Bitter Springs Massacre

The Bitter Springs Massacre is an event mentioned in the graphic novel All Roads which came with the Collector's Edition of Fallout: New Vegas. During the story it is revealed that the New California Republic, most notably the 1st recon reconnaissance unit, massacred local tribals at Bitter Springs, including the women and children in their bid to secure the Mojave Wasteland.

Many of those massacred belonged to the Great Khans, which is the driving force behind their hatred of the NCR and desire to see Bitter Springs destroyed. Chance, a survivor of the massacre is psychologically scarred by the events and becomes a mute junkie while the remainder of the Khans become forever hostile against the NCR.

During several portions of the graphic novel the Khans mention wanting to attack Bitter Springs or the NCR, setting the stage for any conflict during gameplay.

The event is based on the infamous Sand Creek Massacre perpetrated by the US Cavalry against a band of peaceful Cheyenne Indians, in 1864. As with Fallout's Bitter Springs, innocent men, women and children were also murdered. The Cheyennes never got over losing over three quarters of their people in the massacre, who were mutilated and later dissected for show at an American town hall.

In addition, a good deal of the descriptions of the Bitter Springs Massacre (mostly coming from those who weren't present, such as Manny Vargas) are very similar to the descriptions of the Mai-Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War. Many American troops who weren't present at the massacre described what they knew of it before it went public in a similar fashion, using phrases like "...Something dark... and bloody happened there."