Pueblo County CO Archives History - Books .....Chapter 6 Indian Adventures In Valley And Plain 1917
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Book Title: Pathbreakers And Pioneers Of The Pueblo Region

CHAPTER VI.
INDIAN ADVENTURES IN VALLEY AND PLAIN.

    It is difficult for us to get the point of view of the frontiersman in
regard to the Indians and how best to deal with them. He was not in position to
apply any finely spun theory regarding the rights of the "poor Indian," or how
to make him over into an American citizen. He was facing the stern fact which
none knew better than he, of kill or be killed, and that in the very nature of
things he could not live side by side with these Indians without his life and
the lives of his family being in constant jeopardy. His logic was that the only
trustworthy Indians were the dead ones. Nor had the hardy pioneer arrived at
these conclusions by the study of any long drawn-out "reports of committees on
Indian affairs." He had been driven to this way of thinking by bitter experience.

    Undoubtedly, much injury was done, not only to the frontier settlers in the
useless loss of hundreds of lives and millions of dollars worth of property, but
to the Indian himself, by the sentimental attitude of the government in dealing
with these aborigines. The whole problem resolved itself into this fact which is
universal in history and biology, that the weaker and less developed
life,-whether human or animal, must give way before the onset of a stronger and
higher developed one. Any attempt to make the outcome otherwise, is but a
fruitless endeavor to stem the tide of evolution. It were better by far that we
should forget that chapter of American history which treats with governmental
dealings with the Indians.

    The adventures recorded in this chapter are the most typical ones gleaned
from early records and given by word of mouth by pioneers who lived in the
Pueblo region when its possession was disputed by the red men. They are true
in-so-far as the writer has been able to determine their truth, and being true
they may be lacking in that "thrill" which is typical of the "made-to-order"
adventure. They possess a sufficient amount of interest, however, to have held
spell-bound the juvenile members of a certain family upon many a star-lit
evening as they were told and retold even to the point of being worn threadbare
by repetitions. It is more on account of their interest than because of their
historical value, that they are made a part of this book.

    The most notable Indian massacre occurring in the immediate vicinity of
Pueblo was the one which took place on Christmas Day, 1854, when the entire
population of the old Pueblo fort was massacred.

    The Utes who occupied the foothills region west of Pueblo, had been restless
for several days before the date above mentioned and had begun wandering away
from their usual confines out into the valley. Uncle Dick Wooten, who lived down
at the mouth of the Huerfano, had been out on a hunting expedition to the
Hardscrabble region above Pueblo. Noticing indications that an Indian outbreak
was imminent, he put out immediately for home to make ready for a visit from
these savages. This was the day before Christmas, and as Wooten passed the
Pueblo fort, he stopped and warned its inhabitants not to permit any Utes to
come within the fort. From this place he hastened on to his home on the Huerfano
to make ready for the expected attack.

    Unfortunately, the inhabitants of the fort did not take this warning
seriously as we shall see. On the afternoon of Christmas a single Indian was
seen galloping his horse up the trail to the fort. Upon his arrival he met the
men with a friendly greeting and suggested to Sandoval, who was in charge of the
fort, that they set up a target and try their skill as marksmen. Sandoval,
believing that no danger could possibly arise from the presence of one Indian
within the enclosure, permitted him to enter. A target was set up and with the
entire group of men standing by the shooting began. Sandoval fired first and was
followed immediately by the Indian; whereupon, two more Utes appeared riding up
the trail. Upon their arrival they greeted the group with a friendly "How" and
took their places among the other spectators. The next time four shots were
fired and four Indians appeared. It was evident that the firing of the shots was
a signal for more Indians to appear. The shooting was resumed and in a short
time the entire band of Indians, fifty in number, had arrived and were intently
watching the contest.

    Blanco, the Ute chief, requested food for his followers, whereupon the
entire group entered the fort. Food was given them as well as a liberal quantity
of "Taos lightning." Suddenly, at a given signal the entire band of savages fell
upon the occupants of the fort and began their massacre.

    Against such odds these men were unable to contend and in a few minutes they
were all killed except four, one woman, the two sons of Sandoval, seven and
twelve years old, and one man who was shot through the cheek and left for dead.
The woman was killed at a spring near by as they were leaving the fort but the
boys were kept as captives, but were finally restored to their people after
peace was made.

    The Indians passed on down the Arkansas, bent on further bloodshed, but
finding their other intended victims at Wooten's ranch, so well prepared for
them, they did not risk an attack but returned to their camp far into the
mountains.

    The old fort remained deserted ever after this massacre, the superstition of
the roving trappers of this region preventing their ever occupying the place
again. Ghost stories of "hair-raising" type soon sprang up around the memories
of the old adobe building which deterred even the most stout-hearted from ever
taking up his abode there again. The "dobies" composing its walls were removed
later, some being used in erecting the first buildings in Fountain City, and the
remainder being placed in the walls of the first buildings of Pueblo proper.

    The redoubtable Kit Carson was the chief character in an adventure with the
Crow Indians which occurred in this vicinity some time before the occurrence
just described.

    Carson and nine associates were just returning from an extended trapping
expedition into the northwest and had established a camp on the Arkansas near
the present site of Pueblo to await the return of one of their number who had
gone on to Taos to dispose of their furs. It was late in November when they
arrived at the Arkansas and they had no sooner established themselves at this
place than a wandering band of Crows passed through the vicinity of their camp
and drove off several of their best horses and escaped under the cover of darkness.

    Early the next morning Carson and his band made preparations to take up the
pursuit of the thieves, but the situation was complicated by the falling of a
light snow during the night and later by a large drove of buffalo crossing the
already dim trail. With the instinct of the born hunter, Carson stuck to the
trail and followed it throughout the entire day with the tenacity of a savage.
Their route lay in the direction of the divide where a heavy snow covered the
ground.

    As night came on the party camped in the edge of a clump of cedars, when
preparations were made for building a fire for protection against the frosty
night. They had no sooner began these preparations than they perceived smoke
arising only a few hundred yards in front of them. A careful reconnoissance
revealed the presence of the Indians whom they were pursuing, apparently
unsuspicious of the presence of their pursuers. Not daring even to build a fire,
the group made themselves as comfortable as their situation would permit and
patiently awaited the coming of darkness.

    Under cover of night, while the savages were celebrating their successful
escape by giving a war-dance, Carson and his men approached stealthily to the
vicinity of the Indian camp and finding their stolen horses tethered near by,
actually removed them to their own camp without being detected. The majority of
the party was in favor of returning at once to their camp on the Arkansas with
their recovered property. Carson, however, insisted stoutly that the thieves
should be punished. His influence prevailed and a bold attack at daybreak was
agreed upon. Just as light was beginning to break in the east, Carson and eight
of his men marched boldly up to the sleeping camp and opened fire. Taken by
complete surprise, the Indians were at first terror-stricken and lost heavily at
the first fire, but soon rallied and from behind trees and rocks sent forth such
a galling fire that the attacking party was forced to retreat. Being reinforced
by one of their number, whom they had left in charge of the horses, they made
another charge but were unable to dislodge the Indians, although several of the
savages were killed. Back and forth they wavered throughout the entire forenoon.
Finally, however, neither side being able to win, Carson and his party withdrew,
their only casualty being a slight flesh wound, received by one member of their
party. With their recovered property they took up the return march and arrived
without further incident at their camp on the Arkansas.

    Mr. David Proffitt, who has been a resident of Pueblo and other points in
Southern Colorado for the past sixty years, remembers many lively tilts with the
Indians which occurred during the time he was engaged in freighting from Kansas
City to Fort Garland. His route lay over the Santa Fe trail, through Pueblo and
south over the Sangre de Cristo pass. The adventure which is here given was told
the writer by Mr. Proffitt himself and occurred upon one of his homeward trips
from Fort Garland.

    For safety three trains had united in making this journey across the plains,
two trains of the Proffitt brothers and one belonging to a man named Miller,
their wagons all being loaded with wool. There was accompanying them a man named
Spencer, who had been permitted to avail himself of the protection of the train
on his way back to the States. During all these journeys their vigilance was
never permitted to abate, all the men being under strict military regulation.
During this entire journey they were constantly watched by marauding bands of
Indians. It was a strict rule that no person should separate himself from the
train because of the presence of hostile Indians, but in spite of this rule, as
they were passing along one day about eighty rods from the Arkansas river, it
was suddenly noticed that Spencer had separated himself from the party and was
approaching the river for the purpose of filling his canteen with fresh water.
No sooner was his dangerous position discovered than a shot rang out and Spencer
was seen to fall. The train was halted and the call to arms was given, as it was
certain that a band of Indians was in ambush near by and that an immediate
attack would probably be made.

    An order was immediately given for a detachment of forty men to go to the
rescue of Spencer. An arroyo extended to within a hundred yards of where Spencer
lay wounded. Proffitt led the rescuing party safely to the point where the
arroyo ended and on emerging to the open plains the landscape seemed suddenly to
become alive with savages. A large band of savages charged the rescuing party
while a still larger one attacked the wagon train, thus hoping to prevent an
assistance from that quarter while they made a desperate attempt to cut off the
rescuers from retreat. Proffitt and his party fell back to the arroyo and from
that point sent forth such a terrific fire into the midst of the red-skins that
they were compelled to withdraw, but the retreat was only temporary for in a few
moments they emerged again and pressed the attack more furiously than before.
The rescuing party was well nigh overwhelmed by the furor of the second attack,
one of their best men being wounded. It was only through the fearless action of
Proffitt, who at the most critical moment in the fight bravely mounted the bank
and with a six-shooter in either hand, began dealing death to his murderous
assailants, that the utter rout of his party was prevented. His action gave such
courage to his comrades that they succeeded in repelling the second attack. As
the Indians began to withdraw the party rushed forward to the place where
Spencer lay wounded, and found that he had been shot in the hip. Proffitt raised
him to a sitting posture and had just asked him whether he was badly hurt when
the wounded man was again struck by a bullet which resulted in instant death.

    Their return to the wagon train was even more hazardous than their advance
had been. A determined assault was made upon them—this time by the combined
strength of the savage forces, several hundred in number, the attack upon the
wagon train having been abandoned. At this critical moment, however, the forces
guarding the train, being relieved by the withdrawal of the Indians from that
quarter, were able to make a flank attack which dealt such destruction to their
savage foes that they withdrew, carrying some forty of their dead with them.

    Another incident which occurred in this same vicinity and to the same party
illustrates the danger to which these freighters were constantly exposed.

    The train had halted at the river bank one afternoon somewhat earlier than
usual. The oxen were "turned loose" and the men were taking a swim, their usual
precautions having been taken to prevent a surprise by the Indians. It was
noticed that a part of the oxen had strayed somewhat farther from the herd than
usual and one of the men, whose name was Reed, started after them. Having
reached a distance of several hundred yards from the river, a lone Indian
mounted upon a pony, suddenly bore down upon him. Reed, being unarmed, was at
the mercy of his antagonist. As the Indian approached nearer preparatory to
firing, Reed, in desperation, caught up a handful of gravel which he threw
directly into the face of the pony, causing it to swerve suddenly to one side.
This caused the savage to miss his victim. The Indian turned and bore down upon
him the second time. Reed had in the meantime taken from his pocket a small
knife which he threw full into the face of his fiendish assailant, striking him
in the forehead and inflicting a wound which bled profusely. Being blinded by
the blood from his wound, the Indian in his confusion halted his horse for an
instant, whereupon Reed suddenly caught him by the arm, and dragged him to the
ground. There ensued a terrific struggle for the only weapon, the pistol. Reed
proved the stronger and wrenching the gun from his antagonist, felled him with
one blow upon the head and before assistance arrived the Indian had been killed
and his pony was galloping away across the prairie.

    In the summer of 1864 there occurred one of the most serious Indian
outbreaks that this region had yet experienced. In fact the uprising was so
general as to include most of the tribes of Colorado as well as of Kansas.
Because of the defenseless condition of the settlers, the lives of hundreds of
families in the region extending from Pueblo north beyond Denver, were placed in
jeopardy. The fighting force of the Indians being so much greater than that of
the settlers, placed the latter at a serious disadvantage. From the foot hills
almost as far east as the Missouri river, these roving bands of savages held
sway throughout that entire summer, while settlers in scattered groups were
attempting to occupy a narrow strip of territory close to the foot hills. These
brave-hearted men and women were truly "an island of civilization in a vast sea
of savagery."

    The Indians had planned a simultaneous attack along this entire front,
hoping to rid themselves once for all of the presence of the settlers. To
Elbridge Gerry, of Revolutionary ancestry, is due the everlasting gratitude of
the entire frontier populace of the state for his timely warning of the
impending attack.

    Gerry had lived for many years on the Platte river some seventy miles east
of Denver with his Cheyenne wife, and had enjoyed the confidence of the various
Indian tribes of that region. One night, long after the Gerry household had
retired, two Cheyenne chiefs arrived and warned the occupants that the attack
would take place on the morrow. The plan was to send one hundred warriors to the
valley of the Platte, two hundred fifty to the head of Cherry Creek and about
four hundred fifty over the divide to Colorado City and down the Fountain valley
to Pueblo. Upon being informed of this intended attack, Gerry immediately
saddled his swiftest horse and stole quietly away and as soon as he was at a
safe distance from the house, put spurs to his horse, never stopping until he
drew rein in front of the governor's residence in Denver. Governor Evans, upon
being apprised of the danger by which the foot-hill population was confronted,
immediately dispatched swift couriers to warn the settlers of the impending attack.

    The arrival of this courier in Pueblo caused intense consternation. The
settlers in the remote districts of this region, being notified by couriers sent
out from Pueblo, hastily loaded their possessions in farm wagons and came into
town, where they remained until the danger subsided. The excitement was greatly
augmented by the information that a band of Indians had been seen a few miles
above Pueblo on the Fountain. An adobe block house was hastily built on
Tenderfoot Hill and a stockade was erected near Third Street. The stockade,
which was one hundred ten feet long and twelve feet high, was built of logs
furnished by Eugene Weston, to whom the writer is indebted for the details of a
part of this incident. School was closed, public gatherings were dispensed with
and everyone was in an intense state of suspense. A squad of men did sentry duty
day and night and for many days men scarcely slept, the attack being momentarily
expected.

    But the attack never materialized. The entire plan failed, due to the
warning sent out by the governor. Wherever the Indians planned an attack they
found that the settlers either were ready to give battle or that their houses
had been abandoned and their valuables removed. Only three persons lost their
lives in this attempted wholesale massacre. These persons lived on Cherry creek
and had for some reason failed to heed the warning sent out by the governor.
Although the general attack failed, the Indians continued on the war path
throughout the entire summer and until late in the autumn. They were brought to
terms only after the most severe chastisement ever administered this "scourge of
the prairies," by an enraged populace.

    One of the most fiendish crimes ever perpetrated by the savages occurred on
the Santa Fe trail, a few miles below Pueblo in the late summer of 1864. Jack
Smith, a half-breed Cheyenne, with a band of Indians, attacked a government
wagon train on its way up the valley. Although the train was being escorted by a
small group of soldiers, the attack was so fierce and so well planned that the
entire party was soon overwhelmed and captured. Among those taken prisoners were
a blacksmith, his wife and two boys. The wife was compelled to witness the
horrible death of her husband by burning. The two boys were declared to be in
the way and were killed by being dashed against one of the wagon wheels. After
being repeatedly outraged by her fiendish captors, the woman succeeded in
stealing stealthily from her bed in the middle of the night and with a leather
thong committed suicide by hanging.

    The government finally, but with inexcusable tardiness, authorized the
organization and equipment of a regiment for one hundred days service for the
purpose of punishing these Indians who had been spreading terror throughout the
entire Colorado region. Under this authority the Third Regiment of Colorado
Volunteers, with Col. George L. Shoup in command, was organized. Company G of
this regiment was recruited almost entirely from Pueblo, the following persons
being officers of the company: O. H. P. Baxter, Captain; S. J. Graham, First
Lieutenant; Andrew J. Templeton, Second Lieutenant. Among other members of the
company, the following names have been preserved: Chas. D. Peck, Joseph Holmes,
John W. Rogers, Jas. O'Neil, Abe Cronk, W. W. McAllister, John Bruce, John C.
Norton, John McCarthy, Wm. H. Davenport, Jessie W. Coleman, H. W. Creswell,
Henry B. Craig, Joseph W. Dobbins, Tom C. Dawkins, A. A. Johnson, L. F.
McAllister, H. H. Melrose, F. Page and Eugene Weston. The company was brought up
to its full quota by the addition of ten or eleven men from El Paso County, and
on August 29, 1864, was mustered in at Denver as a part of the United States Army.

    Company G was sent into camp at a point about five miles east of Pueblo.
Here the company was obliged to wait two months for equipment. In October a snow
nearly two feet deep covered the entire southern portion of the state. Roads
were blocked, traffic ceased and all supplies were cut off. The little company
of volunteers was facing starvation when the order was given by the commander to
disband temporarily with instructions for each man to go to his home to remain
until the weather would permit the sending of supplies to their camp. Within two
weeks the roads became passable and supplies and equipment were forwarded from
Denver, whereupon the company were reassembled.

    The main body of troops had been encamped in DenVer while awaiting equipment
from the government. In November the entire regiment under Col. John M.
Chivington, began moving south from Denver and in due time annexed Company G of
Pueblo. Their course was down the Arkansas, although no one, not even the
soldiers themselves, knew their destination. Leaving Pueblo on November 25, they
moved by forced marches, allowing but six hours rest out of twenty-four, and in
three days arrived at Fort Lyon, much to the surprise of the garrison at that
place. Absolute secrecy as to the destination of this regiment had been
maintained; every person encountered along the trail from Pueblo to Fort Lyon
had been held a prisoner lest the presence of the troops should become known to
the Indians.

    It was known that the Indians who had been terrorizing the settlers, had
gone into camp some distance north of Fort Lyon. It was also believed by many
that the relations between the garrison at Fort Lyon and these Indians was of
such character as to preclude the hope of securing any assistance from this
source in a further prosecution of the purpose of the expedition. Subsequent
events proved the semi-treasonable intercourse which had existed between the
garrison and the Indians as well as the indifference of the commandant as to the
success of this campaign against the savages.

    Halting only long enough to procure food and water the order was given for
each man to prepare rations for a three days' march and to be ready to move at 8
o'clock. Their course was due north and after an all-night's march over a
difficult trail they came in sight of a large Indian village just at the break
of day.

    The regiment immediately opened fire upon the Indians, who fled in panic,
but soon concentrated their forces along the banks of Sand creek, upon which
stream the Indian camp was situated. The battle lasted from early morning until
three or four o'clock in the afternoon. The fighting forces of the Indians met
almost complete annihilation. In all about 500 Indians were killed, while the
troops had ten of their number killed and forty wounded.

    This, briefly, is an account of the famous Battle of Sand Creek. Few
incidents in western history have been bolstered up by such an array of
misstatements and absolute falsehood as has this famous engagement. Even at the
risk of being accused of reviving a controversy long since settled, the writer
can not refrain from deviating from the purpose of this chapter long enough to
state the facts concerning this battle.

    The following statements are based upon a discussion of this battle and the
events leading up to it by Irving Howbert, who presents convincing documentary
evidence in support of his statements.

    The three chief accusations of the government against Colonel Chivington and
his troops were that they had massacred a body of friendly Indians, who were
under the protection of the government, that defenseless women and children were
massacred under the instructions of Colonel Chivington and that Chivington acted
without authority in taking such extreme measures against these Indians. The
facts as presented by Mr. Howbert are as follows:

    First, these Indians, far from being friendly, were viciously hostile,
having been on the war-path the entire summer. They had in their possession at
the time of the "massacre," property identified by some of the troops as
belonging to residents of Pueblo and El Paso Counties. Fresh scalps were found
in their tepees, some of which were those of women and children.

    Second, there was little, if any unwonted killing of women and children,
although it was impossible to avoid the killing of some of these owing to the
fact that they were present in considerable numbers during the battle, the
squaws in some instances taking an active part in the engagement.

    Third, Major-General S. R. Curtis himself had instructed Col. Chivington to
pursue these Indians regardless of district boundaries and to wage a war of
extermination against them.

    It is unfortunate that the so-called investigation instituted by the
government in connection with this battle could not have been carried on in the
interests of truth and that the right of Col. Chivington to an impartial hearing
could not have been accorded him. Had it been so, the military record of this
man, who never acted more safely within his rights or more nearly according to
instructions, would not have been left with a cloud hanging over it.

Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Pathbreakers and Pioneers of the Pueblo Region
Comprising
A History of Pueblo from the Earliest Times
By MILO LEE WHITTAKER
THE FRANKLIN PRESS COMPANY 
1917


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