The Indians were instructed by Black Kettle to report to a fort to give up their guns and stolen properties to promote peace . Black Kettle was told to do this by Colonel Chivington who was looking to kill all of the Indians in the area, but Black Kettle didn't know that. He just wanted to live in peace and turned in his four white prisoners and told his tribe to give up their weapons. The Indians didn’t understand what the settlers meant so they stayed where they were which caused the attack to happen.