The Mountain Meadows Massacre
1857
A Shocking Crime
While Captain Van Vliet was interviewing President Brigham Young, there
was occurring in the southwest corner of Utah--about three hundred
miles from Salt Lake City--the most horrible and shocking crime ever
perpetrated within the borders of the state. It was the massacre at
Mountain Meadows of a company of emigrants who were journeying to
southern California. This bloody and diabolical deed commenced at dawn,
September 7, 1857, and continued until the 11th, when the besieged
emigrants who survived the attacks, under promise of protection were
foully murdered.
It was the deed of enraged Indians aided by a number of white men, who
took vengeance into their hands for wrongs committed by a few of the
emigrants who were pronounced enemies of both whites and Indians.
It was a crime for which there can be no apology or excuse, a thing
treacherous and damnable in the extreme. But for the "Mormon" people
it was most unfortunate that it should happen at this particular
time. There were circulating throughout the nation many evil reports
concerning the Latter-day Saints. All manner of crimes and murders
occurring within a thousand miles of Utah, were charged against
them. Even the executive of the nation and other high officials were
countenancing these reports and aiding in their circulation. The army
was on the plains making its way to Utah to suppress alleged violation
of law and rebellion; and now, to add to the horror of the situation,
the report went forth that the "Mormons" had attacked and killed a
party of innocent people peacefully passing through their land. Thus
color was given to the falsehood that life and property of "Gentiles"
were unsafe within the Territory of Utah.[1]
It may be said without fear of successful contradiction, that there
was less crime committed in Utah during the days of pioneer life than
in any other similarly situated section of the country. California had
her vigilantes who executed judgment with swift vengeance, without
legal trial. Such was also the condition in other border states and
territories, and woe to the individual who incurred the wrath of the
powers who controlled. The "Mormon" people had been taught from the
beginning: "Thou shalt not kill." Murder, according to their teaching,
committed wantonly, was a sin for which there was no forgiveness in
this life, neither in the life to come. Next, and like unto it stood
sexual immorality. Both of these great sins were denounced by the
Saints most emphatically.
Crimes Falsely Charged to the Church Authorities
One thing most trying to the members of the Church was the attempt by
their enemies to charge Brigham Young and the leaders of the Church
with every wrong committed in the western country. These attempts led
Jacob Forney, Indian Agent in 1859, to write to Washington saying:
"I fear, and I regret to say it, that with certain parties here
there is a greater anxiety to connect Brigham Young and other
Church dignitaries with every criminal offense than diligent
endeavor to punish the actual perpetrators of crime."
How the Massacre Occurred
About the time the news arrived in Salt Lake City of the coming of
an army, there was passing through the city under command of Captain
Fancher, a company of emigrants from Arkansas and Missouri. This
company consisted of about thirty families, numbering one hundred and
thirty-seven persons. The Arkansas emigrants appeared to be respectable
and well-to-do. With them there traveled a rough and reckless company
calling themselves "Missouri Wild Cats," who conducted themselves in
keeping with the name. This company was advised by Elder Charles C.
Rich, one of the leaders of the Church, to take the northern route.
Had they done so they would have saved their lives. They went as far
as Bear River and then returned deciding to journey to the south. On
their way, it is alleged, the rougher element of the party abused the
people of the southern settlements through which they passed. They
tore down fences, destroyed property, insulted women, and otherwise
made themselves obnoxious. It is said, on reliable authority, that at
Fillmore they threatened to destroy the town, "and boasted of their
participation in the murders and other outrages that were inflicted
upon the 'Mormons' in Missouri and Illinois." At Corn Creek, fifteen
miles farther to the south, it was reported that they poisoned the
springs and also the body of an ox that had died. The carcass was eaten
by a band of Piute Indians and ten of their number died. Some of the
cattle of the settlers died from drinking of the poisoned springs. As
the cattle were fat, the owners "tried them up" for the tallow, and a
number of white persons were poisoned from the handling of the meat.
These "Wild Cats" expressed their pleasure at the coming of the army,
and threatened to stop at some convenient place and leave their women
and children, and return to assist the troops in killing every "Mormon"
there was in the mountains.
Just to what extent credence can be placed in these charges cannot be
determined. The fact remains, however, that they gave expression to
their hatred of the "Mormon" people, made many threats, and abused the
Indians along their way.
The Purchase of Supplies
It has been said that these emigrants could not purchase supplies in
Salt Lake City and the other settlements of the Saints, and had been
ordered away from Salt Lake City by President Young. This is not the
fact. President Young did not know they were in the city and first
heard of them after they had departed. Along the way they did obtain
supplies as they desired and as the Saints were able to impart to them,
as there is abundant evidence to show. They were well treated by most
of the settlers, and not until their own actions brought upon them the
ill will of the southern settlements was this attitude changed.
Word Sent to Brigham Young
So intense did the feeling become on the part of both the Indians and
the white population in the southern settlements that it was deemed
necessary to send a messenger to Governor Brigham Young to know what
should be done. Some of the people expressed the feeling that since the
emigrants had declared themselves as enemies they should be treated
as such, but the more sober minded maintained that they should be
permitted to continue their journey to the coast unmolested. James H.
Haslam carried a message from Colonel Isaac Haight, of the militia,
to Salt Lake City to obtain advice of Governor Young. In the meantime
it was agreed that every effort should be made to pacify the Indians
and prevent them from making an attack. Haslam left Cedar City in the
afternoon of Monday, September 7, and made all haste on horseback,
arriving in Salt Lake City on the morning of the 10th. He immediately
delivered his message, and Governor Young asked him if he could
undertake the return journey without delay. He said he could. "Go with
all speed, spare no horse flesh. The emigrants must not be meddled
with, if it takes all Iron County to prevent it. They must go free and
unmolested." This was the answer he received. Haslam, although he had
just finished a hard journey, immediately returned arriving in Cedar
City on the 13th with a written message from Governor Young to Colonel
Haight.
The Answer Arrives Too Late
The message to Colonel Haight of the militia from Governor Young was as
follows:
"In regard to the emigration trains passing through our
settlements, we must not interfere with them until they are first
notified to keep away. You must not meddle with them. There are no
other trains that I know of. If those who are there will leave, let
them go in peace."
Colonel Isaac C. Haight read the letter, and shedding tears replied:
"Too late, too late!" The morning (September 7) Haslam left to obtain
word from Governor Young, the work of death among the unfortunate
victims had commenced.
The Attack upon the Emigrant Train
Early in September the emigrant train of the Arkansas and Missouri
companies camped in the little valley known as the Mountain Meadows.
There they contemplated remaining for several days. In the meantime
their conduct had aroused the Indian tribes who now surrounded their
camp in hostile attitude. As near as can be ascertained, on the morning
of the 7th of September at the break of day, the attack upon the
emigrants began. At the first volley seven men were killed and sixteen
were wounded. The victims were taken unawares, but being well armed,
fought bravely for their lives and were successful in repelling the
attack. Several Indians were killed including two of their chiefs.
The Indians sent runners throughout the surrounding country calling
for reinforcements from among their tribes, and for John D. Lee,
who had been in close touch with Indian affairs as their farmer, to
come and lead them to victory. Lee hurried to the scene from his
home in Harmony, and seemed to partake of the frenzy of the redmen.
Later, other white men appeared upon the scene, having been lured
to the meadows, with the request that their services were needed in
burying the dead. Some of them remained, willingly or by coercion, to
participate in the massacre which followed.
The Surrender--Treachery of Their Captors
During the lull following the first attack, the emigrants formed
their wagons in a ring and threw up breastworks for their protection,
awaiting the onslaught which they knew was sure to come. Some time was
spent by the Indians and their white allies discussing the fate of the
unfortunate emigrants. The victims discovered that white men were in
league with the Indians, and this knowledge sealed their fate. It was
determined by those making the attack that no emigrant should live who
could tell the tale.
On the morning of Friday the 11th, Lee induced the emigrants to
surrender under promise of protection and conveyance to a place of
safety. They were led to a place where the Indians were in ambush,
and at a given signal a volley of shots rang out, both Indians and
white men participating in the outrage. Seventeen children of tender
years--ranging in age from a few months to seven years--were all that
were spared. These children were cared for by the settlers until
the government by act of Congress returned them to their friends in
Arkansas.
A Bloody Oath
The white men who engaged in this horrible slaughter entered into a
league, by a strong and binding oath, that they would never reveal the
part they played in this gruesome tragedy. A false report was forwarded
to Governor Young. Lee also reported in person, laying the blame solely
to the Indians. Governor Young wept bitterly and was horrified at the
recital of the tale.
The Execution of Lee
For several years the facts relating to the tragedy were unknown,
but gradually the truth leaked out and an investigation was made of
the affair. John D. Lee was excommunicated from the Church with the
injunction from President Young that under no circumstances should
he ever be admitted as a member again. Action was also taken against
others as the truth became known. In later years Lee was convicted of
the crime and paid the penalty with his life. His execution took place
on the site of the horrid scene. Others who were implicated fled from
the territory and died fugitives. While they thus evaded the justice
which earthly tribunals might inflict, they still await the trial for
their crime before a Higher Court where justice never fails.
Notes
1. "It may as well be understood at the outset that this horrible crime
so often and so persistently charged upon the "Mormon" Church and its
leaders, was the crime of an individual, the crime of a fanatic of
the worst stamp, one who was a member of the "Mormon" Church, but of
whose intentions the Church knew nothing, and whose bloody acts, the
members of the Church, high and low, regard with as much abhorrence as
any out of the Church. Indeed, the blow fell upon the brotherhood with
threefold force and damage. There was the cruelty of it, which wrung
their hearts; and there was the strength it lent their enemies further
to malign and molest them. The "Mormons" denounce the Mountain Meadows
Massacre, and every act connected therewith, as earnestly and honestly
as any in the outside world. This is abundantly proved and may be
accepted as a historical fact. (Bancroft's _History of Utah_, p. 544)