Colonel John M. Chivington leads a surprise attack, on a camp of Cheyenne and Arapaho people in southeastern Colorado Territory. Known as the Sand Creek Massacre, the U.S troops murdered more than 230 Native people, who were at the site under a white flag of truce. The group was composed mostly of women, children, and the elderly who had been directed by the American Military to camp there.
The massacre had its roots earlier on June 27 1864, when Colorado Territory Governor, John Evans issued ia proclamation commanding all “Friendly” Native Americans of the Cheyenne and Arapaho to go to Fort Lyon to receive supplies and to find safety. Unfortunately, this was in direct conflict with the standing order at all Forts within the Territory of Colorado that all members of the Military should shoot and kill any Native American that approached a Fort. Frustrated with a lack of compliance, Evans issued a second proclamation in August 1864 that authorized all citizens to "kill and destroy, as enemies of the country" any "hostile Indians". More
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