The Sand Creek Massacre - Essay Example

The Colorado troops marched from Denver and raided the Indian Territory, namely Sand Creek. This is an area where approximately five hundred Arapahoe and Cheyenne people are encamped.       
                               
The attack, which took place at down caught these communities by surprise and in an odd moment when most of the men were out hunting. However, the retaliation of Cheyanne for this attack only furthered the aggression from the side of U.S. troops. Unfortunately, since this was not an organized battlefield but rather an attack, the casualties were the weak in the society and not the fighters. The attack claimed the lives of about hundred and fifty Cheyennes and Arapahos. The majority were children, women, and elderly people – who were not in a position to defend themselves.
                                                                                                                       
The most disturbing thing in this attack is that the Cheyenne chiefs, Black Kettle and White Antelope had attempted to establish a peace treaty. For this reason, they flew an American flag as an indication of friendliness. The attack and the atrocities that followed including the mutilation of the dead bodies by the Colorado troops was an illegitimate military operation. What angers me most in this event is that such atrocities could take place while the American flag and a white flag symbolizing peace were flying high. In addition, there were no charges against Chivington and his companions despite reliable eyewitness accounts from survivors.