Sand Creek Massacre NHS Acquires Historic Rifle

Sergeant J.J. Brown’s Starr Carbine

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site and the Kiowa County Economic Development Foundation (KCEDF) recently teamed up to purchase an authenticated 1858 Starr carbine connected to the Sand Creek Massacre.  The KCEDF acquired the Starr carbine with the assistance of Andrew Masich, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Senator John Heinz History Center and Chairman of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Issued in 1864 to First Sergeant Jordan J. Brown of Company H and C of the 1st Volunteer Colorado Cavalry (U.S. Army), Brown used this firearm during his Civil War service, including the attack on the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho village at Sand Creek.

The Starr carbine is an extremely important addition to the historical collections from the Sand Creek Massacre Site, and a very sensitive subject in the interpretation of the massacre. This rare artifact represents a tangible link between the artifacts of the Sand Creek Massacre and comprehending how the massacre unfolded. Understanding Sergeant Brown’s movements across the landscape and data from other historic objects may enable park historians to locate Company H and even individual soldiers during the attack.

The National Park Service would like to thank and recognize the Kiowa County Economic Development Foundation for their continued support of our mission, the history of Southeastern Colorado, and for contributing to the economic development of the region.