The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-09
A BRUSH WITH MORMONS.
An Incident in Ex-Quartermaster-
General Ingalls's Early life.
How Young Officer Gave Protection 60
Two Mormon Women and Frustrated
Brigham YOung's Designs.

Apropos TO the retirement OF QuarterInaster
general Rufus ingalls,, of the United States
army, an incident is related by gentleman con-
! nected with the Journal, who was one of the
party referred to. In the spring of 1854 party
was organized at Salt Lake City for the purpose
of crossing the plains to California, majority
of its members being newly-enlsted recruits for
the army, designed to FIJI up q number of de-
pleted commands on the coast. It was at time
when the Mormons were unusually averse to
the presence of gentlles in their midst and dur
ing The winter months which the party spent in
Salt Lake City many disturbances had occurred
ana bitter feuds had been engendered between
the Mormon residents and the gradually lncreas-
ing party. So serious indeed had the situation
become that on one occasion, early in the spring,
the Mormons had violently assaulted detached
portion of the command and seriously wounded
several members of the party, necessitaU-
Ing the commander, Colonel Steptoe, to
place the men under arms and sta
tion double guards constantly about their
barracks to prevent their being surprised and
possibly massacred When the snow cleared IN
the spring the party moved up on the banks of
Bear river to fatten up their stock aud prepare
for the wearisome and tedious journey TO be
taken across the plains and mountains to the
Golden State. Their leaving the city did not
serve to lessen the hatred of the Mormons, how
ever, and the party still found themselves sub
United to every class of indignity, and forced to
conduct themselves most circumspectly to avoid
serious trouble. In the midst of all this bad
feeling Mormon woman came to the camp,
companied by her daughter, young woman
almost grown. She was admitted to the pres
ence OF General Ingalls,, then captain, and
colonel Steptoe, commander of the party, being
absent, for some reason, her conference was
held with him. Her story was one calculat ted to
inspire sympathy in the heart of almost any
one, ana captain ingalls,, without any further
questions or hestancy, guaranteed her the de-
sired protection She had married Mormon
gentleman in the States and had not long been
resident of Utah. Her husband was not a
polygamist, however, and their married life had
Seen happy one About year previous
he had died and lately the leaders
OF the church had been making persistent efforts
TO induce her to marry another man, one already
possessed of a sufficient number of wives. Her
daughter had also been importuned to marry, to
winch both had entered objection, The per-
sistent efforts of the MOrmons to force them to
90 as they dictated were akin to persecution,
and the mother and daughter determined upon
Hight as their only means of immunity from
further prosecutions. Captain ingalls, was fully
aware OF the consequences of his action, but de-
termined TO afford them safe conduct to Cali
fornia, and accordingly provided quarters for
them.
just before the train was TO start on its Jour
ney westward the MOrmons learned that tue
TWO women, whose disappearance had created
quite commotion, and for whom search had
been instituted in every quarter, were with the
accnrsed gentiles, who proposed to Illustrate
their designs. Accordingly large party of
their s.minute men," over a thousand strong
armed to the teeth and fully equipped, and
headed by no less parsonage than Brigham
Young himself was hastily summoned and
marched TO the camp on the Bear river.
The Mormons OuUnumbered the United States
troops five to one, and fully armed and
well disciplined. Only few of the gentle
party had suitable arms, majority of them
being civilians on their way across the CONT
nent, and the troops were perfectly raw, new
surrounded
every preparation made for a fight, but they
showed 20 81 mptoms of weakening. All trouble
could be avoided by surrendering the women,
bnt this the officers would not do. Brigham
Young went to them-Ingalls did the talking.
demand for the surrender of the women
the young officer stoutly refused TO
little command out of existencs :" said he, "but
you can't have these women. I have promised
them protection, and they shall have it. You
have got force sufficient to annihilate a bigger
party than ours, but you will have the United
States to whip before you are through with the
job. Whenever you are ready to commence op-
erations, open fire!" The men were ordered into
line, and the Mormon escort withdrew with
Brigham to the main body of their force.
They held consultation, and concluded
to let Ingalls, take the women.
And he did. too. day or two later the party
started for the West, and reached California
safely. They were bothered and hedeviled in
every imaginable way by the Mormons until
they across the Sierras, but they were
never molested by an armed force To make
complete whatever romance there may be about
the incident it be added that after the arri-
val of the party at San Francisco the younger
of the two women was married to young man
who belonged to the party. The anecdote is re-
lated simply an illustration of the character of
the retired Quartermaster-g general. But for the
refuge and escort rendered them by him the
men would never have escaped from bondage
that to them worse than the most abiect
slavery, and but for his determined stand and
courageous att tude, another such massacre as
The bloody affair of Mountain Meadows would
have doubtless been enacted.