Silas Soule: A Short, Eventful Life of Moral Courage

As a songwriter who was inspired by the Documentary film Tears In The Sand (about the Sand Creek Massacre) I was inspired to write my song The Ballad of Silas Soule. Soule's story was covered in the doc film as he would not charge his command against the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians but also that he formed a defensive line between the Indians and the Chivington led Colorado army saving many family lines of the Cheyenne and Arapaho. those descendants do a ceremony for Silas in thanks for his "moral courage", every year. Bensing did not include this important info in his book. I did in my song. If you want to read the lyrics look me up (Georgie Jessup).The book is short and it lacks the passion that this story deserves. I found the read boring.

Mr. Bensing's book is long overdue. I don't know how he got onto the story of this little known hero, but I was very pleased to discover it. He writes an academic history but tells a compelling story. Silas Soule is the man most little boys want to become. From his work on the Underground Railroad as a teenager to the plot to free John Brown to his resistance of illegal orders to participate in a massacre, this man is a true American Hero.

This book made me think of Forest Gump, because Silas Soule was in an amazing amount of contact with events and characters of both the Civil War and Indian Wars. From John Brown to John Chivington to Sand Creek, it was amazing how Soule happened to be at the right place at the right time to be center stage with main players and important events.What the book brought out was the development of Soule's character and how he sought to help the slaves of his day and then later, how he refused to participate in the Sand Creek Massacre and testified against Chivington.Whether Soule was unfortunately murdered or whether his death was an assassination is a mystery that remains unsolved. This book gives evidence for both sides of the issue.Overall, a good, but short read.

Well done. I have been interested in Silas Soule for a long time and this book had filled in some of the holes that had been missing. A great biography of a man that more Americans should know about.

As a student of Sand Creek and the New Mexico Campaign, I eagerly devoured this one on a major participant. Not much out there on the subject. I found several purported truths to be debunked here, especially on the death of Soule. A worthy effort even if you have only a passing interest.

Tom Bensing’s "SILAS SOULE" is a long awaited book on the life of Silas Soule. I can't imagine that it could have been done any better. The research is far and above what most people do. What he found is utterly amazing.

Any book that I read without putting it down has my vote! I had been reading other books on the Sand Creek Masscre and was so very interested in Silas Soule! I don't think his action would be tolerated today but It really was heroric ---In my humble opinion!

In December, I had ordered six books for research on the Sand Creek Massacre. I am just now noticing that this book's covers purport it to be about Silas Soule, but inside it is a book on cycling. It is the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. I just hope I can get my money back or get the book about Soule.

Silas Soule a un destin hors du commun, anti escalavagiste convaincu, dès son adolescence sur le très disputé territoire du Kansas, il fait passer des esclaves en fuites, fait partie des TEN IMMORTALS et se retrouve des années plus tard au Colorado où il combat les confédérés à Glorietta Pass, et surveille la frontières contres des peaux-rouges remuants. Il est incontestablement mêlé à l'affaire du massacre de Sand Creek qu'il n 'a eu de cesse de dénoncer avant d'être tué. Sand Creek: Ce Raid de cavalerie contre les cheyennes où il était présent malgré ce que peuvent en dire certains de nos jours.C'est un biographie, la première qu'à écrit Tom Bensing sur se personnage qui traverse en quelques années le Bleeding Kansas, la guerre de sécession et les guerres indiennes. Cette biographie raconte l'histoire d'un homme un peu trop progressiste pour son temps mais qui aura été au bout de ses convictions.