History of Salt Lake City, Part 23

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company
Number of Pages: 1194

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"Therefore, I, Brigham Young, governor and superintendent of Indian affairs for the Territory of Utah, in the name of the people of the United States, in the Territory of Utah, forbid :

"First. All armed forces of every description from coming into this Terri- tory, under any pretence whatever.

"Second. That all the forces in said Territory hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice to repel any and all such invasion.

" Third. Martial law is hereby declared to exist in this Territory from and after the publication of this proclamation, and no person shall be allowed to pass or repass into or through or from this Territory without a permit from the proper officer.

" Given under my hand and seal, at Great Salt City, Territory of Utah, this fifteenth day of September, A. D. eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, and of the independence of the United States of America the eighty-second.

BRIGHAM YOUNG."

While Captain Van Vliet was listening to the discourses of the Mormon leaders and witnessing the heroic demonstrations of the people of Great Salt Lake City the militia of the Territory was everywhere preparing for active ser- vice. Six weeks before the proclamation of martial law the following evtraordi- nary despatch was issued to the district commanding officers:

HEADQUARTERS NAUVOO LEGION, Adjt. General's Office, G. S. L. City, Aug. 1, 1857.

" Sir : Reports, tolerably well authenticated, have reached this office that an army from the Eastern States is now en route to invade this Territory.

" The people of this Territory have lived in strict obedience to the laws of the parent and home governments, and are ever zealous for the supremacy of the Constitution and the rights guaranteed thereby. In such time, when anarchy takes the place of orderly government and mobocratic tyranny usurps the power of rulers, they have left the inalienable right to defend themselves against all aggression upon their constitutional privileges. It is enough that for successive years they have witnessed the desolation of their homes; the barbarous wrath of mobs poured upon their unoffending brethren and sisters; their leaders arrested, incarcerated and slain, and themselves driven to cull life from the hospitality of the desert and the savage. They are not willing to endure longer these unceas- ing outrages; but if an exterminating war be purposed against them and blood alone can cleanse pollution from the Nation's bulwarks, to the God of our fathers let the appeal be made.

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"You are instructed to hold your command in readiness to march at the shortest possible notice to any part of the Territory. See that the law is strictly enforced in regard to arms and amunition, and as far as practicable that each Ten be provided with a good wagon and four horses or mules, as well as the necessary clothing, etc., for a winter campaign. Particularly let your influence be used for the preservation of the grain. Avoid all excitement, but be ready.

"DANIEL H. WELLS.

Lieutenant General Commanding. " By James Ferguson, Adjutant General."

Copies of this letter were sent to the following: Colonel W. H. Dame, Parowan ; Major L. W. Mccullough, Fillmore; Major C. W. Bradley, Nephi ; Major Warren S. Snow, Sanpete; General Aaron Johnson, Peteetneet ; Colonel William B. Pace, Provo; Major Samuel Smith, Box Elder ; Colonel C. W. West, Weber; Colonel P. C. Merrill, Davis; Major David Evans, Lehi; Major Allen Weeks, Cedar ; Major John Rowberry, Tooele.

Within a few days these instructions reached the various districts and were quietly acted upon. There was a universal cleaning of arms, filling up of car- tridge boxes, and attention given to the equipment of horses, teams and camping outfits.

The Nauvoo Legion (the territorial militia), consisted at this time of all able bodied men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, and was organized into military districts. The general officers of the Legion detailed for the campaign were : Daniel H. Wells, Lieut. General, commanding; Generals Geo. D. Grant, Wm. H. Kimball, James Ferguson, H. B. Clawson ; Colonels R. T. Burton, N. V. Jones, James Cummings, C. W. West, Thos. Callister, John Sharp, W. B. Pace, Lot Smith, Warren Snow, Jos. A. Young, A. P. Rockwood ; J. L. Dun- yon, Surgeon ; Majors H. W. Lawrence, J. M. Barlow, Israel Ivins, R. J. Gold- ing, J. R. Winder, J. D. T. McAllister. Besides these officers, scouts and rangers were detailed to perform special duties. Among these were O. P. Rockwell, Ephraim Hanks and many others. The nature of the campaign was such that in- dividuals were selected for certain service without regard to their official station ; thus officers of the highest rank were found performing the duties of company captains, or sharing the labors of men of the line.

On the thirteenth of August orders was issued for the first movement of the forces. It was directed to Col. Robert T. Burton, instructing him to take the field with one hundred and sixty men from the first regiment. He, however, started on the fifteenth with but seventy men from the Life Guards. Among the officers accompanying this expedition were Col. James Cummings, of the general staff, Maj. J. M. Barlow, quartermaster and commissary, Maj. H. W. Lawrence, Capt. H. P. Kimball, Lieuts. J. Q. Knowlton and C. F. Decker. They were af- terwards joined by a company from Provo, commanded by Capt. Joshua Clark. The instructions given Col. Burton were to march to the east on the main trav- eled road, affording aid and protection to the incoming trains of immigrants, and to act as a corps of observation to learn the strength and equipments of forces reported on the way to Utah, and report to headquarters ; but not to interfere

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with life or property of any one they might encounter on the road. Speaking of this trip, Gen. Burton says :

" We arrived at Fort Bridger August 2 Ist, and met the first company of im- migrants at Pacific Springs on the 26th. On the following day we met Moody's company from Texas, also several large supply trains, entirely unprotected by any escort. On the 29th I left my wagons and half of the men and animals on the Sweetwater, proceeding with pack animals. On the 30th I arrived at Devil's Gate, with Kimball, Cummings and Decker's command coming up the next day ; here on the 3Ist we met Jones, Stringham, and others, on their way from Deer Creek to Salt Lake City, and on the day after Captain John R. Murdock from the States. The latter brought word of the intense bitterness expressed all over the Union against the Mormons, and of the expectations that many entertained that the people of Utah were about to be annihilated by the strong arm of the military power."

These companies proceeded immediately on their way to the city, while Col. Burton and command were engaged cacheing provisions for future use. On Sep- tember 8th, he sent an express to the Platte; which returned on the 12th. Fromn this time the expedition returned slowly towards the city, thoroughly examining the country and posting themselves upon all points likely to be of advantage later in the campaign. They also kept a good lookout on the scouting and other mili- tary movements, forwarding by express all information of interest to General Wells and Governor Young. On the 17th they received an express from Salt Lake, by J. M. Simmons and O. Spencer, and from this date men were kept in the saddle night and day between the front and headquarters. September 16th, N. V. Jones and Stephen Taylor brought an express from the city, and on the 2Ist Colonel Burton took three men, H. W. Lawrence, H. P. Kimball, and John Smith, and again moved east to the vicinity of Devil's Gate, and camped. Sep- tember 22d, within half a mile of Colonel E. B. Alexander's command. Here they first met the advance of the Utah army, and from that time were its imme- diate neighbors until it arrived at Ham's Fork.

On September 29th, Lieut. Gen. D. H. Wells left Salt Lake City and pro- ceeded to establish headquarters in the narrows of Echo Canyon. He was ac- companied by Adjt. Gen. James Ferguson, Col. N. V. Jones, Maj. Lot Smith, and other staff officers Companies of militia from the several military districts, aggregating about 1, 250 men were ordered to report at Echo, with provisions for thirty days.

At Echo, Gen. Wells divided his staff, leaving Col. N. V. Jones and J. D. T. McAllister in command of the force there. These engaged in digging trenches across the canyon, throwing up breast works, loosening stones on the heights, and in every way preparing to resist the progress of any body of men that might attempt to pass through the canyon.

The day after reaching Echo, Gen. Wells, with a small escort, proceeded to Fort Bridger, where he met Col. Burton and Gen. Robison, and was informed of all movements that had been made by the troops, of the location of their sup- ply trains, their strength, probability of reinforcements, etc.

From this information it was ascertained that for several days previously the

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army had been making very rapid forced marches, to overtake and protect their supplies on Ham's Fork, which had been forwarded several weeks before. It was apprehended, as they had been successful in securing these advance supply trains so near the mountain passes, that the troops would shoulder rations for three days an attempt to force their way on to the city.

In view of this a Mormon writer on the " Echo Canyon War" thus explains the situation :

"The activity of the enemy required the utmost vigilance and some decisive action on the part or our forces to delay any such movement. It was the policy to 'fight this war without bloodshed.' How to do it successfully was the ques- tion. It was a difficult one to solve while the weather remained fair, the advan- cing troops well supplied with food and ammunition, and eager to try their strength with their Mormon foes. Yet it was extremely necessary that the ad- vance should be checked and the power of the people of Utah to defend them- selves felt."

Just at this point the extraordinary correspondence commences between Governor Young and the commanding officers of the U. S. Expedition, as pre- sented to Congress by President Buchanan, opening with the following to Col. Alexander :

FORT BRIDGER,

September 30, 1857.

" SIR : I have the honor to forward you the accompaning letter from His Excellency Governor Young, together with two copies of his proclamation and a copy of the laws of Utah, 1856-'57, containing the organic act of the Ter- ritory.

" It may be proper to add that I am liere to aid in carrying out the instruc- tions of Governor Young.

"General Robison will deliver these papers to you, and receive such com- munication as you may wish to make.

" Trusting that your answer and actions will be dedicated by a proper re- spect for the rights and liberties of American citizens.

"I remain, very respectfully, etc., " DANIEL H. WELLS,

" Lieutenant General Commanding, Nauvoo Legion."

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, UTAH TERRITORY, Great Salt Lake City, September 29, 1857.

" SIR : By reference to the act of Congress passed September 9, 1850, or- ganizing the Territory of Utah, published in the Laws of Utah, herewith for- warded, pp. 146-7, you will find the following :

"'SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the executive power and authority in and over said Territory of Utah shall be vested in a governor, who shall hold his office for four years, and until his successor shall be appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States. The governor shal! reside within said Territory, shall be commander-in-chief of the militia thereof,' etc., etc.

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" I am still the governor and superintendent of Indian affairs for this Terri- tory, no successor having been appointed and qualified, as provided by law ; nor have I been removed by the President of the United States.

" By virtue of the authority thus vested in me, I have issued, and forwarded you a copy of, my proclamation forbidding the entrance of armed forces into this Territory. This you have disregarded. I now further direct that you retire forthwith from the Territory, by the same route you entered. Should you deem this impracticable, and prefer to remain until spring in the vicinity of your present encampment, Black's Fork, or Green River, you can do so in peace and unmolested, on condition that you deposit your arms and amunition with Lewis Robison, quartermaster general of the Territory, and leave in the spring, as soon as the condition of the roads will permit you to march ; and should you fall short of provisions, they can be furnished you, upon making the proper applica- toins therefor. General D. H. Wells will forward this, and receive any communica- tion you may have to make.

" Very respectfully, BRIGHAM YOUNG

" Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Utah Territory. " The Officer Commanding the forces now invading Utah Territory "

HEADQUARTERS IOTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY,

Camp Winfield, on Ham's Fork, October 2, 1857.

"SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of September 29, 1857; with two copies of Proclamation and one of "Laws of Utah," and have given it an attentive consideration.

" I am at present the senior and commanding officer of the troops of the United States at this point, and I will submit your letter to the general com- manding as soon as he arrives here.

" In the meantime I have only to say that these troops are here by the orders of the President of the United States, and their future movements will depend entirely upon the orders issued by competent military authority.

I am, sir, very respectfully, etc., "E. B. ALEXANDER, " Col. 10th U. S. Infantry, commanding. " Brigham Young, Esq., " Governor of Utah Territory." " Official.

HEADQUARTERS IOTH INFANTRY, October 2, 1857.

HENRY E. MAYNADIER, Adjutant 10th Infantry."

General Robison and Major Lot Smith were despatched with these docu - ments, instructed to deliver them personally or send them by a Mexican if it should be dangerous to enter Col. Alexander's camp; the latter course was adopted. On the return of Major Lot Smith with the answer of Col. Alexander to Governor Young, General Wells resolved on the immediate execution of his programme of the campaign.

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The plan of the campaign had been thoroughly digested by Brigham Young, as commander-in-chief of the Utah militia, and his Lieutenant General, before the latter left Great Salt Lake City for " the seat of war;" and with General Wells, Apostles John Taylor and George A. Smith had gone out to Echo Canyon, undoubtedly to give their voice in the councils of war. Therefore, there was no need for General Wells to seek further consultation with his chief previous to the excution of the plan, which was substantially that embodied in the order, found upon the person of major Joseph Taylor when he was captured :

HEADQUARTERS EASTERN EXPEDITION, Camp near Cache Cave, Oct. 4, 1857.

" You will proceed, with all possible despatch, without injuring your ani- mals, to the Oregon road, near the bend of Bear river, north by east of this place. Take close and correct observations of the country on your route. When you approach the road, send scouts ahead, to ascertain if the invading troops have passed that way. Should they have passed, take a concealed route, and get ahead of them. Express to Colonel Burton, who is now on that road and in the vicinity of the troops, and effect a junction with him, so as to operate in concert. On ascertaining the locality or route of the troops, proceed at once to annoy them in every possible way. Use every exertion to stanpede ther ani- mals and set fire to their trains. Burn the whole country before them, and on their flanks. Keep them from sleeping by night surprises; blockade the road by felling trees or destroying the river fords where you can. Watch for oppor- tunities to set fire to the grass on their windward, so as if possible to envelope their trains. Leave no grass before them that can be burned. Keep your men concealed as much as possible, and guard against surprise. Keep scouts out at all times, and communications open with Colonel Burton, Major McAllister and O. P. Rockwell, who are operating in the same way. Keep me advised daily of your movements, and every step the troops take, and in which direction.

"God bless you, and give you success.

" Your brother in Christ.

DANIEL H. WELLS.

"P. S .- If the troops have not passed, or have turned in this direction, fol- low in their rear, and continue to annoy them, burning any trains they may leave. Take no life, but destroy their trains, and stampede or drive away their animals, at every opportunity.

D. H. WELLS.

" Major Joseph Taylor. " HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF UTAH, Black's Fork, 16 miles from Fort Bridger, En route to Salt Lake City, November 7, 1857.

" A true copy of instructions in the possession of Major Joseph Taylor, when captured.

" F. J. PORTER,

Assistant Adjutant General."

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After delivering the despatch of Col. Alexander, Major Lot Smith was in- vited to take dinner with his commanding-general and his aides. Among all the warriors of the Mormon Israel there was, perhaps not one so fitted to open this very peculiar campaign as Lot Smith. His lion-like courage and absolute fearlessness of personal danger, when most in its presence, marked him out as the man of men to execute an exploit of such daring as that designed-to astonish the American nation into a realization of the Mormon earnestness, yet at the same time to do it without the shedding of a drop of "the enemy's" blood.

" During the meal," says Maj. Lot Smith, in his piquent narrative of one of the most daring guerilla exploits on record, "General Wells, looking at me as straight as possible, asked if I could take a few men and turn back the trains that were on the road or burn them? I replied that I thought that I could do just what he told me to. The answer appeared to please him, and he accepted it, tell- ing me he could furnish only a few men, but they would be sufficient, for they would appear many more to our enemies."

At 4 o'clock in the evening of October 3d, Major Lot Smith's troop, num- bering forty-four men rank and file, started on their expedition. They rode all night and early the next morning came in sight of an ox train headed westward. On calling for the captain, Maj. Smith ordered him to turn his train and go the other way till he reached the States. The Captain "swore pretty strongly," faced about and started to go east, but as soon as out of sight he would turn again towards the mountains. The troops met him that day and took out his lading, leaving the wagons and teams standing. Lot Smith camped near these troops on that night on the banks of the Green River. His story con- tinues :

"Losing the opportunity to make much impression on Rankin's train, I thought something must be done speedily to carry out the instructions received, so I sent Captain Haight with twenty men to see if he could get the mules of the Tenth Regiment on any terms. With the remaining twenty-three men I started for Sandy Fork to intercept trains that might be approaching in that direction. On the road, seeing a large cloud of dust at a distance up the river, on the old Mormon road, I sent scouts to see what caused it. They returned, overtaking me at Sandy, and reported a train of twenty-six large freight wagons. We took supper and started at dark. After traveling fourteen miles, we came up to the train, but discovered that the teamsters were drunk, and knowing that drunken men were easily excited and always ready to fight, and remembering my positive orders not to hurt anyone except in self-defence, we remained in ambush until after mid-night. I then sent scouts to thoroughly examine the appearance of their camp, to note the number of wagons and men and report all they dis- covered. When they returned and reported twenty-six wagons in two lines a short distance apart, I concluded that counting one teamster to each wagon and throwing in eight or ten extra men would make their force about forty. I thought we would be a match for them, and so ordered an advance to their camp.

" On nearing the wagons, I found I had misunderstood the scouts, for in- stead of one train of twenty six wagons there were two, doubling the number of

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men, and putting quite another phase on our relative strength and situation. There was a large camp-fire burning, and a number of men were standing around it smoking. It was expected by my men that on finding out the real number of wagons and men, I would not go farther than to make some inquiries and passing our sortie upon the trains as a joke would go on until some more favorable time. But it seemed to me that it was no time for joking. I arranged my men, and we advanced until our horses' heads came into the light of the fire; then I discovered that we had the advantage, for looking back into the darkness, I could not see where my line of troops ended, and could imagine my twenty followers stringing out to a hundred or more as well as not. I inquired for the captain of the train. Mr. Dawson stepped out and said he was the man. I told him that I had a little business with him. He inquired the nature of it, and I replied by requesting him to get all of his men and their private property as quickly as possible out of the wagons for I meant to put a little fire into them. He exclaimed : 'For God's sake, don't burn the trains.' I said it was for His sake that I was going to burn them, and pointed out a place for his men to stack their arms, and another where they were to stand in a group, placing a guard over both. I then sent a scou down towards Little Mountaineer Fork, failing to put one out towards Ham's Fork on the army. While I was busy with the train a messenger from the latter surprised us by coming into camp. I asked him if he had dispatches and to hand them to me. He said he had but they were verbal. I told him if he lied to me his life was not worth a straw. He became terrified, in fact I never saw a man more frightened. He said afterwards that he expected every moment to be killed. His orders to the train men were from the commander at Camp Winfield, and were to the effect that the Mormons were in the field and that they must not go to sleep but keep night guard on their trains, and that four companies of cav- alry and two pieces of artillery would come over in the morning to escort them to camp."

After thus dealing with the first train, the other was treated in like manner. The closing of Lot Smith's story gives a striking dramatic denouement.

" When all was ready, I made a torch, instructing my Gentile follower, known as Big James, to do the same, as I thought it was proper for the 'Gentiles to spoil the Gentiles.' At this stage of our proceedings an Indian came from the Mountaineer Fork and seeing how the thing was going asked for some presents. He wanted two wagon covers for a lodge, some flour and soap. I filled his order and he went away much elated. Out of respect to the candor poor Dawson had showed, I released him from going with me when we fired the trains, taking Big James instead, he not being afraid of saltpetre or sulphur either.

" While riding from wagon to wagon, with torch in hand and the wind blow- ing, the covers seemed to me to catch very slowly. I so stated it to James. He replied, swinging his long torch over his head : 'By St. Patrick, ain't it beautiful ! I never saw anything go better in all my life.' About this time I had Dawson send in his men to the wagons, not yet fired, to get us some provisions, enough to thoroughly furnish us, telling him to get plenty of sugar and coffee, for though I never used the latter myself, some of my men below, intimating that I had a force down there, were fond of it. On completing this task I told him that we

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were going just a little way off, and that if he or his men molested the trains or undertook to put the fire out, they would be instantly killed. We rode away leaving the wagons all ablaze."

The burning of the Government trains accomplished the very purpose dc- signed. The nation was thrown into a fearful state of excitement over the dar- ing deed, and at the issue of Governor Young's Proclamation. Congress passed a resolution declaring Utah in a state of rebellion, and referred a motion to the committee on Territories to expel the Utah Delegate. Burning the supplies of an army of the United States, sent by the Government to put down an incipient rebellion, was declared to be an extraordinary overt act of actual war, while the proclamation of Governor Young was considered as a veritable declaration of war as from an independent power. A terrible wrath was aroused against Mor- mon Utah. At that moment, had the season been favorable, and the Govern_ ment made the call, a hundred thousand volunteers would have quickly mustered into service to annihilate the whole Mormon community. Yet, be it repeated, the very purpose had been accomplished which Brigham Young designed. It was a most dramatic illustration of his words to Captain Van Vliet, " We are aware that such will be the case; but when those troops arrive they will find Utah a desert. Every house will be burned to the ground, every tree cut down and every field left waste. We have three years' provisions on hand, which we will ' cache,' and then take to the mountains and bid defiance to all the powers of the government." The nation could now believe that this was not mere bra- vado or bombast of Brigham Young, nor the insane rage of fanatics, but the ex- traordinary resolve of a Puritanic people, such as those who fought "in the name of the Lord" for the commonwealth of England and founded the American nation. And though Colonel C. F. Smith of the Expedition wrote to head- quarters : " As the threats of their leaders to Captain Van Vliet, coupled with the burning of our supply trains-in itself an act of war-is evidence of their treason, I shall regard them as enemies, and fire upon the scoundrels if they give me the least opportunity ; " yet from that moment President Buchanan saw cause for pause. Brigham Young would keep his word! Strange as it may seem his Proclamation, and the order of Lieutenant General Wells, followed so quickly by the burning of the supply trains, ultimately brought the Peace Commission, and the Proclamation of pardon to the entire Mormon people.

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History of Salt Lake City, Part 23

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company Number of Pages: 1194

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company
Number of Pages: 1194