Silas Stillman Soule, who grew up in the decades just before the Civil War,created an unforgettable legacy in his tragically short life. This courageousyoung man transported slaves via the Underground Railroad, aided in thejailbreak of a doctor accused of aiding slaves, participated in an attempt torescue John Brown's men after Harpers Ferry, and fought for the Union atthe little-known but very important Battle of the Glorieta Pass. Mostsignificantly, he refused to take part in the slaughter of Native Americanwomen and children during the Sand Creek Massacre, one of the blackestmoments in U.S. history, and was the first to testify against the man wholed the assault, Col. John Chivington.

Historian Tom Bensing chronicles for the first time a comprehensive lookat Silas' life, combining historical fact with human elements. The result isa fascinating snapshot of U.S. history rich with intensely researcheddetails. Born in 1838 to an ardent abolitionist father, Silas eventuallymoved to Coal Creek in the Kansas Territory. His family home became awell-used stop on the Underground Railroad in Kansas, which straddledthe line between free and slave states. Silas, known for his wit and charm,also showed strength of character, becoming a true hero on the frontier.Time spent in the Union army in Colorado - when he took his standagainst the brutal Indian massacre - only strengthened his resolve.

Those who only know Silas for his heroic stance at Sand Creek will beastonished at everything this Jayhawker/adventure-seeker/soldieraccomplished in his 26 years. The Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes continue tohonor Silas today, holding a peace run each Thanksgiving. The book alsoreveals, in never before published detail, the life and final fate of CharlesSquier, the man who ended Silas' life in a shootout. Squier, a decoratedveteran, ironically received a hero's burial himself four years later.