To assure the main body of the group benefited from the men's wages, Young sent Orson Pratt to see that the men handed over the pa… He said one of the women killed was an activist and there were frictions over water rights. It was common for emigrant parties to camp there for several days or even weeks while their animals gained condition for the grueling desert crossings still to come. The latter actions did not normally arise out of any approval for the massacre, and indeed were usually undertaken without knowledge of the guilt of the persons being shielded; rather they reflected a feeling of community solidarity versus the coercive power of an often-hostile government, and a pervasive mistrust of U.S. authorities and their willingness or ability to ensure that Mormon defendants would receive a fair trial. Almost as soon as news of the massacre reached the eastern United States, enemies of the Church began exploiting it for polemical purposes. The victims were "all shot while in vehicles while driving," family member Alex LeBaron told CNN on Tuesday. John Doyle Lee was born September 12, 1812, at Kaskaskia, Illinois, and baptized on June 17, 1838. When the Saints were forced to leave Nauvoo in 1846, one of the biggest challenges they faced was financing the migration. Perhaps the following comments relative to Brigham Young's involvement may be instructive: The events that transpired during the Mountain Meadows Massacre have (and should) live in infamy; there is no explanation that will justify the murders of those five days in September, and we cannot fully understand them. The climate made overland travel a seasonal affair, as emigrant parties would try to complete their crossings during the warm months. Church leaders wanted to help support all Latter-day Saints, especially the poor, who wanted to gather. In the words of one scholar, "the complete—the absolute—truth of the affair can probably never be evaluated by any human being; attempts to understand the forces which culminated in it and those which were set into motion by it are all very inadequate at best." Most scholars recognize that there was a local cover-up of the massacre. An additional claim sometimes put forward is that Lee was a "scapegoat," and that some kind of corrupt agreement existed between Church leaders and territorial authorities to not pursue anyone else. Bagley relies upon a strained interpretation of some new evidence, including minutes of a meeting that took place between Dimick Huntington and some Southern Utah Indian chiefs on September 1, 1857, ten days before the massacre. There are also reports that some of the emigrants told a few Latter-day Saints that when they had transported their families to California they were going to return, join the army, and help subdue the Mormons. Lee was not tried as a "scapegoat" but as an actual participant—evidently the leading participant—in the massacre, who had done more than any other person to bring it about, and who had actually killed five people. Mexican Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said the attack could have been a case of mistaken identity of "conflicting groups in the area. The Mormon Battalion was the only religiously based unit in United States military history, [1] and it served from July 1846 to July 1847 during the Mexican-American War.The battalion was a volunteer unit of between 534 [2] [3] and 559 [4] Latter-day Saints men led by Mormon company officers, commanded by regular US army officers. For the next two weeks, they drew their clothing allowance of $42 per man, received their equipment (Model 1816 smoothbore flintlock muskets and a few Harper's Ferry Model 1803 Rifles), and were more formally organized into a combat battalion. In spite of the tragedy, efforts have been made to heal the wounds that were gouged into the collective American psyche 150 years ago. These claims caused quite an uproar in Washington, where the nascent Republican Party demanded that something be done about the Mormons. The Baker-Fancher train arrived in Salt Lake City about the end of July 1857 and camped west and a little south of the city, on the Jordan River. We have all the water we could ever need.". In a meeting at Cedar City on the afternoon of September 6, 1857, local leaders received word that the wagon train, at Mountain Meadows, had been surrounded by Paiute Indians who were determined to attack the emigrants. Most recently, at the sesquicentennial anniversary of the Massacre (September 11, 2007), then-Elder Henry B. Eyring was permitted to speak, and offered, “May the God of Heaven, whose sons and daughters we all are, bless us to honor those who died here by extending to one another the pure love and spirit of forgiveness which His Only Begotten Son personified.” (LDS Newsroom Report), Church officials and three organizations of descendants — the Mountain Meadows Monument Foundation, Mountain Meadows Association and Mountain Meadows Massacre Descendants — have worked to heal old wounds. Isaac C. Haight was the commander of the Second Battalion in the Iron County militia with the rank of major, and Colonel Dame's second-in-command. And it wasn’t, as you might expect, against Mexican forces, but against a rampaging herd of bulls. That hasn't stopped some people, for polemical reasons, from using a broad brush to denigrate the Church and its early leaders relative to the crimes of September 1857. By late 2010 it appeared that National Landmark status was assured — a National Parks Service Advisory Board subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend a petition to elevate the Mountain Meadows Massacre site to landmark status. In this latter role, he carried orders and other messages between various militia officers. "This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth. This belief was shared by a number of eminent legal authorities, including some charged with law enforcement in Utah. Lee was the only Mormon found guilty of murder after the massacre. This terrible massacre occurred at what is now known as “Oatman Flat,” about 100 miles east of Yuma, Arizona. According to Lee's later court testimony, the Indians asked him to help with the attack. Joe Biden sworn in as 46th president of the United States, Youth poet laureate recites stunning poem at Biden inauguration, President Donald Trump departs the White House, See Trump's final message as President as his family looks on, Trump pardons 73 people, commutes sentences of 70 others, 12 Army National Guard members removed from inauguration duty, Mexico is scrambling to find whoever ambushed and killed 9 Mormon family members, leaving 200 bullet casings. Persecution and mob violence had made it impossible for them to stay. Authorities later arrested the alleged ringleader of a drug trafficking family that ran a smuggling operation on Mexico's border with Texas. The LeBaron family has previously been the victim of drug cartel violence in Mexico. He was met outside the camp by one of the emigrants, a Mr. Hamilton, and an arrangement was made for John D. Lee to speak to the emigrants. Haight joined in the Mormon exodus into Iowa territory. This conflict, known as the Utah War, was ultimately resolved peacefully; but it was into this tense atmosphere that the Baker-Fancher wagon train entered in August of 1857. Updated 0317 GMT (1117 HKT) November 7, 2019. With the Mormon Battalion and onto Utah Nowlin experienced the "Mormon War" of 1844-45 and the expulsion of the Mormons in 1846 from western Illinois to Iowa Territory. Mountain Meadows massacre The widely publicized Mountain Meadows massacre of September 11, 1857, during the Utah War, was a mass killing of about 130 emigrants, mostly from Arkansas and heading for California. This book attempts to show that no Indians had anything to do with the massacre, but that every part of it was carried out exclusively by white men. Because of its territorial status, the federal government retained the right to appoint officials at various levels, in addition to actual federal offices that existed within the territory. This page was last edited on 12 December 2019, at 06:52. Generally, the community practices a fundamentalist version of Mormonism, and one of the victim's family members told CNN that some practice polygamy. Generally, the community practices a fundamentalist version of … ", "I will thank him for his support and we will discuss if we need assistance," he said. There is no doubt the news that both Indians and white men—Mormons—were attacking the emigrants was not well received. The continuation of successful missionary work in the Eastern United States and Europe brought a steady influx of Mormon converts to the Mormon communities; the population continued to grow, and settlement expanded outward into present-day Idaho, Canada, Nevada, California, Arizona, Wyoming, and Northern Mexico. In the wake of the attack, US President Donald Trump called for war against the drug cartels in a. Before the completion of the trans-continental railroad in 1869, overland travel was both difficult and dangerous. It was also common knowledge that the train originated in Arkansas, where earlier in the year beloved apostle Parley P. Pratt had been murdered near the town of Van Buren. The Mormons stood guard to prevent further bloodshed while the Luiseño people gathered their numerous dead into a common grave. Historic battles and associations with the Mormon Battalion occurred in this area. The Baker-Fancher train consisted of California-bound emigrants who started their journey in Arkansas and Missouri. Despite the efforts of Buchanan to keep the advance of the army secret, Mormon mail runners notified Brigham Young, the incumbent territorial governor, the very next month that the troops were on their way to Utah. The heightened anxiety brought on by rumors swirling about the train, the advancing federal troops, the drought that many had suffered through for the year, and the memories of violence in Missouri and Illinois all combined in an explosive atmosphere, yet the residents were unclear on what action they should take. The victims are part of a Mormon community of about 3,000 members living in Mexico. The Mormon Battalion, the only religion-based unit in United States military history, served from July 1846 – July 1847 during the Mexican–American War of 1846–1848. The extermination order is the name commonly used to refer to an executive order signed on October 27, 1838, by Lilburn W. Boggs, the governor of Missouri during the Mormon-Missouri War of 1838. Facing down an army from the east might be bearable, but facing one from both the east and the west was unbearable. The group was advised by Elder Charles C. Rich to head toward California by circling around the northern edge of the Great Salt Lake, and they started to follow this advice. Eventually, as more information came to light, some of the principal participants were excommunicated from the Church. While there were no doubt many honest public … On their approach to the San Pedro River in modern-day Arizona, the Battalion was forced to engage the cattle as they ran amok amongst their wagons, destroying supplies and wounding two soldiers. The victims are part of a Mormon community of about 3,000 members living in Mexico. Lucas arrested Joseph Smith and a few other Mormon leaders and ordered their execution for the next day. Polygamy is illegal in both the United States and in Mexico. An excellent summary of events in the days immediately preceding the massacre is provided by Robert H. Briggs, in his essay "Mountain Meadows and The Craft of History," published in Sunstone, December 2002. The Mormon Battalion arrived in San Diego on 29 January 1847 after a march of some 1,900 miles from Iowa. The official correspondence shows that a reward was offered for the capture of Isaac C. Haight, William Stewart and John Higbee, all suspects in the planning and/or execution of the massacre, and that this reward remained on offer for at least seven years. Emigrants could purchase foodstuffs and other supplies from businesses in Salt Lake City and other towns, while their animals—both beasts of burden and any livestock—could find excellent grazing at a spot near Cedar City known as las Vegas de Santa Clara or the Mountain Meadows. Howard Miller, the man in the black shirt, and the three children with blurred faces survived the attack. The new memorial was a rendition of the original rock cairn constructed at the site by a military expedition under the direction of Major James H. Carleton about two years after the massacre. Mountain Meadows Massacre site (Jason Olson, Deseret News archives), Videos about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Mountain Meadows Massacre -- Reburying the Dead, Frequently asked questions about Mormonism, FAIRlds:Shedding New Light on the Mountain Meadows Massacre, https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mountain_Meadows_massacre&oldid=51676. On March 19, 1851, Royce and Mary Ann Oatman and their seven children were part of a Mormon wagon train heading to the Arizona – California border area. On their way to Utah Territory, members of the Mormon Battalion spent the winter before the Mexican-American War in Pueblo. The Church, which owns much of the massacre site land, announced its plans to seek national landmark status in 2008. He prepared to defend the territory against the approaching army by adopting a "scorched earth" policy. Lee was the only person ever brought to trial for his involvement in the massacre. The Attorney-General for the neighboring state of Chihuahua, Cesar Peniche Espejel, said he believes the newly-formed "Los Jaguares" cartel, an off-shoot of the Sinaloa cartel, may be behind the massacre. The militia, under the command of Major General Samuel D. Lucas, laid siege to Far West on October 31. Royce complied but, fearful that he wouldn't They were camped on this spot when a group of Yavapai Indians approached and asked for food. A spokesman from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church, said the victims were not members. You must not meddle with them. His ecclesiastical position was stake president. It was led by a local leader and member of the church, John D. Lee over a Mormon militia. Brigham instructed all missionaries to return to Utah, ordered Church missions closed, and ordered the abandonment of the more isolated Mormon colonies. (Some historians are undecided as to whether Paiute Indians were actually involved in the massacre at all; some assert that it was white men disguised as Indians.) Officials and family members believe that Mexican drug cartels carried out the attack, though there's a question of which cartel did so. However, the governor maintained that if whites were involved, they would be pardoned under the general amnesty granted by the governor to the Mormons in June 1858. Lee described to them a plan to get them through the hostile Indians. However, the record does not back this up. Certain themes continue to re-emerge in polemical accounts of the massacre. Philip Klingensmith was a bishop in Cedar City and an officer in the Iron County militia. Roberts. Shortly before July 24th, 1847, the first party of Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. In 1851, they were attacked by Tolkepayas (Western Yavapai) Indians about 80 miles east of Fort Yuma along the Gila River. Many years later, José Lugo reported that perhaps a hundred Luiseños were killed, but no other evidence has been found to support his claim. Such reasoning does not excuse, of course, the decision that the white men in the area then made; it is only offered as a way to understand some of the excitement and the hysteria that enveloped those in the area. This work argues that Brigham Young actually ordered the massacre of the Fancher Party. Their arrival did not apparently raise any eyebrows or concerns, as there was no mention of them in the newspapers of the time. After the massacre, local leaders attempted to portray the killings as solely the act of Indians. After serving briefly in the Mexican-American War as a member of Brigham Young's "Mormon Battalion," Lee joined the gathering masses of Zion in Utah. How could such news factor into the decision to massacre the emigrants? Legion reformation in Utah [ edit ] The mood in the territory was grim and determined. CNN's Madeline Holcombe and Ray Sanchez contributed to this report. [1]. In 1858 John Butterfield used a similar route in his establishment of the Butterfield Overland Mail service. Several of the emigrants were killed, as were several of the Indians, producing a stalemate situation. In addition, Buchanan ordered the cessation of all mail service to Utah in an effort to provide the advantage of surprise for the advancing troops. Haight enlisted in the Mormon Battalion and was elected a captain of Ten. Commencing at this point and through settlements to the south, there were complaints that the emigrants boasted of participating the violence against Mormons in both Missouri and Illinois, that they poisoned a spring, and that they threatened to destroy one of the Mormon settlements. In 2009, Eric LeBaron was kidnapped and returned unharmed a week later. As the Baker-Fancher train camped at Mountain Meadows, some of the residents of Cedar City and the surrounding areas determined that some action needed to be taken against the emigrants. Rumor had it that some of the members of the train were among those who had participated in Pratt's murder, or that they bragged about his killing. Mexico arrests suspect in Mormon family massacre, 'I'll fire you on the spot': Biden tells staff to treat others with respect, Biden signs executive actions aimed at dismantling Trump's policies, A proud Harris smiles as she swears in new senators in her new role, Clyburn reveals what Bush said about Trump and Biden at inauguration, Officer who lured Capitol rioters away applauded at inauguration. Castañeda said there were long-standing tensions between the families and cartels. Comments: Elise Boxer born: August 5, 1835 at Farmersville, Cattaraugus County, New York died: September 30, 1909 at … NOTES. On March 23, 1877, Lee was executed at Mountain Meadows and buried in Panguitch, Utah. Haight's role in the massacre was a complex one; he was involved in its planning, but also made some efforts to stop or at least delay the actions against the emigrants. We merely await a call from your great new president! Historians disagree on how many Luiseno warriors were killed at the massacre. In 1864, Adair accompanied the legendary Mormon scout Jacob Hamblin to quell unrest among the Paiute Indians near Harrisburg on the Virgin River. At the time of its first settlement, the area that came to be known as Utah still belonged to Mexico, but was ceded to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo following the end of the Mexican-American War in early 1848. A few scattered signs can be found that will provide additional information about this historic area. One person was arrested Tuesday that officials initially believed was connected to the attacks. While there were no doubt many honest public servants among them, a number of the federal appointees to both territorial and federal positions, including some judges, turned out to be both morally venal and abusive of the prerogatives of their offices. If there is any truth to these rumors, it is clear that the travels of the Baker-Fancher train through southern Utah did not go unnoticed, as had been the case in northern Utah. The emigrants agreed, the wagons were brought forward and loaded with the wounded and the weapons, and the procession started toward Cedar City. 1 When efforts to sell the Nauvoo Temple and other Church properties faltered, Church leaders dispatched Jesse Little, a leader of the branches of the Church in … In the words of B.H. This amnesty was issued at the behest of U.S. President James Buchanan, and covered all hostile acts against the United States by any persons in the course of the Utah War. 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