Mr. Sedivy's
History Classes:

More Features:

- Colorado History -
Colorado's Role in the US Civil War

Fort Weld

New uniforms and rifles from Fort Laramie Regiment needed a home, so Fort Weld was built two miles north of Denver (down stream). The Fort became an intricate part of life in Denver.

Camp Weld, Colorado Territory.

Drawing of Fort Weld as it appeared during the 1860s

In September 1864, Black Kettle and six other Cheyenne chiefs came to Fort Weld wanting to talk peace. They brought four white captives they had ransomed from other bands as evidence of their good faith.

An American flag (blurred by the camera's slow shutter speed) marks the wagon that Arapaho and Cheyenne chiefs, including Black Kettle, ride into Camp Weld in September 1864.

Black Kettle told the fort's commander:
"We have come with our eyes shut ... like coming through the fire. All we ask is that we may have peace with the whites; we want to hold you by the hand. You are our father; we have been traveling through a cloud; the sky has been dark ever since the war began.... I want you to give all the chiefs of the soldiers here to understand that we are for peace, and that we have made peace, that we may not ge mistaken for enemies."

Peace talks at Fort Weld. Major Edward W. Wynkoop kneels at the feet of Black Kettle.

At the time, war seemed to have been averted. However, this did not fit well with the war plans of Evans and Chivington. Colonel John M. Chivington was characterized by a contemporary as "a crazy preacher who thinks he is Napoleon Bonaparte."

Sand Creek

(Mr. Sedivy lectures extensively about the events at Sand Creek, however those notes are not available online at this time.)

Kiowa and Cheyenne leaders gather in the conservatory of the Executive Mansion in
Washington March 27, 1863 to be photographed with Mary Todd Lincoln (standing, far right).

The four Cheyenne leaders seated in the front row all had less than eighteen months to live. Yellow Wolf (right) would be shot down by regulars as he protested his peaceful intentions; War Bonnet (far left) and Standing in the Water were killed by Colorado Volunteers at Sand Creek.

Sand Creek Massacre. In this painting of the massacre of Southern Cheyennes at Sand Creek by Chivington's men, the white flag of truce hangs below the American flag.

Colorado's Role in the US Civil War:
| The Civil War, Fort Wise / Fort Lyon |
| Mace's Hole, Colonel Canby, F.C.V.R. | Fort Weld |
| The Pet Lambs, John Chivington |
| General Henry Sibly, Battle of Valverde, Fort Union |

Back to the top of page

- Colorado History In Depth -
Lecture Notes, Reading, and Information:

| The Cheyenne Migration to Colorado |
| The Gratlan Affair, Massacre, Fort Laramie Treaty |

The Cheyenne Social Club
| A Cheyenne War Story: Wolf Road, the Runner |
| Cheyenne Traditions and Beliefs, Sacred Stories |
| Horses, Warriors, War Pipe, Sweatlodge Ceremony |
| Cheyenne War Parties and Battle Tactics |
| The Scalp Dance and Other Cheyenne Dances |

Fort Union
| The Sante Fe Trail and Fort Union |
| Sumner - Ninth Military Department / The First Fort Union |
| Early Arrivals to Fort Union, Daily Life at Fort Union |
| Captain Grover - The New Fort Union, the Confederate Threat |
| Fort Union Arsenal, William Shoemaker, End of Fort Union |

Americans from the East
| Thomas Jefferson, the Louisiana Purchase |
| The Expedition of Zebulon Pike |
| Pikes Peak or Bust / Colorado Gold Rush |

Cripple Creek District Labor Strikes
| The Western Federation of Miners / State Militia |
| The 1893 - 1894 Strike | The Strike of 1903 - 1904 |
| The Mine Owners Association |
| Crimes and Military Rule in the Cripple Creek District |
| Marshall Law in Cripple Creek District / End of the Strike |
Early Cripple Creek District
| Photos, Fire, and Life in Cripple Creek |
| Other Colorful Towns in the Cripple Creek District:
Gillett - Colorado's Only Bullfight, Victor, Independence |
| A Guide to the Miners' Gritty Lingo |

More Colorado History Information
| Bent's Fort Photos, Personalities, Plans, and More |
| What Was Easter Like at Bent's Fort? |
| Colorado Trivia, Miscellaneous Old Photos,
Western Personalities, Forts, and More |
| Lullabies for Jittery Cows - Cowboy Ballads |
| Heraldry of the Branding Iron |
| Project Aims to Clear Infamous Cannibal, Alferd Packer |
| Lead Gives Alferd Packer's Story More Weight |
| Legendary Colorado Love Stories: Baby Doe Tabor & More |
| Colorado Pioneer Women: Elizabeth Byers |
| Early Denver Jokes / The History of April Fools' Day |

Back to the top of page