The Indians of the Pike's Peak Region Including an Account of the Battle of Sand Creek, and of Occurrences in El Paso County, Colorado, during the War with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, in 1864 and 1868

The book offers a detailed look at the Native peoples who once roamed the Pike's Peak region, blending early explorer reports with the author's own observations from countless journeys across the plains in the 1860s. Rich illustrations accompany descriptions of trails, mineral springs, and the game that sustained both Indigenous communities and settlers. By grounding the narrative in first‑hand experience, the author paints a vivid picture of a landscape on the brink of dramatic change.

The core of the work centers on the turbulent years of 1864 and 1868, when conflict erupted between the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and the growing white settlements in El Paso County. Drawing on personal participation in the Battle of Sand Creek and extensive testimony from local witnesses, the author presents a defense of the controversial engagement, aiming to set the record straight. Readers gain insight into the motivations, strategies, and everyday realities of both sides before the war’s later developments unfold.