Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast Episode 403 - The Sand Creek Massacre
Mar 2, 2026
A brutal 1864 assault on a Cheyenne camp and the broken treaties that led there. Political ambition and inflammatory orders fueled settler militias. Moral courage and whistleblowing exposed cover ups and triggered a congressional inquiry. The massacre reshaped Plains resistance, ruined reputations, and left lasting debates over memory and honors.
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Treaties Were Coercive Tools Not Protections
- Treaties like Fort Laramie (1851) promised passage rights and supplies but were coercive and backed by military threat.
- Joe notes the government repeatedly broke treaties, using bribed chiefs to claim legal consent while ignoring tribal governance.
Cheyenne Political Structure Undermined By U.S. Diplomacy
- Cheyenne governance split power between the Council of 44 and military societies, so one chief's signature didn't represent the tribe.
- Joe highlights BIA agents bribed minority chiefs to fabricate consent while the Council refused the treaty.
Weinkoop Broke Orders To Broker Peace
- Major Ned Weinkoop befriended Chief Black Kettle and negotiated releases, then arranged for Black Kettle to camp near Sand Creek under assurances of safety.
- Joe recounts Weinkoop lost command for negotiating but convinced Black Kettle to trust the U.S. flag and wait for talks.
