Mochi's War: The Tragedy of Sand Creek

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.; As with many incidents in American history, the victors wrote the first version of history - turning the tragedy of the Sand Creek Massacre into a heroic feat by the Colorado militia tasked with moving the Cheyenne onto reservations. The truth of those events has made Colonel John Chivington's name infamous in Colorado and American history, and this dramatic and poignant reflection on the events leading to the tragic events of the massacre and the ensuing years of violence offers new perspectives with the hindsight of more than a century and a half of repercussions by telling the story of one of the women, a Cheyenne named Mochi, who became swept up in the cycle of war and vengeance that ensued. Biographical Note: Chris Enssis an award-winning screen writer who has written for television, short subject films, live performances, and for the movies, and is the author or co-author of numerous books, includingThe Death Row All Stars soon to be a motion picture with Howard Kazanjian. Howard Kazanjian is an award-winning producer and entertainment executive who has been producing feature films and television programs for more than twenty-five years. While vice president of production for Lucasfilm Ltd., he produced two of the highest grossing films of all time."Publisher Marketing: Colorado Territory in 1864 wasn't merely the wild west, it was a land in limbo while the Civil War raged in the east and politics swirled around its potential admission to the union. The territorial governor, John Evans, had ambitions on the national stage should statehood occur--and he was joined in those ambitions by a local pastor and erstwhile Colonel in the Colorado militia, John Chivington. The decision was made to take a hard line stance against any Native Americans who refused to settle on reservations--and in the fall of 1864, Chivington set his sights on a small band of Cheyenne under the chief Black Eagle, camped and preparing for the winter at Sand Creek. When the order to fire on the camp came on November 28, one officer refused, other soldiers in Chivington's force, however, immediately attacked the village, disregarding the American flag, and a white flag of surrender that was run up shortly after the soldiers commenced firing. In the ensuing "battle" fifteen members of the assembled militias were killed and more than 50 wounded Between 150 and 200 of Black Kettle s Cheyenne were estimated killed, nearly all elderly men, women and children. As with many incidents in American history, the victors wrote the first version of history--turning the massacre into a heroic feat by the troops. Soon thereafter, however, Congress began an investigation into Chivington's actions and he was roundly condemned. His name still rings with infamy in Colorado and American history. Mochi s War explores this story and its repercussions into the last part of the nineteenth Century from the perspective of a Cheyenne woman whose determination swept her into some of the most dramatic and heartbreaking moments in the conflicts that grew through the West in the aftermath of Sand Creek." Review Citations:

Library Journal 05/15/2015 pg. 91 (EAN 9780762760770, Paperback) - *Starred Review

Contributor Bio:  Enss, Chris Chris Enss has been writing about women of the American West for more than a dozen years. She loves Western culture and travels extensively, collecting research for her books. She received the Spirit of the West Alive award, cosponsored by the Wild West Gazette, celebrating her efforts to keep the spirit of the Old West alive for future generations. Enss currently lives in a historic gold-mining town in Northern California. Contributor Bio:  Kazanjian, Howard Kazanjian is an award-winning producer and entertainment executive who has been producing feature films and television programs for more than 25 years.