Sand Creek massacre — massacre of a village of Cheyenne and Arapaho people in the American Indian Wars
A U.S. Army attack on a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho village in 1864, killing an estimated 150 people, mostly women and children, and marking a low point in U.S.-Native relations.
Key Facts
- Date
- November 29, 1864
- U.S. Force Size
- 675 men
- Estimated Native Deaths
- approximately 150 (range: 70–600+)
- Women & Children Share
- About two-thirds of those killed
- U.S. Commander
- Colonel John Chivington, Third Colorado Cavalry
- Historic Designation
- Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (NPS)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Ongoing conflict between U.S. settlers and Native tribes during the Colorado Wars created intense pressure on Cheyenne and Arapaho communities. A village led by Chief Black Kettle had gathered near Sand Creek in southeastern Colorado Territory, believing they were under U.S. military protection following peace negotiations.
On November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington led a 675-man force of the Third Colorado Cavalry in a surprise attack on the encampment. Soldiers killed and mutilated an estimated 150 people, approximately two-thirds of whom were women and children, despite the villagers' peaceful status and display of a U.S. flag.
The massacre provoked widespread condemnation in Congress, leading to federal investigations. It deepened Native American distrust of the U.S. government and intensified conflict during the Colorado Wars. The site was later designated the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, administered by the National Park Service.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Colonel John Chivington.
Side B
1 belligerent