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John S. Smith, March 14, 1865
- United States Indian interpreter and special Indian agent at Fort Lyon
- known as "Uncle John" by the Indians the cavalry
- asked by Major S.G. Colley at Fort to go out and visit Indians to ascertain numbers, find disposition to whites
testimony
- Black Kettle, leader of the Cheyenne
- had been given American flag by Colonel Greenwood, a commissioner
- had been advised raise flag and white flag in case he should meet with any troops out on the prairies
- Colonel Chivington was running for Congress
- Smith: he prolonged the conflict for electioneering purposes
- under his command:
- Lieutenant Wilson
- Lieutenant Baldwin, in command of the battery
- Major Anthony was in command at Fort Lyon
- Indians were promised protection and induced to stay in vicinty of fort
- particular band had been inside fort and left satisfied
- commanding officer had them keep 30-40 miles from fort, for safe buffer zone
- advised them to go to Sand Creek about 40 miles NNE of the fort
- morning of 29th
- Indians are encamped on north side of river
- Smith was in lodge with
- David Louderbach,
- a soldier, belonging to company G, lst Colorado cavalry the
- Watson,
- a hired hand of Mr. DD Coolly,
- the son of Major Coolly, the agent
- at sunrise, Indians discover soldiers are discovered 3/4 of mile from camp
- Indians run back to camp to tell Smith
- Indians ask Smith to go to soldiers and find out what they want
- Black Kettle raises American flag and white flag on top of his lodge, as instructed
- Smith leaves camp and goes out to meet soldier
- dressed in pants, soldier's overcoat and hat
- no Indians dressed like that
- saw that Lieutenant Wilson was in command
- thought his presence would calm things
- soldiers fired several volleys at him
- he could see they knew he was a white man by his clothes
- could not tell if Wilson himself saw him
- goes back and enters his lodge
- later Chivington rides up
- men were coming up fast behind him
- recognizes Smith
- tells him ""Run here, Uncle John; you are all right."
- Smith does so as fast as he could
- Chivington instructs him to get between him and his men
- Smith is recognized by Lieutenant Baldwin
- tries to help Smith get onto a horse
- no loose horses available
- tells him to "Catch hold of the caisson, and keep up with us."
- Indians were scattering in every direction
- some had crossed the river
- troops were on both sides of the river
- Smith follows along
- sometimes running
- sometimes riding caisson
- about a mile above the village, troops have a parcel of Indians surrounded
- approximately 100 men, women,and children
- hemmed in under a bank of the river
- as soon as troops overtake them, they start firing on them
- by the time Smith arrives, many shots had been fired
- 4-5 soldiers killed with arrows and bullets
- soldiers continued firing until they killed all the Indians
- Smith sees about 70 dead bodies
- about thirty warriors, young and old
- most of them women and children