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Third Colorado Cavalry
COLORADO
(100 DAYS)

Third Colorado Cavalry. -- Col., George L. Shoup; Lieut.-Col., 
Leavitt L. Bowen; Majs., William F. Wilder, Samuel M. Logan, 
Hal Sayr.

This regiment was organized at Denver from Aug. 20 to Sept. 
21, 1864, to serve for 100 days, and was mustered out Dec. 28 
to 31, 1864, on the expiration of its term.  With the 
exception of the engagement fought with the Cheyenne and 
Arapahoe Indians at Sand creek, Col., it had no opportunity to 
distinguish itself in battle.

All the mounted men of the regiment, numbering about 450 under 
command of Col. Shoup, were ordered by Col. Chivington of the 
1st Col. to proceed to Fort Lyon as part of an expedition he 
had planned against a body of hostile Indians encamped not far 
from that post.  The remainder of Chivington's force consisted 
of Wilson's and Anthony's battalions of the 1st Col. cavalry 
the whole numbering some 1,000 men.

Says Col. Chivington in his official report of the engagement: 
"Of the conduct of the 3rd regiment 100-days service, I have 
to say that they well sustained the reputation of our Colorado 
troops for bravery and effectiveness, were well commanded by 
their gallant young colonel, George L. Shoup, ably assisted by 
Lieut.Col. L. L. Bowen, Maj. Hal Sayr, and Capt. Theodore G. 
Cree, commanding 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions of that 
regiment."

The camp of the Indians, consisting of about 130 lodges, was 
located on Sand Creek, about 40 miles north of Fort Lyon.  
After a forced march from the fort the troops surprised them 
on the morning of Nov. 29, 1864, and after a fierce battle in 
which desperate bravery was displayed on both sides, the 
Indians were routed with great slaughter.

Col. Shoup, in his official report of the engagements says: "I 
dismounted my men and fought them for some time on foot.  At 
this point Capt. Talbot of Co. M fell severely wounded while 
bravely leading his men in a charge on a body of Indians who 
had taken refuge under the banks on the north side of the 
creek.  Here a terrible hand-to-hand encounter ensued between 
the Indians and Talbot's men and others who had rushed forward 
to their aid, the Indians trying to secure the scalp of Capt. 
Talbot.

I think the hardest fighting of the day occurred at this 
point, some of our men fighting with clubbed muskets, the 1st 
and 3rd Col. regiments fighting side by side, each trying to 
excel in bravery and each ambitious to kill at least one 
Indian.  Many valuable lives of officers and men were saved by 
others just as the fatal knife was raised to perform its work 
of death."

The loss of the 3rd in this engagement was 9 men killed, 44 
wounded and 1 missing. Among the wounded were Capt. Talbot and 
Lieut. Hawley.

Source:  The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 452

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  APRIL 11, 1863.--Skirmish near Squirrel Creek Crossing, Colo.

  Report of Lieut. Col. George L. Shoup, Third Colorado Cavalry.
  This line should read Report of Lieut. George L. Shoup, Colorado Volunteers.
  Correction from General Index.

  SQUIRREL CREEK CROSSING, COLO.,
  April 11, 1863.
  SIR: I have the honor to report that at daylight this morning I surprised
  and captured a small of guerrillas. The loss of the guerrilla band is 1
  man killed and 2 taken prisoners; one of the prisoners is shot through
  the leg. They (the guerrillas)were in camp about 10 miles east of this
  place. I have no clew to the whereabouts of other desperadoes.

  I left Pueblo the day after the detachment that you ordered to Colorado
  City. I went direct to Colorado City. I there learned that the detachment
  had taken the Cherry Creek road. I left Colorado City yesterday
  morning. Procured Mr. Templeton (about 12 m.) as guide. Found the
  detachments s Smith's saw-mill. Left there at 4 p. m., and arrived here
  about dark. Soon after dark, I discovered a camp-fire, that I supposed
  to be near by. I detailed Sergeant Rigsby and 4 others to reconnoiter the
  camp. Sergeant Rigsby and party returned about 12 o'clock at night. He
  reported the camp to be 10 miles distant. He saw in camp 1 man and 2
  mules. He saw other camp-fired beyond, but did not visit them.

  I took Sergeant Rigsby, Corporal Wood, and 9 others, and rode rapidly
  to and passed the camp visited in the forepart of the night by Sergeant
  Rigsby. Finding a good place to leave my horses, I took 3 men with me;
  visited the other fires, but found them to be burning logs that had taken
  fire from the burning prairie. I then returned to the camp visited by
  Sergeant Rigsby, and made a reconnaissance myself. I could tell nothing
  of their number. Their position was a good one, among large rocks, in
  a canon. Day was breaking, and I decided to charge their camp from
  below and above, that there might be no chance for them to escape.

  The charge was made with the result above stated. I asked them
  who they were, and demanded them three different times to surrender.
  I did not fire on them until one of them raised his gun on Sergeant
  Rigsby. William Waggle was killed; John Rily shot through the leg;
  William Way is a prisoner.

  You will be generous enough to overlook this soiled letter, the only
  piece of paper that I could procure. I will take the prisoners to Colorado
  City, and there await your orders.

  I am, colonel, truly, your obedient servant,

  G. L. SHOUP,
  Lieut.-Col. of Volunteers.   

  Col. J. M. CHIVINGTON,
  Cmdg. District of Colorado.


  Source:  Official Records
  PAGE 249-32   MO., ARK., KANS., IND. T., AND DEPT. N. W.   [CHAP. XXXIV.
  [Series I. Vol. 22. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 32.]


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  Report of Col. George L. Shoup, Third Colorado Cavalry.

  HDQRS. THIRD COLORADO CAVALRY,
  In the Field, December 7, 1864.
  DEAR SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by my regiment,
  Third Colorado Cavalry, in the engagement with the Indians on Sand
  Creek, forty miles north of Fort Lyon, Colo. Ter., November 29, 1864:

  I brought my regiment into action at sunrise. The first order given was
  to Capt. John McCannon, Company I, to cut off the Indians from
  their ponies on the south side of the village. This order was obeyed with
  great celerity and success. Capt. McCannon captured about 200 ponies
  at the first dash, but being closely pressed by hundreds of Indians sent
  the ponies to the rear and opened a terrible and withering fire on the
  Indians, completely checking them, killing many and causing them to
  retreat up Sand Creek. Capt. O. H. P. Baxter, with his company (G),
  was sent to re-enforce Capt. McCannon. The two companies then
  fought the Indians up the south side of the creek for about two miles. At
  this point many of the Indians took refuge in the banks of the creek,
  where they had prepared rifle-pits. Capt. McCannon, with his
  company, remained at this place until late in the afternoon and was the
  last to leave the field of battle. His brave company killed 26 Indians in
  one pit and must have killed 50 or more during the engagement.
  Company C, led by Capt. Baxter and Lieut. Templeton, pursued
  the demoralized and flying savages to the south and west, killing upward
  of 20 Indians. Lieut. W. E. Grinnell, with a detachment of
  twenty-one men of Company K, fought during part of the engagement
  on the southwest side of the battle-field. This brave little detachment
  deserve honorable mention for their gallant conduct on the field. They
  lost one-fifth of their men in killed and wounded. At the opening of the
  engagement I led about 400 of my men up the north side of the creek
  and engaged the main body of the Indians, who were retreating to the
  west. I dismounted my men and fought them for some time on foot. At
  this point Capt. Talbot, of Company M, fell severely wounded while
  bravely leading his men in a charge on a body of Indians who had taken
  refuge under the banks on the north side of the creek. Here a terrible
  hand-to-hand encounter ensued between the Indians and Capt. Talbot's
  men and others who had rushed forward to their aid, the Indians trying
  to secure the scalp of Capt. Talbot. I think the hardest fighting of the
  day occurred at this point, some of our men fighting with clubbed
  muskets, the First and Third Colorado Regiments fighting side by side,
  each trying to excel in bravery and each ambitious to kill at least one
  Indian. Many valuable lives of officers and men were saved by the
  bravery of others just as the fatal knife was raised to perform its work
  of death.

  Early in the engagement Capt. Nichols, with his company (D),
  pursued a band of Indians that were trying to escape to the northeast. He
  overtook and punished them severely, killing 25 or 30 and capturing
  some ponies. Other companies of my regiment fought with zeal and
  bravery, but after 10 a. m. the battle became so general and covered so
  wide a field that it became necessary to divide my command into small
  detachments, sending them in all directions to pursue the flying Indians.
  I am told by my officers and men that some of their comrades engaged
  the Indians in close combat. I am satisfied from my own observation
  that the historian will search in vain for braver deeds than were
  committed on that field of battle. My loss is 9 men killed, 1 missing,
  supposed to be killed, and 44 wounded. Capt. Presley Talbot and
  Lieut. C. H. Hawley are the only officers wounded of my
  regiment, Capt. Talbot in left side and Lieut. Hawley in shoulder.

  Inclosed herewith you will find copy of the reports of my battalion
  commanders to me.

  All of which is most respectfully submitted.

  I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,

  GEO. L. SHOUP,
  Col. Third Colorado Cavalry.

  Col. J. M. CHIVINGTON,
  Cmdg. District of Colorado.

  -----------


  Report of Lieut. Col. Leavitt L. Bowen, Third
  Colorado Cavalry.

  SAND CREEK, November 30, 1864.
  SIR: I have the honor to inclose to you the reports of the company
  commanders of the First Battalion, commanded by myself, in the action
  of yesterday. I fully indorse all contained in those reports. All behaved
  well, each vying with the other as to who could do the enemy the most
  injury. This, I think, can truly be said of the whole regiment. I was in
  position during the action to see most of the regiment, and did not see
  one coward. Permit me to congratulate you upon the signal punishment
  meted out to the savages on yesterday, "who so ruthlessly have
  murdered our women and children," in the language of the colonel
  commanding, although I regret the loss of so many brave men. The
  Third Regt. cannot any longer be called in Denver the bloodless
  Third. From the most reliable information from actual count and
  positions occupied I have no doubt that at least 150 Indians were killed
  by my battalion. I cannot speak in terms of too high praise of the
  conduct of all the officers and men under my command. The war flag
  of this band of Cheyennes is in my possession, presented by Stephen D.
  Decatur, commissary sergeant, Company C, who acted as my battalion
  adjutant.

  Very respectfully,

  LEAVITT L. BOWEN,
  Lieut. Col. Third Colorado Cavalry, Cmdg. First Battalion.

  Col. GEORGE L. SHOUP,
  Cmdg. Third Regt. Colorado Cavalry.

  -----------


  Report of Maj. Hal Sayr, Third Colorado Cavalry.

  CAMP, December 6, 1864.
  SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken
  by my battalion in the action of November 29, on Sand Creek:

  Battalion consisted of Company B, Capt. H. M. Orahood, First
  Lieut. Charles H. Hawley, Second Lieut. Harry Richmond,
  and 64 men; Company I,  
  Capt. John McCannon, First Lieut. Thomas J. Davis, and 53
  men; Company G, Capt. O. H. P. Baxter, Second Lieut. A. J.
  Templeton, and 40 men; Company K, Lieut. W. E. Grinnell, and
  21 men, making a total of 178 men. Company I was sent at the
  beginning of the action to the west of the field, where they remained
  during the day; much of the time sustaining a heavy fire from the
  enemy, who were secreted under a high bank on south side of Sand
  Creek. This company did good service in preventing the escape of the
  Indians to the west. Companies B, G, and K moved across the creek and
  went into the action on the north side of the creek and west of the Indian
  town, where they remained for several hours, doing good service while
  under a heavy fire from the enemy who were concealed in rifle-pits in
  the bed of the creek. The action became general and lasted from 6.30
  a. m. until 1 p. m., when the companies divided into small squads and
  went in pursuit of the Indians, who were now flying in every direction
  across the prairies, and were pursued until dark. Both officers and men
  conducted themselves bravely. The number of Indiana killed by the
  battalion, as estimated by company commanders, is about 175 to 200.

  Casualties: Company B, Lieut. Hawley wounded in shoulder;
  Private Manion wounded in thigh. Company I, 3 killed, 3 wounded.
  Company G, none killed or wounded. Company K, 2 killed and 2
  wounded; making a total of 5 killed and 7 wounded.

  Hoping the above will meet your approval, I am, colonel, very
  respectfully, &c.,

  HAL SAYR,
  Maj., Cmdg. Second Batt., Third Colorado Cavalry.

  Col. GEORGE L. SHOUP,
  Cmdg. Third Colorado Cavalry.

  -----------



  Report of Capt. Theodore G. Cree, Third Colorado Cavalry.

  CAMP SKEDADDLE, December 6, 1864.
  SIR: I have the honor to report to you the part taken by the Third
  Battalion in the fight of the 29th November. They first formed on the
  left of the regiment in the rear of the village; then moved upon the right
  bank of the creek near one-half mile; then dismounted and fought the
  redskins about one hour, where the boys behaved like veterans. After
  finding that we had done all the good that we could do there, I moved
  Companies D and E (Company F having gone with Col. Bowen's
  battalion) and moved to the right across the hill for the purpose of
  killing Indians that were making their escape to the right of the
  command in which movement we succeeded in killing many. I then
  made a detail from Company D of fifteen men and sent them to capture
  twenty ponies, which I could see some four miles to the right of the
  village, but before they had reached the ponies some twenty Indians
  attached them, when a fierce fight ensued, in which Private McFarland
  was killed in a hand-to-hand engagement. But like true soldiers the boys
  stood their ground, killing 5 Indians and wounding several others. The
  Indians finding it rather warm to be healthy, they left. The boys pursued
  them some eight or ten miles, and finding that they could [not] overtake
  them [returned], bringing with them the ponies they were sent for. I
  then returned with them to the 
  village to take care of the killed and wounded companions. Company E
  lost 1 killed and 1 wounded; Company F, 1 wounded; Company D, 2
  killed and 1 wounded.

  As for the bravery displayed by any one in particular, I have no
  distinction to make. All I can say for officers and men is that they all
  behaved well and won for themselves a name that will be remembered
  for ages to come. The number of Indians killed by my battalion is 60.

  I am, colonel, yours, truly,

  T. G. CREE,
  Capt., Cmdg. Third Batt., Third Colorado Cav.

  Col. GEORGE L. SHOUP.

Source:  Official Records
  CHAP. LIII.]   ENGAGEMENT ON SAND CREEK, COLO. TER.   PAGE 956-83
  [Series I. Vol. 41. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 83.]



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