Colonel John Chivington – Hero To Murderer
“Damn, any man who sympathizes with Indians – Kill and scalp all, big and little; nits make lice.”
– Colonel John Chivington, Sand Creek Massacre, 11-29-1864.
John Milton Chivington (1821-1894) remains a figure shrouded in controversy, a man whose life encompassed both acts of celebrated heroism and deeds of unspeakable infamy. He is remembered as a pivotal figure in the Battle of Glorieta Pass in New Mexico, a crucial engagement in the American Civil War. However, his legacy is forever stained by his role as the commander of the U.S. Army troops at the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado. This dichotomy paints a complex portrait of a man who was simultaneously lauded as a savior and condemned as a butcher.
Born in Lebanon, Ohio, on January 27, 1821, Chivington’s early life provided little indication of the dramatic trajectory his future would take. He embraced the ministry, becoming a Methodist minister and serving the Payson Circuit within the Illinois Conference for a decade. This period shaped his public speaking skills and fostered a sense of moral authority, qualities that would later influence his actions and justify his controversial decisions.
In 1853, Chivington’s path led him westward, joining a missionary expedition to the Wyandot Indians in Kansas. This experience exposed him to the complexities of the relationship between settlers and Native American tribes, a dynamic fraught with tension and misunderstanding. His fervent abolitionist views, openly expressed, created a precarious situation for him in the volatile environment of Kansas. Facing potential threats, he was encouraged to relocate to the Nebraska Territory, where he continued his ministry as a pastor in Omaha. After six years of service, he once again moved his family, this time to the burgeoning Colorado Territory, settling in Denver.
The outbreak of the Civil War marked a turning point in Chivington’s life. In 1862, the U.S. Army commissioned him as a major with the 1st Colorado Infantry. His military prowess quickly became evident during the New Mexico Campaign. Colonel John Chivington played a critical role in securing a Union victory at the Battle of Glorieta Pass, often referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West." His strategic brilliance in capturing Confederate supplies near Johnson’s Ranch proved decisive, earning him widespread recognition and catapulting him to the status of a celebrated hero. This victory led to his promotion to Colonel later that year, placing him in command of the Colorado Military District.
The year 1864 witnessed escalating tensions between settlers and Native American tribes in the Colorado Territory. Stories of Indian raids and perceived threats fueled a climate of fear and animosity. In November, Colonel John Chivington departed Denver with his troops, heading towards Booneville. On November 28th, his command arrived at Fort Lyon. That night, he made a fateful decision, leading his troops north towards the Cheyenne and Arapaho encampments at Sand Creek. This decision was particularly controversial, given that just weeks prior, leaders of these tribes had expressed their desire for peace during a meeting with Chivington and Territorial Governor John Evans.
The events of November 29, 1864, at Sand Creek would forever define Colonel John Chivington and cast a long shadow over his legacy. On that fateful morning, Chivington led a force of approximately 700 Colorado Territory militia in a devastating attack on the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho encampment. The troops, accompanied by four howitzers, surrounded the unsuspecting village. Chief Black Kettle, a known advocate for peace, raised both an American flag and a white flag of truce above his teepee, signaling his peaceful intentions. However, Chivington disregarded these symbols of peace and surrender, ordering his troops to attack.
The ensuing massacre was a brutal and indiscriminate slaughter. Cannons and rifles unleashed a torrent of fire upon the village, sending the inhabitants scattering in panic. The Colorado Volunteers charged into the camp, mercilessly hunting down men, women, and children. A few warriors attempted to defend their families, allowing some to escape across Sand Creek.
The aftermath of the attack revealed the horrifying extent of the carnage. Estimates suggest that as many as 150 Native Americans were killed, the majority of whom were elderly men, women, and children. In stark contrast, the Colorado Volunteers suffered minimal casualties, with only nine or ten men killed and approximately three dozen wounded. Chief Black Kettle and his wife were among those who fled up the stream bed, his wife being shot in the back and left for dead.
News of the Sand Creek Massacre sparked outrage and condemnation across the nation. The atrocity prompted an investigation by the Joint Committee on the Conduct of War, which meticulously documented the events and gathered testimonies from witnesses. The committee’s findings were damning, portraying the massacre as a revolting act of butchery against largely defenseless women and children.
The Joint Committee on the Conduct of War issued a scathing indictment of Colonel John Chivington, stating: "As to Colonel Chivington, your committee can hardly find fitting terms to describe his conduct. Wearing the uniform of the United States, which should be the emblem of justice and humanity, holding the important position of commander of a military district, and therefore having the honor of the government to that extent in his keeping, he deliberately planned and executed a foul and dastardly massacre which would have disgraced the veriest savage among those who were the victims of his cruelty. Having full knowledge of their friendly character, having himself been instrumental to some extent in placing them in their position of fancied security, he took advantage of their apprehension and defenseless condition to gratify the worst passions that ever cursed the heart of man. It is thought by some that desire for political advancement prompted him to this cowardly act; that he supposed that by pandering to the inflamed passions of an excited population, he could recommend himself to their regard and consideration."
Despite the overwhelming evidence of wrongdoing, no formal charges were ever brought against Chivington or any of the other participants in the Sand Creek Massacre. However, the scandal effectively destroyed Chivington’s reputation and shattered his political ambitions. He was widely condemned for his actions, and his name became synonymous with brutality and injustice.
As his term of service expired, Chivington left Colorado for the Midwest. He later returned to Denver, where he lived and worked until his death from cancer on October 4, 1894. Even in his final years, Chivington remained unrepentant, maintaining that the Sand Creek Massacre was a successful military operation. He argued that his actions were justified as a response to Cheyenne and Arapaho raids and the alleged torture inflicted upon wagon trains and white settlements in Colorado.
The legacy of Colonel John Chivington remains a subject of intense debate and historical scrutiny. Was he a hero who defended settlers from perceived threats, or a murderer who perpetrated a heinous crime against innocent Native Americans? The answer, as with many historical figures, is complex and multifaceted. His military service and initial successes earned him respect and admiration, while his role in the Sand Creek Massacre forever tarnished his reputation and cemented his place in history as a symbol of brutality and injustice. The Sand Creek Massacre stands as a stark reminder of the dark side of westward expansion and the tragic consequences of prejudice and violence against Native American populations.