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Show BATTLE OF SAND CREEK. 87 This unnerved him; he pleaded for his life, and promised to lead the soldiers to his camp. The terms were agreed upon, and in the shortest possible time the command was moving, with Spotted Horse strapped on a horse in advance. They camped that night in a little ravine, and the chief informed them that his warriors were only a few miles ahead, up the canon that they were approaching. About eleven o'clock at night the Major and his command stole away, leaving the camp fires burning to make the Indian scouts believe that they were still there. Reaching the spot designated by Spotted Horse, early in the morning, the order was given to halt and form in line of battle. At a given signal he opened fire. The Indians made a bold resistance, but finally surrendered. This was the first Indian battle in Colorado^and the result was, forty killed and one hundred wounded, their village destroyed and their chief a prisoner. Spotted Horse was sent to Washington, and afterwards went to Europe with a showman, where he was gazed upon by thousands as a fine specimen of the North American Indian. Peace was restored along the Platte, and Major Downing sustained the loss of only one man. CHAPTER XX BATTLE OF SAND CREEK. During this excitement the Third Regiment was enlisted to serve for a period of one hundred days in a campaign against the Indians. "I saw the mounting of that |
