Lieutenant Joseph A. Cramer, commanding Company K, Colorado First Regiment at the Sand Creek Massacre, joined Captain Silas Soule and other Fort Lyon officers in a protest against Col. John M. Chivington’s planned attack on Black Kettle’s village. After Soule firmly stood in defiance of Chivington, his life was reportedly threatened by Chivington and other members of the Colorado Third Volunteers militia. Cramer urged Soule to back away from the confrontation, and then attempted to reason with Chivington to no avail.
When Chivington’s militia attacked at Sand Creek, Soule refused to allow his men to participate, and Cramer soon followed suit. Cramer wrote the following letter to Major Edward Wynkoop soon after the massacre. Soule also wrote to Wynkoop (see Soule’s letter). Soon thereafter, Wynkoop (relieved of command of Fort Lyon just prior to the Sand Creek attack) was ordered to conduct an investigation of Chivington’s actions at Sand Creek.
Cramer’s letter appears here unedited.
Ft. Lyon, C. T.
December 19, 1864
Dear Major:
This is the first opportunity I have had of writing you since the great Indian Massacre, and for a start, I will acknowledge I am ashamed to own I was in it with my Co. Col. Chivington came down here with the gallant third known as Chivington Brigade, like a thief in the dark throwing his Scouts around the Post, with instructions to let no one out, without his orders, not even the Commander of the Post, and for the shame, our Commanding Officer1 submitted. Col. Chivington expected to find the Indians in camp below the Com---- (commissary) but the Major Comd'g told him all about where the Indians were, and volunteered to take a Battalion from the Post and Join the Expedition.
Well Col. Chiv. got in about 10 a.m., Nov. 28th and at 8 p.m. we started with all of the 3rd parts of "H" "O" and "E" of the First, in command of Lt. Wilson2 Co. "K" "D" and "G" in commanding of Major Anthony. Marched all night up Sand, to the big bend in Sanday3, about 15 or 20 miles, above where we crossed on our trip to Smoky Hill4 and came on to Black Kettles village of 103 lodges, containing not over 500 all told, 350 of which were women and children. Three days previous to our going out, Major Anthony gave John Smith5, Lowderbuck 6 of Co. "G" and a government driver7, permission to go out there and trade with them, and they were in the village when the fight came off. John Smith came out holding up his hands and running towards us, when he was shot at by several, and the word was passed along to shoot him. He then turned back, and went to his tent and got behind some Robes, and escaped unhurt. Lowderbuck came out with a white flag, and was served the same as John Smith, the driver the same.8 Well I got so mad I swore I would not burn powder, and I did not. Capt. Soule the same. It is no use for me to try to tell you how the fight was managed, only that I think the Officer in Command should be hung, and I know when the truth is known it will cashier him.
We lost 40 men wounded, and 10 killed. Not over 250 Indians mostly women and children, and I think not over 200 were killed, and not over 75 bucks. With proper management they could all have been killed and not lost over 10 men. After the fight there was a sight I hope I may never see again.
Bucks, women, and children were scalped, fingers cut off to get the rings on them, and this as much with Officers as men, and one of those Officers a Major9, and a Lt. Col.10 cut off Ears, of all he came across, a squaw ripped open and a child taken from her, little children shot, while begging for their lives and all the indignities shown their bodies that was ever heard of (women shot while on their knees, with their arms around soldiers a begging for their lives.) Things that Indians would be ashamed to do. To give you some little idea, squaws were known to kill their own children, and then themselves, rather than to have them taken prisoners. Most of the Indians yielded 4 or 5 scalps. But enough! For I know you are disgusted already. Black Kettle, White Antelope, War Bonnet, Left Hand, Little Robe and several other chiefs were killed.11 Black Kettle said when he saw us coming, that he was glad, for it was Major Wynkoop coming to make peace.12 Left Hand stood with his hands folded across his breast, until he was shot saying, "Soldiers no hurt me - soldiers my friends."13 One Eye was killed was in the employ of Gov't as spy came into the Post a few days before, and reported about the Sioux, were going to break out at Learned14, which proved true.
After all the pledges made my Major A- to these Indians and then take the course he did. I think as comments are necessary from me only I will say he has a face for every man he talks15. The action taken by Capt. Soule and myself were under protest. Col. C– was going to have Soule hung for saying there were all cowardly Sons of B----s if Soule did not take it back, but nary take aback with Soule. I told the Col. that I thought it murder to jump them friendly Indians. He says in reply Damn any man or men who are in sympathy with them. Such men as you and Major Wynkoop better leave the U. S. Service, so you can judge what a nice time we had on the trip. I expect Col. C- and Downing16 will do all in their power to have Soule, Cossitt17 and I dismissed. Well, let them work for what they damn please, I ask no favors of them. If you are in Washington, for God’s sake, Major, keep Chivington from being a Bri'g Genl. which he expects. I will send you the Denver Papers with this. Excuse this for I have been in much of a hurry.
Very Respectfully,
Your Well Wisher
(signed) Joe A. Cramer
(postscript)John Smith was taken prisoner and then murdered18. One little child 3 months old was thrown in the feed box of a wagon and brought one days march, and there left on the ground to perish. Col. Tappan19 is after them for all that is out. I am making out a report of all from beginning to end, to send to Gen'l Slough20, in hopes that he will have the thing investigated, and if you should see him, please speak to him about it, for fear that he has forgotten me. I shall write him nothing but what can be proven.
Major I am ashamed of this. I have it gloriously mixed up, but in hopes I can explain it all to you before long. I would have given my right arm had you been here, when they arrived. Your family are all well.(signed) Joe A. Cramer
1 – Cramer refers to Major Scott J. Anthony, commanding Fort Lyon at the time of Chivington’s arrival.
2 – Lt. Luther Wilson.
3 – Cramer’s hastily written notes here may be logically interpreted as, "we marched up Sand Creek to the big bend in the Sandy." Sand Creek is historically the shortened version of the official name of the Big Sandy. The ‘big bend’ is commonly referred to as a large bend in the creek where the Cheyennes and Arapahos were camped at the time of the massacre.
4 – Smoky Hill River – Cramer refers to the trip that he, with Wynkoop and Soule, took on September 10, 1864. With a detachment of 130 Fort Lyon soldiers, Wynkoop conducted a successful peace negotiation with Black Kettle and other Cheyenne and Arapaho chiefs at what became known as the Smoky Hill Council. Black Kettle and other chiefs had rounded up four white children kidnapped in Dog Soldier raids on the Little Blue in Nebraska, and gave them up to Wynkoop. In return, Wynkoop took the chiefs to Denver to negotiate a peace treaty with Governor Evans (Camp Weld Council). Both of these councils played a significant role in the Sand Creek Massacre. See the
Smoky Hill Council report.
Weld Council transcript
5 – John S. Smith, U.S. Interpreter, was camped at the Sand Creek village at the time of Chivington’s attack. He was employed by the military to obtain information from Black Kettle regarding enemy movement in the area, and was also conducting trade with the Sand Creek Indians, with the permission of Major Anthony.
6 - Private David Louderback, 1st Regiment, was camped with Smith and wagon driver Watson Clark at the Sand Creek village at the time of Chivington’s attack.
7 – Watson Clark, a government-employed teamster.
8 – Smith and Louderback would later testify essentially the same information that Cramer reports here.
9 – Cramer refers to no specific Major here. The Majors that participated at Sand Creek were Major Scott Anthony, Major Jacob Downing, and Major Hal Sayre.
10 – Again, Cramer does not name the Lt. Colonel. The two officers of this rank at Sand Creek were George L. Shoup, and Leavitt L. Bowen. During the ensuing military investigation, Cramer was never asked to identify the officers.
11 – Both Soule and Cramer believed at this time that Black Kettle was killed at Sand Creek, but the Chief actually escaped without injury. Chivington erroneously reported that his men killed Black Kettle. He may have intentionally lied in order to stir up anti-Indian sentiment in Denver and boost his reputation as an Indian fighter, or Chivington may have actually believed Black Kettle was dead (the Indian bodies were all so thoroughly mutilated after the attack that most were rendered unrecognizable). White Antelope, War Bonnet, and Left Hand were killed (Left Hand died a few days later), but reports of ‘Little Robe’ dying was erroneously reported by General Curtis.
12 – It’s unlikely that Cramer ever got near enough to Black Kettle during the massacre to hear the chief speak these words. The tone of anger in Cramer’s letter suggests he is reporting hearsay or rumors here.
13 – Again, Cramer is most likely reporting hearsay. Later stories of the attack relate that White Antelope (not Left Hand) was killed while defiantly standing with his arms folded as Cramer describes it. Left Hand was indeed wounded, but he put up a fight and escaped with the other Indian survivors. Most historians now agree he died of his wounds a few days later, but he was not among the dead found at Sand Creek.
14 – Cramer apparently refers to Fort Larned, KS. One Eye (Cheyenne sub-chief killed at Sand Creek) indeed was in the employ of the government to spy on hostile warrior movements in the area. He is most notably remembered as the leader of the party that initially approached Wynkoop with Black Kettle's proposal to meet at the Smoky Hill Council, which resulted in the rescue of four Dog Soldier captives, and led to the council with Governor Evans at Camp Weld in Denver. One Eye once saved William Bent's life in a Kiowa raid, and Chivington himself had designated him as a "good Indian."
15 – Cramer refers to Major Scott Anthony.
16 – Major Jacob Downing, a lawyer in civilian life, and a staunch Chivington supporter who later represented him in the government hearings.
17 – Lt. Chauncy M. Cossitt, a Fort Lyon officer who joined Soule and Cramer’s protest against attacking Black Kettle.
18 – Cramer erroneously says John Smith. He is referring to Smith’s son, Jack, whom James Beckwourth testified was executed by members of the Colorado Third Regiment.
19 - Lt. Colonel Samuel F. Tappan – not a participant in the Sand Creek Massacre, but present at Fort Lyon when it occurred. When Chivington had arrived to commandeer the Lyon troops, Tappan was laid up with a broken ankle suffered in a riding accident. Soule and Cramer tried to enlist his help to persuade Chivington to spare Black Kettle's village, but Tappan was apparently unable to be of any assistance. It's unlikely he would have made a difference even if he had been available, however, for he and Chivington disliked each other immensely due to numerous past run-ins rooted in professional jealousy. Tappan, a former journalist with many influential friends in Washington, would later spearhead the investigation into Chivington's attack.
20 – General John P. Slough – Commanded troops at La Glorieta Pass, but thereafter replaced by Chivington as Commander of Colorado Military District in a dispute over tactics employed at La Glorieta. Slough re-commissioned and summoned to Washington by President Lincoln. Cramer at this time was part of the contingency of Fort Lyon soldiers looking to expose Chivington’s massacre, and he undoubtedly hoped to bring the issue to the attention of higher authorities with an axe to grind.
