Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-30

/ oil innocent DlOOu IN luC Wuole lOl. 20,
brother Lee, and carry out the instructions
Of those in authority. II you are dutiful
in this your reward shall he great in the
Kingdom Of God, for God will bless those
who obey the Council aud make all things
| iii for the people OF the Lord in their days.
On my way home l passed many Indians
on the war path. promised TO join them
the next day. Ou Tuesday morning the
Indians attached tie train at daylight and
killed seven and wounded sixteen emf
grants. The Indians lost some warriors.
The emigrants then fortified and the Indi-
ans surrounded them and sent for me.
| The whole county was aroused, both whites
and Indians rushing TO Mountain Meadow
from all directions. l arrived at the camp
late Tuesday afternoon and found the Indi-
ans in large force. They demanded that !
should lead the attack. l refused until
further orders were received from Haisht
or Dame. On Thursday orders came by
Major Highly. There were fifiy-eight
whites and about five hundred Indians
present. Then Highly made a speech and
said all tho emgrauts were TO be killed
who could talk I; that we must get them out
of the forlifcations by treachery. was TO
| follow a flag of truce and make treaty
with the besiegod and promise protection.
| l was also TO get the arms of the emigrants
| aud the sick and wounded and also the
children into wagons. Then the troops un-
| der Highly would meet the emigrants. The
Indians were TO remain in ambush. The
women we're TO go ahead. The Indians
| were then to kill the women. The militia
were to kill the men, and and the drivers
of the wagons were 10 kill the wounded
and sick in the wagons. Several other men
| then made speeches. Then we had pray
er circle, and then more speeches, and it
was agreed by all parties that it was the
will of God for us to do as ordered. On
! Friday morning the emigrants had a white
flag flying and the Mormon brethren again
assembled. Speeches were made, and all
expressed themselves willing to act.
The assassins were Maj. John NJ. Highly,
Philip X. Smith, bishop Of the church at
Cedar City, Joel White, William c. Stew
art, Benz. Arthur, Alexander Wilder,
Charles Hopkins Tate, Ira Ellew, Robert
| Wiley, Richard Harrison, Samuel Pollock,
Daniel McFarlaue, John Ure, George Hunt
er, Joseph Smith, Samuel Jukes, Nephi
johnson, Carl Shirts, Seven Jacobs, John
Jacobs, L. Curtis, Thomas Cartwright,
William Bateman, Anthony Strattou, y.
Loveridge, Joseph Clews, John Durfey,
Columbus Freeman and others, making
tny-four or tfty-eight whites and about
400 or 500 Indians.
Major Highly then addressed the party
and said Brethren, it is the orders of the
President that all emigrants must lie put
out Of the way. President Haight has
counseled with Col. Dame, and has receiv-
ed orders from him 10 put all the emgrants
out of the way. All of them must be kill
ed. Especially those that might talk again.
He spoke of the character of the einigrants
He said The church authorities Of Southern
Utah were all there, and that we were act
ing as a church for the sake of Christ. We
were then told we were there TO do duty
We owed as good church people. That tht
orders of those iu authority were that all o
the emigrants that could talk must die
Highly concluded as follows: Our order:
are from our leaders who speak with in
spired tongues, and their words are tht
will OF good men. You have no right Il
question them. You must obey as you ar,
commanded The flag of truce was lhet
sent forward. 1t was carried by William
Bateman. lie was met half way by the
emigranis and they held parley with him
Bateman then returned aud reported iha
the emigrants would surrender arms anC
do as requested. The Mormon soldiers
til en- marched oui to within two hundred
yards of the emigrants. They next took th,
wagons and went 10 the camp and stated
their orders. The emigrants then surren
dered and put their arms, sick and wound
ed and children into the wagons. Whll
they were buryiug their dead men the EN-
igrants burst into tears and said they fear
ed lreachery. AS soon as the wagons wer
loaded the train was started. The emf
grants marched in single file, the womel
and large children being ahead. Then thu
men came. When the wagons were half
mile of the lire commenced. The Indian
killed all the women and large children
The Mormons killed the men. The driver
with me killed the sick and wounded. w
saved seventeen children. The dead wer
stripped and mutilated, aud the corpse
leil on the field. The Mormons camped oil
the field. The next day Haight, Dame an,
other leaders came over. Finally they
quarreled. Haight said to Dame You or
dered it, and damn you, it is too late to G
back Dame said he did not know ther
was so many of them. We buried the dead
and drove the cattle 10 Iron Springs. Al
the wagons and other property were sol
in Cedar City by order of the church au
thorities. All the orders were fully obey
ed. The horrors attending the MASSACRE
are beyond my description. The brethre
were sworn again to secresy. This was al
so done by order OF the church, which wa
then at war with the United States govern
ment. George A. Smith, who was secon
in the priesthood, having just happened
be there giving orders, visited the India
camp with me.
He said he came TO instruct the people t
let none of the emigrants go through with
, out pass from President Young, Col
, Dame or Lieut.. Col. Haight; that the
must not sell the emigrants any more goo
grain; in fact, anything. He said th
Americans were a mob of ruffians, froI
the President down. He asked if the In
r dians would kill all bad emigrants. tol
him the Indians and Mormons were bot
hostile 10 them, and would kill all not uu
der the protection of the church. Thl
pleased him, and he laughed and said, "a
, right" Haight and Dame told him th
same thing. He taught people that it wa
their duty to kill all emigrants and masss
, ere them, just as Brother Smith and th
other leaders wanted. Haight then sent IN
, to Salt Lake city to report TO Brighar
, Young, and he promised me crown celes