Citizen Meeting

This is good stuff. I've been looking for this one. I didn't know the exact date.

February 8, 1865. Wednesday. Colonel Moonlight has declared martial law in the Territory. As in August of the previous year, Denver City will be basically shut down until it fills its quota of recruits for a new 'volunteer' regiment of Indian fighters, this time for ninety-days service. The inquest into the Sand Creek Massacre is just about to start in Denver. 'Citizen Meetings' take place that day and evening at the Denver Theater, pep rallies to whip up fervor and pull in recruits, money, horses and guns from the citizenry. The News reports the theater packed and the crowds frenzied -- never a more 'healthy' energy displayed in town, according to the paper.

Chivington is wildly cheered as he offers $500 for the killing of Indians and their 'sympathizers' or 'confederates' according to two reports of varied tone on page 2 of the Feb 9 RMN.




Both reports say 'put me down for $500.' Wonder if he ever paid off.

Captain S.S. Soule has been provost marshal for about one week.



[RMN, Feb. 9, 1865, p. 2-3.]