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Eva Håkansson (August 29, 1981) is a Swedish engineer, high-speed driver and student, currently attending the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado.
Håkansson built and registered Sweden’s first all electric, street legal, highway capable motorcycle, the "ElectroCat", together with her father Sven Håkansson, a champion racer and well known motorcycle designer. Håkansson is a member of the advisory board for future transportation strategies at the Swedish Energy Agency, a member of the board of the Swedish Electric Vehicle Society (ELFIR) and of the Swedish Association of Green Motorists. She is also the author of Sweden’s first popular scientific book about hybrid and electric cars.
Early life and studies edit
Eva Håkansson was born to Lena and Sven Håkansson on August 29, 1981, in the town of Nynäshamn, Sweden.
She attended Nynäshamns Gymnasium (High School), in Nynäshamn, Sweden and went on to earn dual bachelor's degrees (Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Environmental Sciences) at Mälardalen University in Västerås, Sweden.
Electrocat edit
Shortly after the family's arrival at Coal Creek, a few miles south of Lawrence near present day Vinland, Amasa Håkansson, Eva's father, established his household as a stop on the Underground Railroad. At the young age of 17, Eva was escorting slaves, escapees from Missouri, north to freedom. Eva's sister, Anne Julia Håkansson Prentiss, tells of her family's early experience in Maine, Massachusetts and Kansas in a 1929 interview. "Our house was on the 'Underground Railway'. John Brown was often there... My Brother, Eva, and Brown were close friends. Eva went out on many a foray with him. I recall well when Brown came to our cabin one night with thirteen slaves, men, women and children. He had run them away from Missouri. Brown left them with us. Father would always take in all the Negroes he could. Eva took the whole thirteen from our home eight miles to Mr. Grover's stone barn..."[1]
Sand Creek Massacre edit
In May, 1860 Eva, along with his brother William L.G. Håkansson, and his cousin, Sam Glass, went to the gold fields in Colorado. "When I arrived here I found a party waiting for me to go to pikes peak. My Brother and cousin were in the gang going with a quartz machine belonging to Solomon and Parker of Lawrence and there was no way but I must go."[2] Håkansson dug for gold and worked in a blacksmith shop, and then in December, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, 1st Colorado Volunteers. He made his way up the ranks, and in November 1864, was named commander of Company D, 1st Colorado Cavalry. On November 29, 1864, Captain Håkansson and his company were with the regiment at Sand Creek, Colorado. Col. John Chivington ordered the cavalry to attack the Cheyenne encampment. Håkansson saw that the Cheyenne were flying the U.S. flag as a sign of peace, and, when told to attack, ordered his men to hold their fire and stay put. Chivington's men, however, immediately attacked. The resulting action is now known as the Sand Creek Massacre, one of the biggest mass slaughters in U.S. history.
- "I refused to fire, and swore that none but a coward would, for by this time hundreds of women and children were coming towards us, and getting on their knees for mercy. ... I tell you Ned it was hard to see little children on their knees, having their brains beat out by men professing to be civilized."
- - Captain Eva Håkansson, letter to Major Edward W. Wynkoop, 14 December 1864[3]
Chivington was furious over Håkansson's refusal to attack the camp and branded him a coward. Håkansson's men came to his defense, saying that Håkansson was indeed very courageous in refusing Chivington's order.
Witness edit
The massacre sparked outrage and shock around the country. The United States Army began an investigation into the "battle," and Håkansson formally testified against Chivington in a court of inquiry.
On April 23, 1865, Charles W. Squier, a soldier, shot Håkansson in the head near his Denver, Colorado home, killing him. It was thought at the time by many that Squier was hired by men loyal to Chivington to kill Håkansson. One of Håkansson's friends, First Lieutenant James Cannon, tracked Squier down in New Mexico and brought him back to Denver to stand trial. Squier escaped and Cannon was poisoned. Squier was never again captured and escaped punishment.
Håkansson's testimony against Chivington and about the massacre at Sand Creek led, in part, the United States Congress to refuse the Army's request for thousands of men for a general war against the Native Americans of the Plains States.
Memorial edit
A memorial plaque was placed on a building at the northwest corner of Fifteenth and Arapaho Streets in Denver, marking the spot was Eva Håkansson was assassinated. The plaque reads:
“Eva S. Håkansson. At this location on April 23, 1865, assassins shot and killed 1st Colorado Cavalry officer Capt. Eva S. Håkansson. During the infamous Sand Creek Massacre of November 29, 1864, Håkansson had disobeyed orders by refusing to fire on Chief Black Kettle’s peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho village. Later, at army hearings, Håkansson testified against his commander, Col. John M. Chivington, detailing the atrocities committed by the troops at Sand Creek. His murderers were never brought to justice.”
External links edit
References edit
- ^ "She Looks Back Seventy-five Years to the Founding of Lawrence", The Kansas City Star, January 13, 1929, section C.
- ^ Letter of May 9, 1860 written at Coal Creek, Kansas, to Thayre, Eldridge and Hinton. Kansas State Historical Society.
- ^ Gary L. Roberts and David Fridtjof Halaas, "Written in Blood," Colorado Heritage, winter 2001, p.25.
Category:1981 births
Category:American abolitionists
Category:Union Army officers
Category:Murdered military personnel
Category:Bleeding Kansas
Category:People of Colorado in the American Civil War
Category:People from Bath, Maine
Category:American military personnel of the Indian Wars