WITH reference to LD Harding’s letter,( HAS, May 24), I never saw the film Soldier Blue but read about the incident that inspired it in Dee Brown’s book about the native American wars, Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.
The action was led by Colonel Chivington and the Colorado Volunteers, who attacked a peaceful Cheyenne camp under the chief Black Kettle at Sand Creek.
Chivington’s infamous orders were “kill em all, nits make lice”.
Soldiers even used Indian babies for target practice.
Chief Black Kettle was one of the few survivors, but suffered a similar fate some years later when, in charge of another peaceful winter camp on the Washita River, his people were attacked and massacred by the 7th cavalry under General Custer, who received his just deserts some 10 or 12 years later at Little Big Horn.
M Walton, Richmond.
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