in Kansas." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.

"About Sand Creek Massacre." The Sand Creek Massacre. N.p., 25 Feb. 2008. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.

"The Massacre at Sand Creek." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.

"Sand Creek Massacre." History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.