The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-04-05
LEES CONFESSION.

anu LCa@CA VI IAAO 01-AA0 vi uts4ll
Young's followers who, on the 10th of
September, 1857, massacred a party of
unofending emigrants in cold blood at
Mountain Meadows, was executed on
the Esd, at the scene of his crimes, in
pursuance of the sentence of the Court
in which he was found guilty. The
choice of death which he made was by
Shooting right he had under the
laws of the Territory. The details of
bis crime have been heretofore given.
He prepared a-confession while in dur
ance, last February, a synopsis Of
which is given as follows:
In the month Of September, 81, the company Of
emigrants known as the Arkansas Company ar
rived in Parowan, Iron County, Utah, on their
one OF the company, saw and recognized one
William Laney, Mormon resident OF Parowan
Alden and his father had rescued Laney from an
anti Mormon mob in Tennessee. several years
before, and saved his life. Laney was glad TO
see his friend and benefactor, and invited him
to his house. and gave him some garden sauce
to take back TO the camp with him. The same
evening il was reported to Bishop Col. Dame.
When The report was made to Dame he raised his
hand and crooked his little finger in significant
manner to one Barney Carter, his brother in
law, and one of the "Angels of Death" Carter,
without another word. walked out west to
Laney's house, with strong picket in his hand;
called Laney out and struck him heavy blow
on the head, fracturing his skull. and left him on
Newman, President of the High Council, told
me they saw Danes maneuvers.
George A Smith told the people not to sell
their grain to the emigrants, nor to feed it to
tIos- o,.f.r milo a Arrht
next spring with the United States. President
Young did not intend TO let troops pass into the
Territory; he said: ''We are going to stand up
for our rights and will no longer be imposed up
on by our enemies. and want every man to be
on hand with his gun in good order and his pow
der dry. and instructed the people to part with
nothing that would sustain life. When 1t was
decided by the Saints to follow the emigrants,
who had left the city on their way westward,
we made for Mountain Meadows.
In the meantime, the emigrants had been over
taken by band of Indians and attacked, at the
instigation of Gov. Young and other Saints, but
had been repulsed by the emigrants. The Nor
mons, meanwhile, agreed upon plan 10 meet
the emigrants with flag of truce, tell them that
the Indians were determined upon their destruc-
ton; that we dare not oppose the Indians, for
we were at their mercy; that the best we could
do for them (the emigrants) waste get them and
what few traps we could take on wagons; to lay
their arms in the bottom of the wagons and coy
er them up with bed clothes, and start for the
settlement as soon as possible and trust tn m
selves in our hands. The small children and the
wounded were to go with the two wagons, the
women to follow the wagons, and men next; the
troops to stand in readiness at the east slde OF
the road to receive 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 a certain point, and at the Watchworu,
"Haltl do your duty !" each man was to cover
his section and fire. johnson and Shurtz were
to rally the Indians and rush upon ana dispatch
the women and larger children. 1t was further
told me that President Haight said that we
were faithful in carrying out instructions We
would all receive a celestial reward.
Just before daylight, johnson and Shurtz am
pushed their Indians the better to deceive the
emigrants. About IL O'Clock a. m. the troops
under Major Higbee took their position on the
corral. Higbee called William Bateman ont of
the ranks to take the flag Of truce to the corral
He was met about half way with another white
flag from the emigrants' camp. They had a
rescue them if they would trust us. Both men,
with flags, returned to their respective places
and reported, and were to meet again and bring
word. Higbee called me out to go and inform
them the conditions, and if accepted Dan Nc
Farland, brother to John Mcfarland. lawyer,
who acted as abide camp, would bring back
word, and then two wagons would be sent for
firearms, children, clothing. etc. obeyed. and
the terms proposed were accepted, but not with
out distrust. / had as little to say as possible.
In fact, my tongue refused its Office. sat down
on the ground in the corral, near where some
respects to some person who had just died of
wound. A large, feshy old lady came to me
twice, and talked while sat there. She related
their troubles, and said that seven Of their num-
Der were killed, and IL wounded in the first at
tack; that several had died since. She asked
me if / was an Indian agent? l said, in one
sense am; as the Government has appointed me
farmer to the Indians. 1 told her this to satisfy
her. / heard afterwards the same question was
asked and answered in the same manner by Nc
Farland, who had been sent by Higbee to the
Nl.nNN I.,ls
might come back and be upon them. When
all was ready Samuel McMurdy, coun-
selor to Bishop P. K. Smith, and
kingen Smith, drove out on the lead. His
arms. Samuel Knight drove the other team,
with five wounded men and one boy about Is
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 / motioned to
McMurdy to steer north, across the valley; at
the same time told the women, who were next to
the wagon, to follow the road up to the troops,
which they did. Instead OF saying to McMurdy
not to drive so fast, as he swore to on the trial.
l said to the contrary to drive on ,as my aim was
to get out of sight before the firing commenced,
which he did. We were about half a mile ahead
of the company when we heard the first firing.
We had drove over ridge of rolling ground and
down on a low fiat. The firing was simultaneous
along the whole line. The moment firing COM
menced McMurdy hailed and tied his lines across
the rod of his wagon box. stepped down, coolly,
with double barreled shotgun, walked back
to knights wagon, who had the wounded men,
and was about twenty feet in the rear. AS he
raised his piece, he said, LORD, my God, re-
ceive their spirits, for it is for the Kingdom of
Heavens sake that we do this" He fired and
killed two men. Saml Knight had a
muzzle- loading rifle, and he fired and
killed the three men, and then struck the
wounded boy on the head, who fell dead. In the
meantime drew five shooter from my belt,
which accidentally went of. cutting across Me-
Murdy's buckskin pants in front and below the
crotch. McMurdy said: Brother Lee, you are
excited; take things coolly. You were near
to the place in his pants. AT this moment
heard the scream of child. looked up and
saw an Indian have little boy by the hair of his
head. dragging him out Of the hind-end of the
wagon, with a knife in his hand ready to cut his
throat. l sprang for the Indian, revolver in
hand, and shouted at the top Of my voice,
"Arick coma cot to sooetl"-Stop, you fool.
The child was terrier stricken, his chin was
bleeding, and 1 supposed it was cut of the
knife, but afterward learned it was done by the
wagon box as the Indian yanked the boz down
by the hair of the head. had no sooner rescued
this child than another Indian seized little girl
by the hair; 1 rescued her. AS soon as / could
speak told the Indians they must not hurt chill
dren; that would die before they should be
hurt; that we would buy the children of them.
Before this time the Indians had pushed up
around the wagon in quest of blood, and dis
patched the two remaining wounded men. In
justice to my statement, would say, that If my
bHOOter ndQ not pTemdtuTely eXplOueu WOulu
have had q hand in dispatching the five wound
ed. had lost control of myself and scarce knew
what was about l saw an Indian pursue a lit
tie girl who was fleeing. He caught her about
100 feet from the wagon and plunged his knife
through her. / said to McMurdy he mad better
drive the children to Hamblin's Ranch and give
them some nourishment while would go down
and get my horse at the camp. Passing along
the road saw the dead strung along for a dis
tancc of about half mile. The women and
children were killed by the Indians. 1 saw Shurtz
with the Indians and no other white man with
them. When / came to the men they lay abouta
rod apart. Here came up with Higbee, Bishop
Smith and the rest of the company. AS came
up Higbee said to me: Let us search these per-
sons for valuables; and asked me to assist him
and gave me his hat to hold. Several men were
already engaged in searching the bodies. re-
piled, was unwell and wanted to get on my horse
and go to the ranch and nurse myself. My re-
quest was granted. Reaching Hamblin's ranch,
being heart sick and worn out, lay down upon
my saddle blanket and slept, and knew but lit
tie of what passed during the night. About day
break in the morning heard the voices of Col.
Dame and Isaac C. Haight. / heard some very
angry words pass between them, which drew
my attention. Dame said he would have to re-
port the destruction of the emigrant camp and
company. Haight said it was an Indian massa-
ere. Dame said he did not know SO well about
that. This reply seemed to irritate Haight,
who spoke quite loudly, saying: "How the hell
can you report it any other way without impli-
eating yourself" At this Dame lowered his
voice almost to q Whisper. i cOuld not undar-