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[1] 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
  • arrived on the 27th

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