Captain Silas Soule of the 1st Colorado Cavalry made a decision in November 1864 that cost him his life: he refused orders to participate in the Sand Creek Massacre and later testified against his commanding officer. According to historical records maintained by the National Park Service, Soule’s refusal to fire on a peaceful camp of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians stands as a rare act of military conscience during one of the darkest chapters of the American Indian Wars.
The Refusal at Sand Creek
On November 29, 1864, roughly 675 volunteer soldiers under the command of Colonel John Chivington attacked a village of peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho along Sand Creek in southeastern Colorado Territory. According to the Colorado Encyclopedia, the encampment flew both an American flag and a white flag of truce, assurances given by U.S. military authorities at Fort Lyon. Despite these protections, Chivington ordered his men to slaughter the inhabitants, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 150 to 230 Native Americans, mostly women, children, and elderly people.
When the 1st Colorado Cavalry arrived at the village, Captain Silas Soule ordered the men of Company D under his direct command to hold their fire. According to letters Soule later wrote to Major Edward Wynkoop, he threatened to shoot any of his own troopers who disobeyed his command to stand down. While the rest of Chivington’s force engaged in the multi-hour mutilation and killing of the villagers, Soule’s company watched without firing a single shot.
Testimony and Military Investigation
Soule did not keep silent about the atrocities committed at Sand Creek. In a detailed letter to Major Wynkoop, written on December 14, 1864, Soule described the carnage, stating that it was “hard to see children on their knees begging for their lives only to be shot down.” According to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, Soule’s documentation and subsequent willingness to testify proved instrumental in launching official military and congressional investigations.
In early 1865, a military commission convened in Denver to investigate Colonel Chivington. Soule traveled to Denver to testify against his former commander, detailing the unprovoked nature of the attack and the explicit orders Chivington gave to take no prisoners. Chivington defended his actions by claiming the camp was hostile, but the congressional committees and military hearings ultimately condemned the massacre as a cowardly and cold-blooded slaughter.
Assassination in Denver
Soule’s testimony made him a target among pro-war elements in Colorado Territory who supported Chivington’s actions. According to historical accounts documented by the Colorado Historical Society, Soule had recently married Hersa Coberly in Denver on March 2, 1865. Just weeks later, on the night of April 23, 1865, Soule was walking near the intersection of 15th and Lawrence streets in downtown Denver when he was ambushed and shot.
Historians note that Charles Squires, a former soldier from the 2nd Colorado Cavalry and an associate of Chivington’s supporters, was implicated in the murder. Although Squires was arrested, he managed to flee the territory before facing trial, and no one else was ever legally held accountable for Soule’s assassination. Soule was just 26 years old at the time of his death.
Legacy and Historical Recognition
Decades after his death, Silas Soule’s actions received formal recognition from government and historical institutions. In 2009, the Denver City Council dedicated a plaque in his honor near the site of his assassination, recognizing his moral courage. The National Park Service includes Soule’s letters and accounts as foundational primary sources in preserving the history of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, ensuring that his refusal to participate in the atrocity remains part of the historical record.
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