Three battles of Sand Creek : the Cheyenne massacre in blood, in court, and as the end of history / by Gregory F. Michno.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Michno, Gregory, 1948- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sand Creek Massacre, Colo., 1864.

Cheyenne Indians--Wars, 1864.

Cheyenne Indians.

Arapaho Indians--Wars.

Arapaho Indians.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (249 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

El Dorado Hills, California : Savas Beatie, 2017.

Summary:

TRANS-MISSISSIPPI THEATER BOOK OF THE YEAR (BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS) – CIVIL WAR BOOKS AND AUTHORSThe Sand Creek battle (or massacre) occurred on November 29-30, 1864, a confrontation between Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians and Colorado volunteer soldiers. The affair was a tragic event in American history, and what occurred there continues to be hotly contested. Indeed, labeling it a “battle” or a “massacre” will likely start an argument before any discussion on the merits begin. Even questions about who owns the story, or how it should be told, are up for debate.Three hearings were conducted about the Sand Creek affair, and there seems to be an overabundance of evidence from which to answer just about anything relating to the subject. Unfortunately, the available documentation only muddies the issues. Were the Indians peaceful? Did they hold white prisoners? Were they under army protection when the fighting took place? Were excessive numbers of women and children killed, and were bodies mutilated? Did the Indians fly an American flag? Did the chiefs die stoically in front of their tipis? Were white scalps found in the village? Gregory Michno candidly addresses these and other issues in The Three Battles of Sand Creek.The award-winning Indian Wars author divides his unique study into three sections. The first, “In Blood, ” details the events of November 29-30, 1864, in what is surely the most comprehensive account published to date. The second section, “In Court, ” focuses on the three investigations into the affair, illustrates some of the biases involved, and presents some of the contradictory testimony. The third and final section, “The End of History, ” demonstrates the utter impossibility of sorting fact from fiction. Using Sand Creek as well as contemporary examples, Michno examines the evidence of eyewitnesses—all of whom were subject to false memories, implanted memories, leading questions, prejudice, self-interest, motivated reasoning, social, cultural, and political mores, an overactive amygdala, and a brain that had a “mind” of its own—obstacles that make factual accuracy an illusion. Living in a postmodern world of relativism suggests that all history is subject to the fancies and foibles of individual bias. The example of Sand Creek illustrates why we may be witnessing what Michno calls “the end of history.”Michno’s extensive research includes primary and select secondary studies, including recollections, archival accounts, newspapers, diaries, and other original records. The Three Battles of Sand Creek will take its place as the definitive account of this previously misunderstood, and tragic, event.

Contents:

Part I. In blood

The road to Sand Creek

Camp Weld Conference

The march to Fort Lyon

The last night of peace

The approach

Flags and friendlies

A battle

A massacre

Scalp dance

Night of phantoms

Death of Jack Smith

Aftermath

Part II. In court

Denver Military Commission

Joint Committee in Washington

Doolittle's Committee

Conflicting testimony

Battle or massacre? The fallacy of the false dichotomy

Part III. The end of history

Eyewitness testimony

False memories

Leading questions

Trauma and memory

Memory alteration and cognitive dissonance

Don't confuse me with the facts

Oral history

Memories of three Sand Creek witnesses: Bent, Chivington, and Soule

Ghosts busted at Sand Creek

Postmodernism

The end of history.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781611213126

1611213126