Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1872-09-27
MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE.
Amdavit OF Philip KlinssnF smith.

mOCNEAAN MhADO" AASoAOHns
.Amd.vi. Of Philip Kiinssar smith.
State of Nevada, County Of Lincoln, IS:
Personally appeared before me, p B.
Miller, Clerk Of Court of the Seventh
Judicial District of the State of Nevada,
Philip Klngen Smith, who being duly
sworn, on his oath says: My name is
Philip Klingen Smith; reside in the
County of Lincoln, State OF Nevsda;
resided at Cedar City in the County of
Iron. in the Territory, of Utah, from A..
d. 1882 TO A. D. 1853; was residing at
Cedar City at the time of the massacre at
Mountain Meadows, in said Territory of
Utah; I had heard that company of
emigrsnts was on its way from Salt Lake
City. bound for California; said compa-
ny arrived at Cedar City, tarried there
one day. and passed on for California;
after said company had left Cedar City,
the militia was called out for the purpose
of committing acts of hostility against
them; said call was a regular military
call from the superior officers to the sub
ordinate officers xAd privates OF the regi-
\ ment at Cedar City and vicinity. compos-
ing part of the militia of the Territory of
Utah; do not recollect the number of
the regiment. / was at that time the
Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints at Cedar City; Isaac
&. hsight was President over said church
ut Cedar City. and the southern settle.
ments in said Territory of Utah; my po-
sition ~ Bishop is subordinate to that Of
said President. W. H. Dame was Presi-
dent of said church at Parowan, in said
Iron county. Said Dame was also
colonel of said regiment; and Isaac Z.
Haight was lieutenant colonel of said
regiment, and said John d. Lee, of Har-
mony, ia ssid Iron county, was Major.
Said regiment MAS duly ordered to anus
ter, armed and equpped as the law d.,
rects and prepared i0r field operations.
l had no command nor office in said rep.
iment in the expedition which resulted
Ill said company's being massacred at
the Mountain Meadows in said County of
Iron. About four days after said compa-
ny of emigrants had left Cedar City that
portion OF said regiment then mustered
ut Cedar City took up its line OF march
III pursuit OF tnem.l About two days
after said company had left Cedar Ci,y,
Lieutenant Colonel L. G. Haight ex-
pressed III my presence desire tnut saiu
company might be permitted to pass on
their way in peace; but afterwards he
told me tnat he had orders to kill all of
said company, OF emlgrants except the
little children. do not know whether
said headquarters meant the regiment
headquarters at Psrow,.n or the heed
quarters Of the Commander in Chief mt
salt Lake City. When the said compa-
ny got to Iron Creek, about twenty miles
from Cedar City, Captain Joel White
started for the Pinto Greek Settlement.
through which the said company would
pass Tor the purpose of influencing the
people to permit said company to pass
on their way III peace. l asAed and OBJ
tained permission Of said White to 90
with him to aid him in trying to save
life. When we got about three miles
from Cedar City, We met Major j. d.
Lee, who asked us where We were going.
replied that We were going to try to
prevent tho killing Of the emigrants.
Lee replied: have something to saw
about That. Lee was ut that time on his
way to Parowan, the headquarters OF
Colonel Dame. Said White and went
to Pinto Greek; remained there one
night, and the next day returned to Cedar
City, nesting said company Of emigr .nts
at Iron Creek. Before reaching Celar
City We met one Ira Allen, who told us
that thu aesrse had passed deyotino
said company to destruction After tns
u night had been going on three or four
days . message from Major Lee reached
a Cedar City, who stated that the fight had
not been altogether successful, upon
i which Lieutenant Colonel Haight Or
dered out q reinforcement. At this time
N was ordered out by Captain John M.
Higby who ordered nue. to m uster armed
a aud equipped as the law directs. i It WAS
matter Of life or death to lue to muster
Il or not. and l mustered with the reinforc.
Ing troops. L, was at this time that
Lieutenant Colonel 4 Haieht4 said To me-
that It was the orders from headquarters
tnas AL but the little children were to be
Killed. ae Said Haight had at that time
Just returned from headquarters at Paro-
van, where military council had been
4 I'D. There had. been like council
held at Parowan previous to that. at
which were present Colonel Dame. Lied
tenant Colonel I. G., Haight AID Major
John -. Lee. The result of this first
council was the calling out of said reQi.
ment M ior the purpose already stated.
Inc reinforcement aforesaid was marched
20 the Mountain Meadows, and there
,ormed 2 junction with the main body.
MalHr Leo pAsssd all the troops at
spring aud made speech 10 them. sav.
ing that his orders from hesduuarters
were to kill the entire COMPANY eycent
the smali children.' I was not in tl,a
ranks at that time, but on one side talk
inStaA man named Slade, and could not
nave seen paper in Maj. Less hands.
Use then sent flag of truce to the en-
taas camp, Offering said emigrants that
y they laid down their arms he would
P'O''cs " 'aen.' They accordingly laid
'se's -8 ayell