John M. Chivington Quotes


I am not authorized to make peace.


Context

Chivington led troops to attack hostile Indians. When they arrived at Sand Creek, the most militant young Indian men had left. The others did not want to fight, displayed white flags and wanted to negotiate. Chivington made his famous statement, attacked the Indians and massacred most of them including the ones who were trying to surrender with white flags. See {597566}.


Citations

John M. Chivington, 1821-1894, Protestant Clergyman and Colonel of the Colorado Volunteer Militia, Statement to William Brent

Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations

Linked Quotes

The officer who testified at the inquiry of the Sand Creek Massacre, Lieutenant Joseph Cramer, was murdered thereafter in Denver by a supporter of Chivington’s. Sand Creek’s Indians were mutilated even after death with breasts and scrotums cut off as souvenir tobacco pouches. Ironically, President Lincoln had med with some of the killed Cheyenne leaders at the White House the year before and his quotation presages those whites who would break treaty.


Related Quotes
John M. Chivington
John M. Chivington
  • Born: January 27, 1821
  • Died: October 4, 1894
  • Nationality:
  • Profession:

John Milton Chivington was an accused war criminal, American Methodist pastor and Mason who served as a colonel in the United States Volunteers during the New Mexico Campaign of the American Civil War. He led a rear action against a Confederate supply train in the Battle of Glorieta Pass, and was then appointed a colonel of cavalry during the Colorado War.