The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-04-05
Here I got reproof, and was ordered to hold my

were determined on their destruction; that we
dare not oppose the Indians, for we were at their
mercy; that the best we could do for them (the
emigrants) was to get them and what few traps
we could take in wagons. tolay their arms in the
bottom of the wagon, and cover them up with
bcd-clothcs and start for the settlement as
soon as possible, and trust themselves in our
hands. The small children and wounded were
to 60 with the two wagons, the women to follow
the wagons and the men next; the troops to
stand in readiness on the east side of the road
toreceive them. Shurtz and Nephi johnson were
to conceal the Indians in the brush and rocks
till the company was strung out on the road to
certain point, and, at the watchword, Halt; do
your duty" each man was to cover his victim
and fire. johnson and Schurtz were to rally the
Indians and rush upon and dispatch the women
and larger children. 1t was further told the men
that President Haight said that if we were united
in carrying out the instructions we would all re-
ceive a celestial reward.
said was willing to put mp with Less re-
ward if could be excused. "How can you do
this without shedding innocent blood?" asked.
Here got another lampooning for my stub
borncss and disobcdience to the priesthood; was
told that there was not a drop of innocent blood
IN the whole company of emigrants. They also
referred to the Gentle nations who refused the
children of Israel passage through their country
when Moses led them out of Egypt; that the
Lord held that crime against them, and when
Israel waxed strong the Lord commanded
Joshua to slay the whole Nation, men, women
and children. Have not these people done
worse than that to us? Have they not threat
ened to murder our leader and prophet, and
have they not boasted of the murder of the
patriarchs and prophets, Joseph and Hyrum?
Now, talk about shedding innocent blood?"
They said was a good, liberal, free-hearted
man, but too much of this sympathy would be
always in the way; that every man now had to
show his colors; that it was not safe to have
Judas in camp.
Then it was proposed that every man express
himself; that if there was aaman who would
not keep a close mouth they wanted to know it
then.
This gave me to understand what I might ex-
pect if IcOntinued to oppose.
Maj. Higbee said: 1T is right. Let Brother
Lee take an expression of the people"
knew dare not refuse, SO 1 had every man
speak and express himself. All said they were
willing to carry out the counsel of their leaders;
that the leaders had the Spirit of God, and
knew better what was right than they did.
They then wanted to know my feelings. I
replied: IL have already expressed them"
Every eye was upon me as paused but said
/, "You can do us you please. will not op-
pose you any longer"
Twill you keep q close mouth?" was the
question.
I will try" was my answer.
I will here say that fear of offending Brigham
Young and George A. Smith had saved my life.
l was near being "blOod-atoned" in Parowan
under ]. G. L. Smith in 1854, but of this have
spoken in my autobiography.
Saturday morning all was ready, and every
man assigned to his post of duty, During the
night, rather just before daylight, johnson and
Shurtz ambushed their Indians the better to de-
ceive the emigrants. About eleven o'clock a. m.
the troops under Maj. Higbee took their position
on the road. The white flag was still kept up in
the corral. Hlgbee called Miiiiam bateman, OF
Tue TANKS, 70 'ake nag OIL truce 70 tne cotrai.
u was met ABOUT nan way with another wmte
flag from the emigrant camp. They had a talk.
Inc emls!anI was 0ia tnat we had come 70 res
cue mem II 1.es Moulo 'rus' US. Doth men WIN
nags retu,heo 70 .nelr Respective places ana re-
Polo"' anu were 70 meet 'Sl" anu pr!ns
s Moau' e 1s'iAe ~ nc ouS ~ 20 anu M
10TH. Sl'I IN, Nar 1ne t s.l anu II
T.rIpud tLs . l,Mrar axh" , aIn - 'Hnm NC
ssitdu, 'ie ~, WIN 'cu>' ;'S ",-oc-c''i"p'
Wou iI Miils ut.k wo s anu 'hen Two WAGONS
Mouiu Nc sem s aol sne l1eI'rns chloieh elotn-
lns' cue. ueseu' 40 thG 'ein' Pf"poseo "eee
IT, 49, Nv. ".' .. ol'tt''
nau a. no.ie ~ SKY as psslSe III ..eI; my
oonSue leiuseu 20 l.s ollce' ias oown
Un 'e s gro, Ill., ane s9;. near wneie some
$3.50 -. go ,,, '.i'', IL ,' 49, ,,'S
sto.' =" c.o Pe'i "nU i'0 J"'' ,''o,' VI
W. ~o".'. 49, u:, o.u . l.sS, ct un W Hs
.Ml anu I'iheu wnsle say 'hele' one reE',eu
lhelt .ionpie' s.lo 1h;et seven ot tneir NUMBER
weie Ali.eo anu ioi'i -h,ne w""n"e" on inc ,rst
attacki that sevefa! naa aiea since. eiie asked
ne ~ was an .,io Asen'' s''n: m one
am q. .h as 1 .dG ose5a . mas h apnsee me
ner. l heard attefward that the same question
WAS ashea ana answered IN tne same manner py
NICE riano; VINO naa ocen sent py HiSocc 10 the
c.n,i " hurry me ~, l"f leaI tnat rhe inoiahs
"o"iu coi''e o''cA an oe "p"" 'hei"'
When all was ready, Samuel McMurdy, coun-
selor to Bishop P. X. Smith (Klinger SMITH,
drove out on the lead. His wagon had the sew
enteen children, clothing and arms. Samuel
Knight drove the other team, with the five
men and one boy about fifteen years
old. walked behind the front wagon to direct
the course and shun being in the heat of the
slaughter: but this kept to myself. When we
got turned fairly to the east. I motioned to
the same time told the women who were in the
next wagon to follow the road up to the troops,
which they did. Instead of saying to NIcNIurdy
not to drive SO fast, as he sworc to on my trial,
said. to the contrary, to drive on as my aim was
to get out of sight before the firing commenced,
which we did. We were about half mile ahead
of the company when we heard the first firing.
We had driven over a ridge of rolling ground
and down on low fat.
The firing was simultaneous along the whole
line. The moment the firing commenced
McMurly halted and tied his lines across the
rod of his wagon-box, stepped down, and
coollv, with q double-barreled shotgun,
walked back to knights wagon, which had
the wounded men, and was about twen-
ty feet in the rear. As he raised his
piece, he said: Lord, my God, receive
their spirits. for it is for the Kingdom of Hea-
ven's sake that we do this" fred, and killed two
men. Saul Knight had a muzzle-loading rifle,