1 – The “letter from Bent” that Black Kettle refers to is the first proclamation issued by Governor Evans. This proclamation, written in late June, was not delivered to Black Kettle until sometime in August. Bent, as well as many of the other agents sent to deliver the proclamation, had a difficult time finding the hundreds of nomadic Indian bands roaming Kansas and Nebraska. In the meantime, Evans had abandoned his first proposal and issued his second proclamation that essentially declared war on all Indian tribes on the Plains.
2 – Although Black Kettle refers to Indian prisoners in Denver, no such captives existed, for any Indians that ventured near the city would surely have been killed on sight.
3 - Laura Roper, Isabel Eubank, Dan Marble, Ambrose Archer were in the possession of Left Hand and his brother, Neva. Left Hand and Black Kettle had negotiated a trade with the Dog Soldier warriors that captured them in a murderous raid on the Little Blue River. Lucinda Eubank and her infant son, William Jr., were separated from Laura and Isabel after the raids, and were in the possession the Sioux warrior Two Face. Two women, known as Mrs. Snyder (kidnapped by Little Raven’s son near Fort Lyon), and a Mrs. Morton (kidnapped on the Platte) were the other captives. At the time Black Kettle sent this letter, he only knew the exact whereabouts of Laura and the three other children. He was apparently gambling on the possibility of rounding up the others, if Wynkoop agreed to his terms. In the end, Black Kettle only returned Laura, Isabel, Dan and Ambrose. He would promise to try to find the others but failed to do so. Read about Laura Roper's ordeal.
Black Kettle letter photograph Copyright © Colorado College
Courtesy Special Collections, Tutt Library, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado.