Colorado War

The Colorado War is fought from 1863 to 1865 and is an Indian War pitting the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes against white settlers and militia in the Colorado Territory and adjacent regions.

The Kiowa and the Comanche play a minor role in actions that occur in the southern part of the Territory along the Arkansas River, while the Sioux play a major role in actions that occur along the South Platte River along the Great Platte River Road, the eastern portion of the Overland Trail.

The United States government and Colorado Territory authorities participate through the Colorado volunteers, a citizens militia, while the United States Army plays a minor role.

The war is centered on the Colorado Eastern Plains.The war includes a particularly barbaric attack in November 1864 against the winter camp of the Southern Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle known as the Sand Creek massacre.

The battle, initially hailed in the United States press as a great victory, is later publicly condemned as an act of depraved genocidal brutality.

The massacre results in military and congressional hearings that establish the culpability of John Chivington, the commander of the Colorado Volunteers, and his troops.

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