25. The true story of Silas Soule is often merged with myth
Much of the story of Silas Soule is sprinkled with undocumented assertions, such as tales regarding his activities during the period known as Bloody Kansas. The Kansas frontier was the scene of repeated murders, thefts, rapine, arson, and other crimes by both sides. Soule was part of them throughout the period. He also attempted to help free a man held by the Commonwealth of Virginia for multiple murders, which he freely admitted. Although he did oppose the slaughter at Sand Creek, he voiced his opposition to his fellow officers, not to Chivington, who commanded them.
His testimony at the Military Court – which can be read online – focused more on malfeasance committed by Chivington, than a description of the massacre itself, and he specifically stated in his testimony that he had not seen any scalping, though he had seen men carrying scalps. Nor does his testimony contain a reference to his ordering his men not to shoot during the assault, as many tributes to Soule attest. He is one of many to emerge from the Kansas – Missouri border wars (the James brothers were others) to become mythical in the American west, though Soule lacked the characterizations of dime novels and magazines to make him famous.
Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Avenging Angel: John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry 1859”. Ron Field. 2012
“The Father of American Terrorism”. Ken Chowder, American Heritage Magazine. February/March, 2000
“Sibley’s New Mexico Campaign”. Martin Hall. 2000
“Cheyenne War: Indian Raids on the Roads to Denver, 1864-1869”. Jeff Broome. 2013
“The Contested Plains: Indians, Goldseekers, and the Rush to Colorado”. Elliot West. 1998
“On History: Silas Soule’s heroism officially recognized”. Broomfield Enterprise. Online
“Condition of the Indian Tribes”. Report of the United States Congress. 1867