Black Kettle
Quick Summary
Black Kettle was a Cheyenne chief who sought peace with the U.S. government. Despite his efforts, his people were attacked by U.S. troops under Colonel John M. Chivington in the Sand Creek Massacre on November 29, 1864. The camp, flying a white flag of truce, was attacked, resulting in the deaths of over 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho individuals, including many women and children. This event was a major cause of the subsequent Arapaho-Cheyenne war and had a significant impact on the Plains Wars of the following decade. Black Kettle was later killed in another attack by U.S. forces in 1868.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
Sand Creek Massacre…army and the Indigenous peoples, Black Kettle, White Antelope, and some 30 other Cheyenne and Arapaho chiefs and leaders had brought their people, as “Friendly Indians of the Plains,” to the site along the Sand Creek near Fort Lyon in accordance with instructions issued by Colorado Territorial Gov. John Evans…
Read More…army and the Indigenous peoples, Black Kettle, White Antelope, and some 30 other Cheyenne and Arapaho chiefs and leaders had brought their people, as “Friendly Indians of the Plains,” to the site along the Sand Creek near Fort Lyon in accordance with instructions issued by Colorado Territorial Gov. John Evans…
Read More
Plains WarsThe Civil War on the Plains…Cheyenne and Arapaho followers of Black Kettle, who was known to be attempting to make peace. Swearing, according to a fellow officer, to “damn any man that was in sympathy with Indians,” Chivington and his Colorado volunteers swept into the village just after sunup on November 29. They slaughtered between…
Read More…Cheyenne and Arapaho followers of Black Kettle, who was known to be attempting to make peace. Swearing, according to a fellow officer, to “damn any man that was in sympathy with Indians,” Chivington and his Colorado volunteers swept into the village just after sunup on November 29. They slaughtered between…
Read More