Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-04-12


| was sealed to this old woman for he
o souls salvation. was an honored mar
in the Church, fattered and regarded BY
!, Brigham Young and the apostles, until
1858, when was cut off from the Church
and selected MS a scapegOar to suffer TO,
: =. and bear the sins of my people. As q
duty to myself and mankind l now con
fess all that diI at the Mountain Mead
ows massacre. without animosity to any
f one. shielding none, and giving the facts
as they existed. Those with me on that
Occasion were acting under orders from
tic Church OF jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints. The horrld deeds them
commttel were done as duty which
we believed we owed to God and our
Church. We were all sworn to secrecy
before and after the MASSACRE. Tho
penalty for giving information concern.
ing 1t was death. AS am to suffer death
for what then did, and have been be.
traycd both by those who gave orders to,
act and those who were the most active of
my assistants, now give the world the
true facts as they exist, and tell why
the massacre was committed, and who
were the active p participants.
The Mountain Meadows massacre was
the result of the direct teachings of Brig
ham Young, and it Was done by order of
those in high authority in the Mormon
community. The immediate order for the
massacre was issued by Colonel Dame.
Lieutenant Colonel Isaa: C. Haight and q
council of Mormons at Cedar City, Utah.
held no position either in the civil or
military departments or in the Church at
itha' time. About September 9TH | went to
Cednr City, where l met Isaac G.. Haight.
President or Governor of that Stake of
Zion, and also Lieutenant. Colonel of tho
Iron county Mormon militia. This was
Sunday. Lieutenant-C Colonel Haight was
the leader in all things concerning civil.
Church and military matters. 1t was a
crime pun shsble by death to disobey his
orGers. Lieutenant Colonel Haight gave
me full account OF the emierants COM
ing. We slept Tn the iron works all that
night aud arranged our pans. Haight
said that the emigrants were rough set:
that they were bad men. murder,rs and
robbers, and helped to kill the Missouri
prophets; believed him. l was ordered
to raise an Indian band to attack their
train and run off their cattle, and to have
the Indians kill tie emigrants. sent
Carl Shirts, my son-in-law, to raise band
of southern Indians. Nephi Johnson
went TO the other tribes. Ol Monday
morning l left the iron works to obey my
orders. Ha'ght said, "We are acting by
orders. Its all right. We will let the
Ind ans bear all the tlame.'' said, I'VE
are forbidden to shed innocent blood"
The reply Of Haight was, "Thcre is not
drop of innocent blood in the whole lot.
Garry out the instructions of those in au.
thority. If you are dutiful in this, your
reward shall be great in the kingdom of
God. for God will bless those who obev
our councils and make all things fit tor
the people of the Lord in their days. On
the way home passed many Indians out
on the war-path. / promised to join them
the next day. On Tuesday morning the
Indians attacked the train just at daylight.
and killed seven and wounded sixteen
enigrants. The Indians lost some of
their warriors. The cmigrants then for.
titled their position and the Indians sur.
rounded them aud sent for me. The
whole country was aroused, both whites
and lDd;aas rushing to Mountain Mead
ows from all directions. l arriy.d at the
camp late on Tuesday, aud found the In
d ans in large force. They demanded
that l should lead the attack. refused
until orders were received from Hsight or
Dame. went south ten miles, met the
whites and Indians coming Fl ON the south
anu camped there that night; on Wednes-
day l went to the Meadows and sent 4
man to Cedar City for further orders. On
Thursday the orders came by Major Hig.
by. There were fifty EIGHT whites and
about five hundred Indisns there then.
Major Highly made "a speech; he said the
emigrants were all to be killed. Those
who could talk must get them out of their
Notifications by treacl,ery. Twas to fol.
low the flag of truce, make treaty, pron-
lse protection. ct the arms OF the emf
grants, and put the sick and wounded and
the children in the wagons. Then the
troops under Highly would meet the emf.
grants. The emigrant women were to 20
ahead, ard the Indians in ambush were
10 XIII the women, and the militia were To
XIII the men. and tho drivers of the
wagons were to kill tie wounded and
''ek In ;he wagons. The others made
speeches; then we had prayer circle.
hen more speeches were made, and it vas
agreed by all parties that 1t was the will
# God for US to do as ordered. On Fri.
lay morning the emlgrants had q whita
lag flying; the brethren were again a..
speeches were made ~ all will
ng to.'t. There were present Major John
u. Highly, Philip X. Smith, Bishop of
he Church at Cedar City; Joel White.
Nm. G. Stewart, Benjamin Arthur. Alex.
Y ilden. Charles Hopkins, Tate.
ra Allen. Robert Wiley, Richard H.r.
'son, Samuel Pollock. Daniel McFarl.ne.
lohn Ure. Geo. Hunter. Joseph Smith.
'am'l Jukes, Nephl johnson, Carl Shirts.
'wen Jacobs. John Jacobs. E. Curtis.
Thomas Cartwright. VIM. Bateman, An
hong Strat'on. 4. Lover,dge. JpaI Clevs.
Ohm Durfey. Columbus Freeman and