Near Eads in Kiowa County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Pleas for Peace
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
Photographed By Duane Hall, October 8, 2010
1. Pleas for Peace Marker
"All we ask is that we may have peace with the whites...We want to take good tidings home to our people, that they may sleep in peace."
Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle
As tensions mounted, Chiefs Black Kettle and Left Hand pled for peace. They wrote to Major Wynkoop at Fort Lyon, expressing their desire to end violence. Wynkoop and 125 men marched apprehensively to the Smoky Hill River to meet with them. Negotiations followed. With renewed hope, Wynkoop and the chiefs headed for a peace counsel in Denver.
They met with Governor John Evans, Colonel John Chivington, and other officials on September 28, 1864 at Camp Weld. Chivington made his position clear: "My rule of fighting white men or Indians is to fight until they lay down their arms and submit to military authority. You are nearer to Major Wynkoop than anyone else, and you can go to him [at Fort Lyon] when you get ready to do that."
Of twelve-hundred Cheyenne and Arapaho camped near Sand Creek in the autumn of 1864, about 650 Arapaho moved to Fort Lyon. "Prisoner rations" were not enough to sustain them, so they moved further east. A small Arapaho village under chief Left Hand chose instead to join the 500 or more Cheyenne still camped at Sand Creek.
(Image Caption)
Camp Weld Council - Major Wynkoop
this page online
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is September 28, 1864.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 32.964′ N, 102° 30.707′ W. Marker was near Eads, Colorado, in Kiowa County. Marker could be reached from County Road W, 1.3 miles east of County Road 54. Marker is located in Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site; the above directions are to the intersection of County Road W and the driveway to the park visitor center. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Eads CO 81036, United States of America.
We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Cheyenne and Arapaho Village at Sand Creek (here, next to this marker); A Chief’s Village (a few steps from this marker); Sacred Memory (within shouting distance of this marker); Returned to Sand Creek
Photographed By Duane Hall, October 8, 2010
2. Entrance to Sand Creek Massacre NHS
More about this marker. The marker is along the trail to the monument and overlook; it is a 0.5 mile walk from the visitor center parking lot to the marker.
Also see . . .
1. Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. Official National Park Service website. (Submitted on March 11, 2016.)
2. Sand Creek Massacre - Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on March 11, 2016.)
Photographed By Duane Hall, October 8, 2010
3. Site of Sand Creek Massacre
Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 685 times since then and 25 times this year. Last updated on September 7, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. Photos: 1. submitted on March 11, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on February 19, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
