Hello
I agree with your statements about Sand Creek. Indians had white hostages (two boys) and goods from settlements in their village. They WERE guilty. They weren’t innocent, peaceful people as we say today.
However, Chivington fire the cannon and openly said that he wanted scalps (his troops took 100 of them). The legitimate attack turned into a bloodbath.
But the attack itself was legitimate.
In the book THE INDIAN WAR OF 1864 by WARE he states that the troops under his command were elated when they heard Chivington claim his troops killed 600.
They were not happy when they found it was only about 100.
Interesting note, Chivington NEVER backed down about Sand Creek. Many years later he spoke to a crowd at a gathering celebrating Colorado’s founding. When he said the words,”I STAND BY SAND CREEK!” the crowd went wild with applause.
How many remember that it was this same Chivington who turned the tide at the battle of Glorietta Pass when his men attacked the rear train of advancing Confederate forces forcing a retreat.