The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-22
The Mountain Meadow Massacre.
John I'D. Lee Makes u Confession
The Church Ordered the Muir
ional Associated Press to the Star.

der.
National Associated Press to the Star.
NEW YORK, March pa Herald spe.
cial from Pioche, Nevada, gives a full
confession of John d. Lee regarding the
Mountain Meadow massacre, in whi Oh
he states it was the result OF the direct
teachings Of Brigham Young. 1t was
done by the orders of those high in
authority in the Mormon community,
aud its perpetrators believed it duty
that they owed to God and the Church.
The immediate orders were issued by
Col. Dame, Lieut.. Col. Isaac Haight,
and the Council at Cedar City, Utah.
At that time Lee says he had no posi-
tion, either in the civil or military de-
partments, or in the Church. Haight
gave Lee an account OF the emigrants
who were coming, and Lee was ordered
| to raise the Indians to attack the train,
run off the cattle, and have the Indians
Kill the emigrants. The Indians were
to receive all the blame. In the first at
tack the Indians killed seven and
wounded sixteen emIgrants. The latter
then fortified themselves. 1t was ar
ranged between the Indians and Nor
mons that the emigrants should be en-
| ticed from their fortiticatiOn by treach-
cry, Major Highly had made speech,
saying tnat all the emigrants who could
talk were to be killed.
At the Council at which the pro-
gramme for the massacre was arranged,
| there were about fifty whites and four
or five hundred Indians. A flag Of truce
was sent forward, and "a sufrender by
the emigrants of their arms agreed
upon.
Lee was to get the arms of the emf
grants, their sick and wounded and the
children into wagons and start ahead.
The Indians were to remain in ambus l.,
and the women We're 10 follow alter
the wagons. The Indians were to kill
the women, the militia to kill the men,
and Lee and the drivers to kill the
wounded and sick in the wagons.
This programme was carried out, the
firing commencing when tile wagons
were half a mIle of. Seventeen chill
dren were ,ettt. The horrors attending
the massacre were beyond description.
The brethren were all swOi n to secresy.
Lee was sent to report the massacre
to Brigham Young, who said: Brother
Lee. not drop Of innocent blood has
been shed. l have gone to God in
prayer, and God has shown me it was a
just act.
Inc people dld right but were only
little hasty. l have direct evidence
from God that the act was a just one,
that it was in accord with Gods will.
l Isustain you and the brethren in. all
that you did. All fear is treachery on
the part of the brethren concerned. Go
home and tell the brethren sustain
them. Keep all secret as the grave.
Never tell any one, and write me a
letter, laying ali blame on the Indians.
L will then report to The United States
Government that it was an Indian mas
sacre.
Lee further says that itswas years af-
teeward before he knew that he had
been the tool OF his leaders. He had on
ly obeyed the orders OF his superiors.
he then believed he was serving God,
and would receive celestial awarl.
Now he knows it was wrong. and that
his reward will not be celestial. He
complains that the Witnesses at his