1st Colorado Cavalry

1st Colorado Cavalry

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Colorado Volunteer Cavalry Regiment


caption=Flag of Colorado
dates= 1862 to
country= United States
allegiance= Union
branch= Cavalry
equipment=
battles=
The 1st Colorado Cavalry was formed in 1862 by Territorial Governor John Evans, composed mostly of members of the 1st Colorado Infantry and of C and D Companies of the 2nd Colorado Infantry. It was formed both to protect Colorado against incursions from the Confederate forces and to fight the Native Americans who already inhabited the area.

Command of this unit was given Colonel John Chivington, who had apparently legitimately distinguished himself at the Battle of Glorietta Pass in the New Mexico Territory early in 1862, against Confederate forces.

The 1st Colorado Cavalry would go on under Chivington to perpetrate one of the most shameful slaughters of American Indians in history, the Sand Creek Massacre.

and Creek Massacre

In early 1864, the 1st Colorado Veteran Volunteers (aka the Veterans Battalion) appears to have initiated the Colorado War by attacking Cheyenne Indians at Fremont's Orchard. The resulting hostilities and Indian retaliations brought traffic on the wagon trails into Denver to a standstill.

Peace negotiations were in progress, and encampments of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians on Sand Creek had been assured by the US Government that they would not be attacked.

Instead, in what is known as the Sand Creek Massacre, Chivington and his troops struck in November 1864, a dawn attack that massacred an estimated one-quarter of the Indian encampments, mostly old men, women, and children. Body parts were taken as souvenirs and this event was the basis of the slaughter of an Indian village in the movies Soldier Blue and Little Big Man.

Initial reports of the battle were taken as a victory in the US, but as details came out, opinions changed. A subsequent Congressional investigation resulted in a scorching castigation of the event, Colonel John Chivington, and the 1st Colorado Cavalry.

ee also

*Sand Creek Massacre


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 1st Colorado Infantry — Infobox Military Unit unit name= 1st Colorado Volunteer Infantry Regiment caption=Flag of Colorado dates= 1861 to 1862 country= United States allegiance= Union branch= Infantry equipment= battles= Battle of Glorieta Pass Battle of PeraltaThe 1st… …   Wikipedia

  • Third Colorado Cavalry — In response to numerous depredations by the Cheyenne and Arapaho, especially the Hungate massacre and the public display in Denver of the mutilated victims, Governor John Evans received authorization from the War Department in Washington for the… …   Wikipedia

  • 1st Cavalry — is a designation for cavalry units* 1st Cavalry Army * 1st Cavalry Division * 1st Cavalry Brigade * 1st Cavalry Regiment* 1st Cavalry Army (Soviet Union)* 1st Battalion, Georgia Cavalry* 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (United… …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado in the American Civil War — Union States in the American Civil War California Connecticut Illinois Indiana Iowa …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado War — Part of the American Indian Wars, Sioux Wars …   Wikipedia

  • Cavalry (United States) — Infobox Military Unit unit name= United States Army: Cavalry caption=Captain Charles A. May s squadron of the 2d Dragoons slashed through the enemy lines in an attack that climaxed the opening campaigns of the Mexican War. 2,500 American soldiers …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado Ice — Founded 2006 League UIF (2007 2008) IFL (2009 Present) Team history Colorado I …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado Crossover — Founded 2005 League IBL 2005 2007 Team history Colorado Crossover …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado Army National Guard — Seal of the Army National Guard Active 1903 present Country United States Alleg …   Wikipedia

  • 1st Cavalry Regiment (United States) — Infobox Military Unit unit name=1st Cavalry Regiment caption=1st Cavalry distinctive unit insignia dates= 2 March, 1833 24 April 2007 country=USA branch=Regular Army type=Cavalry for much of its existence role= size= command structure= current… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”