USA > Utah > History of Utah > Part 46
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And again, if the said J. S. Calhoon is Governor and Superintendent of Indian affairs of New Mexico, and has issued a blank license to any honest man, or scoundrel, who may please to put his name to it and by the authority of that license, go to " Salt Lake country, in the Territory of Utah, and trade in said country, and in no other place, and with no other than Utah Indians," he has transcended the limits and authority of his office, he has violated his oatlı, trampled upon the Constitution and laws of the United States, and set at defiance every righteous principle that binds together the states and territories of our Union. But if said blank be a forgery, and there be any such man as J. S. Calhoon, it belongs to him or his friends to ferret out and expose the forger.
Again, the purchase and removal of Indian children from Utah Territory to any other state or territory, or the removal of Indian children without purchase to any other territory by any such means or process, as appears to have been contemplated by said men, is kidnapping in the eyes of the U. S. laws, and ought to be treated so in any United States court.
It is well understood that the Navahoe Indians are at war with the United States, and it is strongly presumed that those traders are endeavoring to purchase arms and ammunition for the purpose of supplying the Navahoe Indians, in exchange for horses, mules, blankets, etc. Now if we are correct in our supposition, for any one to furnish arms and ammunition to said Indians to fight against the United States, would be treason, according to the letter of the Constitution ; and for any one to sell arms or ammunition to said traders, having reasonable proof of their designs, would be giving aid and comfort to the enenries of the nation, and equally entitle them to a traitor's halter.
We have no objections to the Spaniards, Mexicans, or any other nation coming to our midst, buying tea, sugar, coffee, or molasses, buying, selling or swapping horses,
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mules, or any other animals or property, which will tend to the public good ; but from what we have heard of the affair before us, we feel to raise our warning voice to all men within our limits, and especially to the citizens of Utah Territory, to beware how they furnish arms or ammunition to any tribe of Indians whatsoever, and especially to any tribe at war with the United States, or to any man or set of men of whom it can be reasonably supposed they have any disposition to furnish munitions of war to hostile tribes. And we further counsel that no person whatsoever be guilty of trafficking in human blood, or of selling Indians or Indian children to be transported out of the Territory or from one part of the Territory io another.
This vigorous setting forth of the case, with the warning con- tained therein, seems to have had little effect upon the haughty spirits of the Mexican slave-traders, who continued their traffic in Indian children and firearms, and declared that they would ask no odds of the authorities of the Territory. One fellow, clothed from head to heel in buckskin, and with enough knives and pistols on his person to furnish a small arsenal, asserted that he would do just as he thought proper in the matter, and that he had a band of four hun- dred Mexicans on the Sevier, who would back him up and do his bidding. When expostulated with upon his unlawful course and warned of the consequences, he flippantly remarked, "Catching is before hanging," and paid no further attention to the remonstrances of the settlers. His " four hundred Mexicans" subsequently proved to be a band of one hundred and fifty Yampa Utes, a portion of the savage horde that two years later followed the chief Walker in his destructive raids upon the southern settlements.
Pedro Leon and some of his associates were arrested and tried before a Justice of the Peace at Manti during the winter of 1851-52, and subsequently their case came up before Judge Zerubbabel Snow in the First District Court. His Honor in summing up the case stated the following as the material facts :
"In September last, twenty-eight Spaniards left New Mexico on a trading expedition with the Utah Indians, in their various localities in New Mexico and Utah. Twenty-one of the twenty-eight were severally interested in the expedition. The residue were servants. Among this company were the Spaniards against whom these suits
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were brought. Before they left, Pedro Leon obtained a license from the Governor of New Mexico to trade on his own account with the Utah Indians, in all their various localities. Another member of the company also had a license given to blank persons by the Governor of New Mexico. The residue were without license. They proceeded on their route until they arrived near the Rio Grande, where they exchanged with the Indians some goods for horses and mules. With these horses and mules, being something more than one hundred, they proceeded to Green River, in this Territory, where they sent some five or six of their leading men to see Governor Young, and exhibit to him their license; and as the Spanish witness said, if that was not good here, then to get from him another license. Governor Young not being at home, but gone south, they proceeded after and found him November 3rd at Sanpete Valley. Here they exhibited to the Governor their license, and informed him they wished to sell their horses and mules to the Utah Indians, and buy Indian children to be taken to New Mexico. Governor Young then informed them that their license did not authorize them to trade with the Indians in Utah. They then sought one from him, but he refused to give it, for the reason that they wanted to buy Indian children for slaves. The Spaniards then promised him they would not trade with the Indians but go immediately home. Twenty of the number, with about three- fourths of the horses and mules, left pursuant to this promise and have not been heard from since. The eight who were left behind are the men who are parties to these proceedings."
Judge Snow decided against the eight defendants, who were shown to have violated the law, and the Indian slaves in their pos- session, a squaw and eight children, were liberated, and the Mexicans sent away.
It was thought that this would end the trouble, but it did not. Some of the slave-traders felt revengeful, and forthwith went to work stirring up the savages against the Utah settlers. These tactics called forth, early in 1853, the following proclamation from Governor Young :
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PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR.
Whereas it is made known to me by reliable information, from affidavits, and various other sources, that there is in this Territory a horde of Mexicans, or outlandish men, who are infesting the settlements, stirring up the Indians to make aggressions upon the inhabit- ants, and who are also furnishing the Indians with guns, ammunition, etc., contrary to the laws of this Territory and the laws of the United States:
And Whereas it is evident that it is the intention of these Mexicans or foreigners to break the laws of this Territory and the United States, utterly regardless of every restric- tion, furnishing Indians with guns and powder, whenever and wherever it suits their designs, convenience, or purposes :
Therefore, I, BRIGHAM YOUNG, Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Territory of Utah, in order to preserve peace, quell the Indians and secure the lives and property of the citizens of the Territory, hereby order and direct as follows :
1st. That a small detachment consisting of thirty men, under the charge of Captain Wall, proceed south through the entire extent of the settlements reconnoitering the country and directing the inhabitants to be on their guard against any sudden surprise.
2nd. That said reconnoitering officer communicate with the expedition now travel- ing south, as often as any information of importance is obtained, that I may be kept advised of every transaction.
3rd. The officer and party hereby sent upon this service are hereby authorized and directed to arrest and keep in close custody every strolling Mexican party, and those asso- ciating with them, and other suspicious persons or parties that they may encounter, and leave them safely guarded at the different points of settlement to await further orders, as circumstances shall transpire and the laws direct.
4th. The Militia of the Territory are hereby instructed to be in readiness to march to any point to which they may be directed at a moment's notice.
5th. All Mexicans now in the Territory are required to remain quiet in the settle- ments and not attempt to leave under any consideration, until further advised ; and the officers of the Territory are hereby directed to keep them in safe custody, treating them with kindness and supplying their necessary wants.
6th. While all the people should be on their constant guard, they are also requested to remain quiet and orderly, pursuing their various avocations until such times as they may be called upon to act in their own defense.
7th. The officer in command of the reconnoitering detachment is hereby directed to move with caution, that he may not be taken in ambush or surprise ; to preserve his men and animals, and still be as expeditious in his movements as possible ; and the people at the various settlements are hereby requested to furnish him such aid and assistance as shall be necessary.
Done at the City of Provo, in the County of Utali, this 23rd day of April, A. D. 1853.
L. S.
By the Governor, BRIGHAM YOUNG.
BENJ. G. FERRIS, Secretary.
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The presence of the Governor in Provo at this time is explained by the fact that his Excellency with a small party had just set out upon a tour through some of the southern settlements, and had reached Provo when it became expedient to issue the proclamation.
Governor Young strongly suspected that Colonel Bridger was much opposed to the formation of settlements in this region, and that he had a hand in inciting the Indians against the colonists in 1850. Probably this was one reason why the Governor, early in 1853, negotiated with the proprietors of Fort Bridger for the purchase of that property, which transfer being made, Colonel Bridger left the Territory never to return. He died some years later at St. Louis.
For about a year before the beginning of the Walker war, that chief, it is said, who at times could be pleasant and gracious, had worn a surly air, and was believed to be looking for a pretext to declare war upon the settlers. Possibly he burned to avenge the disasters of that portion of his tribe who had participated in the fights at Fort Utah and Table Mountain. At all events he was now "spoiling for a fight," and if a good excuse were not soon forth -. coming his fertile fancy was quite capable of producing one to his liking. But the excuse came; the desired provocation was given, and Walker at once took to the war-path, as naturally and doubtless with the same sense of delight as a caged bird feels on regaining its freedom, or as a speckled denizen of the waters, which some disciple of Walton has landed high and dry, experiences when it succeeds in slipping through the hands of its captor and bounding back into its native brook where alone it can live and thrive.
The Walker war began about in this way. A resident of Spring- ville, in Utah County, seeing an Indian whipping his squaw, took her part and inflicted upon the wife-beater a severe castigation. From the effects of this, it is said, the Indian died. This was about the middle of July, 1853. At that time Walker, with his brother Arapeen and their bands, were encamped on Pe-teet-neet Creek, at the mouth of the canyon just above Payson. The savage who had been
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whipped was one of their tribe. Walker, highly incensed, at first threatened Springville, but finding the people of that place on the alert, as they anticipated trouble, he turned his attention elsewhere. Arapeen undertook to strike the first blow in revenge. On the 18th of July, with a number of warriors, he rode down to Fort Payson, whose inhabitants, thinking no evil, received the red men kindly, · and as usual gave them food. The Indians made no hostile move- ment until they started back to camp in the evening, when they shot and killed Alexander Keel, who was standing guard near the fort. Knowing well what would follow, Arapeen hastened back to his brother and told him what had been done. Walker immediately ordered his followers to pack their wigwams and retreat up Payson Canyon, which they did. Several families of settlers were then living in the canyon. Upon these the savages fired as they passed, but were evidently in too great a hurry, fearing pursuit, to do serious execution.
The people of Payson on their part, expecting a general attack from the Indians, at once flew to arms. They also sent messengers to Provo to apprise the military authorities there of what had occurred, and request immediate reinforcement. Colonel P. W. Conover, who still commanded the militia in Utah County, hastily gathered about a hundred and fifty men, and proceeded at once to Payson. He arrived there July 20th. Troops from Spanish Fork and Springville were already on the ground.
A council of war convened, consisting of Colonel Conover and his associate officers, and it was decided to follow in the track of the savages, who, it was feared, intended to attack the Sanpete settle- ments. Leaving the infantry to garrison the Payson fort, the cavalry, under Colonel Conover and Lieutenant Markham, at once set out for Manti. These movements were doubtless in accordance with orders from headquarters. General Wells, at Salt Lake City, having been apprised of the situation, had despatched Lieutenant-Colonel William H. Kimball with a hundred mounted men to join Colonel Conover at Payson.
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Meantime, simultaneous attacks had been made by Indians at various points. At Springville, in a second assault upon that settle- ment, William Jolley was shot and wounded in the arm. At Nephi, in Juab County, cattle were stolen and the guard fired upon, while similar depredations were committed at Pleasant Creek and Manti, in Sanpete County.
Colonel Conover, on reaching Sanpete, left some of his men at each settlement to protect it against the Indians, who were now raiding and running off stock in all directions. Arriving at Manti and securing that place against attack, Conover's command divided and companies were sent out to scour the surrounding country in quest of the redskins. One of these detachments, under Lieutenant- Colonel Jabez Nowlin,-who it will be remembered was wounded in the two days' fight at Provo,-came upon a band of twenty or thirty Indians near Pleasant Creek on the 23rd of July. Being hailed by an interpreter and asked if they were friends or foes, the savages admitted that they were enemies, and without waiting to be attacked fired upon the troopers. Nowlin then ordered a charge, and the Indians, after the first fire, broke and fled, leaving six or seven of their number dead upon the field. Nowlin's company sustained no loss.
Colonel Conover now despatched messengers to Salt Lake City to request further orders from General Wells. The messengers sent were Clark Roberts, of Provo, and John W. Berry, of Spanish Fork. Leaving Manti in the afternoon of the 23rd, they reached Summit Creek-Santaquin-in Utah County, next morning. They found the place deserted, the settlers, fearing attack and massacre, having sought safety at Payson. As the messengers rode through the town they were fired upon by Indians concealed in some of the houses. Berry was shot in the left wrist, and Roberts through the shoulder. Putting spurs to their horses they rode at full speed toward Payson, hotly pursued by the Indians, from whom, however, they succeeded in escaping.
On the 25th of July, Colonel George A. Smith was given
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command of all the militia in the Territory south of Salt Lake City, with instructions to take prompt and thorough measures for the defense and safety of the various settiements. The policy he was directed by Governor Young to pursue was to gather all the inhabitants into forts, corralling their stock and surrounding it with armed guards. No acts of retaliation or offensive warfare upon the red men were to be permitted; but on the contrary a conciliatory course towards them was to be maintained. At the same time vigilant watch was to be kept, and such Indians as were caught attempting to steal or kill, were to be summarily punished. These instructions Colonel Smith executed with his usual fidelity, and though it entailed much labor upon the settlers to put themselves in a proper state of defense, the wisdom of the policy, evident at the outset, was speedily confirmed. Those who failed to follow the instructions suffered heavily from the raids of the Indians.
A paragraph from Colonel Smith's orders to the settlers at that time is here inserted :
IX. To all we wish to say, that it is evident that the Indians intend to prey and subsist upon our stock and will shoot and kill whenever and wherever they can. It is therefore expected that these orders will be rigidly enforced and complied with, and the small settlements in Pe-teet-neet Canyon, and all such exposed places must be evacuated and the inhabitants of all weak settlements and stronger ones upon their borders should not be permitted to wander out any distance from the forts alone, or after dark, but keep themselves secure, and not permit any sense of security to lull them into a spirit of carelessness or indifference to their safety.
* Let every enterprise be guarded ; * * and look out that you are not surprised in harvesting and haying in the fields, or in hauling between the fields and the stack-yards ; and as soon as may be thresh the wheat and safely store it, and be careful that you save hay sufficient for the winter if you should have to keep up stock, or in case any emergency should arise. We do not expect that any person will complain or think it hard to comply with these instructions, for it is for their good and salvation for them to do so. The safety of the settlements depends upon it, and we expect them to be complied with, whether it suits every individual circumstance or not, and the commandants of the various military districts and authorities of the various settlements are required to carry them out.
On the same day that Colonel Smith was given command of the southern military districts, Governor Young addressed the following vigorous and characteristic letter to Walker, the Utah chief:
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GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, July 25, 1853.
Capt. Walker :
I send you some tobacco for you to smoke in the mountains when you get lonesome. You are a fool for figliting your best friends, for we are the best friends, and the only friends that you have in the world. Everybody else would kill you if they could get a chance. If you get hungry send. some friendly Indian down to the settlements and we will give you some beef-cattle and flour. If you are afraid of the tobacco which I send you, you can let some of your prisoners try it first and then you will know that it is good. When you get good-natured again, I would like to see you. Don't you think you would he ashamed? You know that I have always been your best friend.
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
On the 10th of August, Lieutenant R. Burns and a company of ten men, encamped at a small settlement on Clover Creek-Mona-in Juab County, were attacked by Indians, and during the fight that followed, Isaac Duffin was slightly wounded in the knee. Two of the soldiers had their horses killed, and one Indian was sent to "the happy hunting grounds." About this time Colonel Conover was ordered back from Sanpete to guard the settlements of Utah County and assist in putting them in a better condition of defense.
The vicinity of "The Summit," in Parley's Canyon, was the scene of the next Indian outrage. On the 17th of August, four men, -John Dixon, John Quayle, John Hoagland and John Knight,-were hauling lumber from Snyder's saw-mill in Parley's Park, when they were fired upon by Indians in ambush and two of them instantly killed. These were John Quayle and John Dixon. Hoagland was wounded in the arm, but was able to help Knight detach two of their horses, upon which they rode with all speed to Salt Lake City. Barely escaping with their lives, they left their wagons, four horses, two mules, and the dead bodies of their companions behind them. Their savage assailants did not linger long in the neighborhood of the massacre, not even long enough to scalp or otherwise mutilate the dead, according to their custom. Taking the animals they hastily decamped, and though followed by an armed party from Salt Lake City, as soon as the news of the killing reached there, they were nowhere to be found, though diligently sought for in all the surrounding region. Another John Dickson, the spelling of whose
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name slightly differed from that of the man killed in Parley's Canyon, had been shot by Indians near Snyder's Mill a short time before.
The situation now became so serious that traveling from settlement to settlement, unless accompanied by a strong guard, was extremely perilous. Though the Utah Indians had taken the initiative, other tribes or parts of tribes were also beginning to engage in the war, shooting and stealing stock in various sections of the Territory. Governor Young, on the 19th of August, issued a proclamation forbidding the sale of fire-arms and ammunition to the Utah Indians and calling upon the officers of militia in the several districts to hold their commands in readiness to march at any moment against the murderous marauders.
Colonel George A. Smith returned to Salt Lake City from Iron County on the 22nd of August. He reported that the southern settlements generally were in an excellent state of defense, and that the inhabitants were on the alert in relation to the savages. He had been assisted in his labors by Apostle Franklin D. Richards, who was traveling through southern Utah on public business, and returned north with Colonel Smith. Two days later Lieutenant-Colonel William H. Kimball, who had also rendered important service in Iron County, came back from the south. He and his men had been followed and closely watched by Indians for several days, but heeding the Governor's instructions they had not taken the offensive, and the savages, seeing that they were prepared, did not attack them.
As a means of defense and an example to other settlements during the Indian troubles of 1853, the authorities at Salt Lake City decided to build "a Spanish wall" around the town. The project was first mentioned by President Young in a meeting of the Bishops held at the Council House in the latter part of August. The City Council then took up the matter and that same month a committee consisting of Albert Carrington, Parley P. Pratt and Franklin D. Richards submitted a report to the Council suggesting the line of the proposed wall around the city. It was to stand twelve feet high and be six feet through at the base, tapering to a thickness, half way up,
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of two-and-a-half feet, and preserving the same thickness to the summit. Gates and bastions were to be placed at suitable intervals, and the wall, which was to be built entirely of earth, was to be about nine miles long. It was never completed, but fragments of the portion finished may yet be seen on the northern outskirts of the city, a reminder of the early days that witnessed its erection. Subsequently many of the outlying settlements of the Territory built similar walls for their protection.
Still the Indian war went on. At Fillmore, on the 13th of September, William Hatton, while standing guard, was shot and killed by the savages-Pauvants-who, catching from the Utes the infection of the hour, had begun stealing and killing in that locality.
On September 26th, Colonel Stephen Markham and his men had a brush with the redskins near Nephi, Juab Connty, in which C. B. Hancock was wounded, and a number of Indians killed. Six days later, in another skirmish at the same place, eight more savages were slain and two or three captured.
A party of four men,-William Reed, James Nelson, William Luke and Thomas Clark,-about the last of September, started from Manti, Sanpete County, with a couple of teams loaded with wheat for Salt Lake City. They had reached Uintah Springs, a little east of Salt Creek Canyon, when, early on the morning of October 1st their camp was attacked by Indians and all four were killed. The savages had time in this instance to complete their fiendish work, mutilating the bodies of their victims to such a degree that when found they could scarcely be recognized.
At Manti, on October 4th, William Mills and John E. Warner were killed near a grist-mill on the outskirts of town, and on the 14th the Indians got in more of their bloody work at Santaquin, in Utah County, where a few men, engaged in harvesting, were fired upon by about thirty savages and one of their number killed and scalped. This was F. F. Tindrel. Stealing what stock they could the assailants hastily fled.
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