Marilyn Bay Wentz's Blog

By Marilyn Bay Wentz

Two days after Thanksgiving— Nov.  29, 2014—marks the 150th anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre when Colonel John Chivington led an assault on an encampment of peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians in southeastern Colorado (then Colorado Territory), near present day Eads. Initially touted by Colonel Chivington as a military victory, the massacre took the lives of a minimum of 130 Indians, at least 100 of them women and children.

Native Americans had lived in relative harmony with white settlers for several decades until 1859 when gold was discovered near present-day Denver, bringing west thousands of white settlers. With herds of buffalo and other game declining and Native hunting grounds turned into crop and ranch land, Native Americans were struggling to feed their families.  Within just six years, they had agreed to confine their movements and hunting only to have the Treaty of Ft. Laramie yanked away and replaced with the even more restrictive Ft. Lyon Treaty.

By the early 1860s, travel beyond the confines of the city of Denver was perilous. Small groups of Native Americans living on the Eastern Plains stole horses, livestock and provisions and killed or captured settlers. In response, settlers took on the mantra “The only good Indian is a dead Indian.”

This hysteria enabled Colonel Chivington to be able to raise a regiment of 100-day volunteers to hunt Indians. When the 100 days were nearing expiration, he marched them to Ft. Lyon. Here he enlisted additional troops. When the Ft. Lyon commanders learned that Chivington planned to attach the Indians at Sand Creek, they told him these were not the Indians that had pillaged and killed settlers. In fact, these Indians, led by Black Kettle and other chiefs seeking peace, had moved to Sand Creek several weeks prior at the invitation of Governor John Evans, who instructed “friendly Indians” to gather in this area.

The Sand Creek Massacre was a devastating and shameful act in our nation’s history. It must be acknowledged and not forgotten. However, it is important to note that it was not an isolated event. As I researched the attitudes, personalities and events for the two years leading up to the Sand Creek Massacre in preparation to write Prairie Grace, I found that there were atrocities perpetrated by whites and Native Americans, as well as honorable people among both groups.

So, how should we respond to Sand Creek?

Fear of the unknown, racism and selfishness enabled Chivington and the soldiers with him to mercilessly massacre women, children and the elderly at Sand Creek. Fear and hatred drove groups of Indians, such as the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, to kill and pillage. While societal norms discourage these public attitudes today, each of us would be wise to examine our own hearts for hatred, racism, other prejudices and selfishness. From the smallest seeds of such evil spring devastation.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed an executive order earlier this year establishing a Sand Creek Commemoration Commission. For more about the commission and events planned around the 150th anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre, visit www.sandcreekmassacre150.com

 

Marilyn Bay Wentz grew up on a farm near Eaton, Colo., not far from where her great-great grandparents homesteaded. She has written hundreds of news releases and articles for agricultural organizations and other clients. She and her family now live on the eastern plains, near Strasburg, Colo. She is the author of Prairie Grace, historical fiction depicting the events leading up to the Sand Creek Massacre from two very different points-of-view. To connect with Marilyn or subscribe to her blog, log on to www.MarilynBayWentz.com

 

 

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John Evans’s Culpability for Sand Creek Should Be Balanced with Acknowledgement of Indian Depredations & Raids

He was the founder of Northwestern University and the University of Denver. He also was a murderer. Colorado Territorial Gov. John Evans was not among the Colorado volunteers and regular U.S. Army troops who on Nov. 29, 1864, attacked and killed at least 130 peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians camped along Sand Creek in southeastern Colorado Territory. But, his actions enabled Col. John Chivington to lead soldiers to massacre and desecrate the bodies of these Native Americans, mostly women, children and the elderly.

A University of Denver John Evans Study Committee released a report in early November 2014. It concluded: “John Evans’s pattern of neglect of his treaty-negotiating duties, his leadership failures, and his reckless decision-making in 1864 combine to clearly demonstrate a significant level of culpability for the Sand Creek Massacre.”

The report outlines in great deal (more than 100 pages) Evans’ actions and in actions that contributed to Chivington being able to raise an additional set of troops and gain authorization to fight Indians.

In a letter dated June 27, 1864, Gov. Evans instructed “friendly Arapahoes and Cheyennes … to go to Major Cooley, U.S. Indian Agent at Fort Lyons, who will give them provisions and show them a place of safety.” The letter also states, “The object of this is to prevent friendly Indians from being killed through mistake.”

Black Kettle and the other Arapahoe and Cheyenne chiefs who led their people to the campsite at Sand Creek followed Evans instructions precisely and specifically stated they sought peace. Chivington knew this from the conversations he had with officers at Fort Lyons the day before the attack.

It is difficult to appreciate John Evans’ accomplishments, including the founding of two universities given the atrocities committed at Sand Creek. In no way do I contend that his leadership was adequate or appropriate, even given the frontier environment in which the governor operated. However, it is ingenuous to ignore the provocations that incited the fear and hysteria in the citizenry of Denver. Prior to the massacre, there were a series of Indian depredations, killings and kidnappings of settlers.

The brutal murder of the Hungate family, a man, a woman and their young daughters on a ranch near present day Elizabeth, Colo., in early June of 1864, by Indians who were never caught, naturally stirred up fear in the residents of Denver. Freighters were killed and scalped, making it perilous to travel across Colorado’s eastern plains during this time.

Even as Black Kettle responded to the letter from Gov. John Evans seeking protection from the U.S. government, there were white captives, including Laura Roper and Danny Marble, living with the Cheyenne and Arapaho. Chief Black Kettle worked with Captain Wynkoop to secure the return of some of these captives, but others committed suicide or were never seen again.

There should be no lessening of culpability on the part of John Evans and Chivington for the shameful actions at Sand Creek. At the same time, the depredations and cruelty of Indians toward white settlers should not be ignored.

 

Marilyn Bay Wentz grew up on a farm near Eaton, Colo., not far from where her great-great grandparents homesteaded. She has written hundreds of news releases and articles for agricultural organizations and other clients. She and her family now live on the eastern plains, near Strasburg, Colo. She is the author of Prairie Grace, historical fiction depicting the events leading up to the Sand Creek Massacre from two very different points-of-view. To connect with Marilyn or subscribe to her blog, log on to www.MarilynBayWentz.com

 

 

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As the mother of an adult daughter and her teenage sister, I’ve been on the receiving end of plenty of eye rolling when I dare to express my angst with today’s young people. If you are over 40, you probably will agree with me. If not, respect your elder and read on. In my next blog, I promise to write about the positives of today over yesterday, but I must start by lamenting what we as a nation, as a culture, have lost over the past generations.

My parents, grandparents and great-grandparents did not walk to school uphill both ways in three feet of snow, but some of their tales of everyday life and what they endured and achieved is worth recounting.

From my great-grandparents I learned education is a privilege.

One set of great-grandparents on my mother’s side immigrated to the United States as teenagers in the late 1800s. They met and married in this country. Grandpa Sam was trained as a cabinet maker and also farmed. When my grandfather, the oldest of what would be 11 children, headed off to first grade, he spoke no English. His parents instructed him to learn all he could about English and his new country. When he came home, they had him teach them. When the next child in line, Delbert, reached school age, he had the same instructions.

By the time the eleventh child, Evangeline, went to school, she spoke English fluently, as did all 13 members of the Nelson family. Letters and other documents written by my great-grandmother Emily demonstrate an impressive grasp of the English language, particularly considering that she learned from her young children when she was entering her thirties. My grandfather had to leave school after eighth grade, because he needed to help support his siblings, but he never quit learning. He always had a copy of National Geographic or a history book on his nightstand. Learning was a privilege.

From my Grandpa Bay I learned to do what is asked of you, even if it doesn’t make sense and is really hard.

My paternal grandfather married my grandmother at the height of the depression. Jobs were scarce, and the dustbowl in Colorado and Oklahoma where they lived had made it nearly impossible to make a living farming. He learned that the railroad was hiring, so he and lots of other men showed up hoping to be hired. Grandpa said the railroad man took the prospective employees to a remote area, gave them each a shovel and told them to dig. Then he left.

Grandpa said he wasn’t sure where to dig, the size of the hole to dig or anything else, but he dug, and dug, and dug. He didn’t know if he would ever see the railroad man again, and he despaired of being hired, but he knew that he had been instructed to dig. That evening, the railroad man returned, and grandpa got the job, because he had worked hard and done what was asked of him.

From my father I learned to finish a job and finish it well . . . without whining.

My father, now 75-years-of-age, grew up on a farm with a handful of dairy cows. The cows had to be milked every morning and every evening. When he turned 13 years of age, he took on the family milk route. At 3:30am when the rest of the family went to the barn to begin milking cows, my father loaded the cooled milk cans onto the truck and drove them to the town. He took the milk cans to the creamery, exchanging them for bottles of milk and other dairy products, which he delivered door to door before 6am. When he finished, he would drive the delivery truck home, shower, and catch the bus to school. He insists he thought nothing of driving a milk route before school every day from the age of 13. He says the only time he got stopped by the police was if the officer wanted to buy a bottle of milk.

As a teen, I milked a single cow before school, and my mother strained and cooled the pail of milk. No milk route for me. By comparison, I was pretty coddled. But, I also appreciate the lessons learned from those who went before me. I just hope that someday my children will say the same.

Marilyn Bay Wentz is the author of Prairie Grace, historical fiction set in 1864 Colorado Territory. The story of the events leading up to the Sand Creek Massacre is told through the eyes of Georgia, a settler woman and Cheyenne brave Gray Wolf. Purchase Prairie Grace at your local bookstore or online. If not stocked, request that your local bookstore order it through Ingram Publishing Services. Marilyn grew up on a northern Colorado farm, near the land homesteaded by her great-great grandparents. She and her family now live on the rural eastern Colorado plains. For more information: www.MarilynBayWentz.com

Prairie Ponderings-A Blog from Marilyn Bay Wentz, author of fiction that entertains, educates & inspires

Nineteenth Century Bullying Brings Devastating Consequences

Nov. 29, 2014 will mark the 150th anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre, when Col. John Chivington ordered troops to kill and mutilate a peaceful village of Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians, most of them women, children and the elderly. The massacre took place in southeastern Colorado—then Colorado Territory—at a site that only recently was designated a national commemorative monument. Reports vary on the number killed, anywhere from 100 to 400 people. (There was not a Census that included Native Americans at that time.)

If ever there was a spin master, it was Chivington. He reported the massacre as a military victory against hostile Indians. His men were encouraged to display their trophies of war–body parts and belongings from the massacred–in the streets of Denver several days after the massacre. Even more heinous, the colonel was a “Christian” minister and strong opponent of slavery.

There were the massacre defectors. Captain Silas Soule and Lieutenant Joseph Cramer refused to lead their companies (D and K) in the attack of the peaceful village. Soule testified against Chivington in a military inquiry and was assassinated several months later by an assailant who was never brought to justice.

The Sand Creek Massacre represents an incredibly shameful event in our nation’s history. Unfortunately, it does not stand alone. Vandalism, murder of innocents, and other shameful acts were perpetrated by both the U.S. military and Native Americans. Before and following the Sand Creek Massacre, the fear of someone different and inappropriate actions/reactions resulted in bloodshed and distrust from both sides.

It occurs to me that the bullying running rampant in today’s public schools is often motivated by the same things as the Sand Creek Massacre.

It is not my intention to diminish the severity of the Sand Creek Massacre or minimize the ongoing scars created by comparing it with modern-day bullying. But, there are parallels. The underlining cause of both the Sand Creek Massacre and bullying are the perpetrator’s insecurity and fear. It was fear of people different from themselves and insecurity to live in a world not controlled by whites that drove Chivington and his men to commit their dastardly deeds.

Today’s mores and laws limit the destruction bullies can wreck, but they don’t eliminate it. Rules and teachers monitoring hallways cut down on bullying, especially violent bullying, but subtle bullying slides under the radar in many cases.

Several years ago when we were on a very tight budget, I began sending lunches to school with my daughter. Much later, she told me that if she didn’t take a standard sandwich or pre-made meal, her peers made fun of her food, and she dumped it in the trash without taking a bite. That is bullying, though not something that rules and monitoring can prevent. Until the schoolyard or neighborhood bully has a change of heart, so that he or she can accept differences and empathize with others’ feelings, the only control we have against bullying is external rules.

Rules must be made and enforced, but without a moral compass, good and evil will be relative. More people with a clear understanding of right and wrong and the ability to stand up for right would have stopped the Sand Creek Massacre, and the same will stop bullying today.

Marilyn Bay Wentz is the author of Prairie Grace, historical fiction set in 1864 Colorado Territory. The story of the events and attitudes leading up to the Sand Creek Massacre is told through the eyes of Georgia, a settler woman and Cheyenne brave Gray Wolf. Prairie Grace will be available in bookstores and online Dec. 1, 2013. Marilyn grew up on a northern Colorado farm, near the land homesteaded by her great-great grandparents. She and her family now live on the rural eastern Colorado plains. For more information: www.MarilynBayWentz.com

Prairie Grace Depicts Events Leading up  to Sand Creek Massacre

By Marilyn Bay Wentz

My debut novel, Prairie Grace, is set in 1864 Colorado Territory and chronicles many of the events leading up to the Sand Creek Massacre. This heavily researched work of fiction will be available in bookstores and online fall 2013.

Prairie Grace depicts the worst and the best of humanity, detailing both the Indian depredations and the ruthless U.S. government/military campaigns to eliminate the Native Americans and their perceived threat to the whites. The clash of white and Native cultures in 1864 Colorado Territory is told through the eyes of throw-caution-to-the wind frontierswoman Georgia MacBaye and Cheyenne brave Gray Wolf, who is cast into the white world when his uncle, Chief Lean Bear, seeks help for him from Georgia’s mother, a well-known “healer.” When Lean Bear (actual historic figure) returns nearly a year later to retrieve his nephew, he explains that he was delayed by a trip to Washington, D.C., where he and other Cheyenne and Arapaho chiefs met the Great White Father (President Abraham Lincoln), a documented event.

I read dozens of books and a few website accounts before launching into the writing of Prairie Grace. Historic events, including the Colorado gold rush, the Denver flood of 1864, the Hungate murders, the slaughter of innocent Indians in small villages, settlement on the Purgatory River in southern Colorado, and the treaties of Fort Laramie and Fort Wise are woven into the storyline. Historical figures Lean Bear, Bull Bear, Roman Nose, One-Eye, Beaver aka George Bent, Black Kettle, Tall Bull, Cheyenne captive Laura Roper, Issac Van Wormer, Indian Agent Samuel Colley, Edward Wynkoop, Silas Soule, Governor Evans, and Col. John Chivington all make appearances in Prairie Grace.

Prairie Grace accurately depicts daily life and attitudes of people during this time, without being simplistic or stereotypical. This fast-moving novel culminates with the Sand Creek Massacre when Colonel John Chivington led a U.S. Army assault on an encampment of peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians in present day southeastern Colorado on Nov. 29, 1864, massacring an estimated 130 Indians, at least 100 of them women and children.

I hope you will spread the word about Prairie Grace. It is sure to entertain, educate and inspire without being mushy (the guys who reviewed it, loved it) or inappropriate for the younger set. For more information, visit www.MarilynBayWentz.com

Marilyn Bay Wentz grew up on a farm near Eaton, Colo., not far from where her great-great grandparents homesteaded. She has written hundreds of news releases and articles for agricultural organizations and other clients. She and her family now live on the eastern plains, near Strasburg, Colo. Prairie Grace will be available December 2013 in bookstores and online.