Where is Shoup?

[RMN, June 3, 1865, p. 3.]

Out-Vindicating the Vindicators

[RMN, Oct. 24, 1865.]

E. Scudder on the vindication tip.

Union Party Resolves to Denounce Sand Creek Haters

Here we see an early and particularly frenzied spasm in the campaign to restate and reshape the Sand Creek story, at the Union Party convention in Denver, October 16, 1865. As you can see, nothing less than the moral standing of America in the Christian world is at stake. According to Lamar, The Far Southwest, Stephen Decatur is the point-man behind this campaign.



[RMN, Oct. 17, 1865, p. 1.]

In the same issue, Chivington announces a candidacy for congress by telegram from Omaha. He and Evans had been removed from the Union party scene after Sand Creek came to light.

The Ponies

The Indian ponies were a primary focus of attention and a major source of controversy. Various factions among the soldiers connived to make off with sizable portions of the captured herd immediately after the massacre, the first attempt foiled by a do-gooder Lieutenant named Hewitt. Some or most of the Indian ponies may have been driven to a ranch north of Denver; many individual ponies were sold off by soldiers to ranchers along the road between Fort Lyon and Denver. (According to one source, one of these ponies went to Hersa Coberly.)

The profoundly bitter Capt. Soule as provost marshall spent a lot of energy trying to round up these horses, ostensibly on behalf of the US government, but mainly I think to deny the hundred days men any material gain from their campaign, which in his mind was illegitimate at the start and disgusting at the end. He was doing whatever he could do within his power. This effort to take back horses would have engendered a lot of resentment, especially as recruiting posters for the 3rd stated that soldiers would be entitled to any property taken from massacred Indians, including horses. That's to say nothing of the horses issued the 3rd before the massacre. The vast majority of those horses had not been returned by this time -- but the men had not been paid yet either.

The Rocky Mountain News, February 25, 1865 offered snidely:



And the ad in question:



[RMN, Feb. 25, 1865, p. 2]

Bar Kharma

Here's an inglorious scene. A few hundred Utes come to town in early spring 1865; some of them go 'bar-hopping' and are filled with joy at the sight of the scalps of their mortal enemies, and other 'trappings' of Sand Creek, decorating the bars of Denver.

[RMN, March 9, 1865, p. 3.]

April 14, 1865

There are several items of note on page 3 of the RMN for this date. The following bit on Major Downing and the military's inquiry into the Sand Creek Massacre restates Byers' familiar editorial position on the matter. The military hearings took place first in Denver, with Soule and others testifying in February, then re-adjourned at Fort Lyon on March 20.



Then there is this cutesy bit about the Soule marriage:




That's more typical local-boy-gets-married fare, but certainly awkward here considering the well-known positions of Captain Soule and the paper.

Then a few other items:





[RMN, April 14, 1865, p. 3.]

What's up with the Masons?