The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-11-13
nam Young uttered these remarkable

nam Young uttered these remarkable
words:
No"' ofethren, say, in the name of Israel's
"ou our enemies will let us alone here in these
valleys for ten years. we will ask no odds of
Them" A ''' oous VI
on the gath day of July, 1s57-exactly
ten years from the day, and the very hour
when the foregoing menace was uttered.
while Brigham Young and 1000 of his
CHOSEN friends were celebrating the tenth
anniversary of the advent of the Mormon
pioneers, and while he himself was on
the dancing floor, came two Mormon mes
sengers from the east, who announced to
him that the United States army, under
command OF the famous Indian fighter.
Gen. W. S. Harney, was on their way to
"wipe out" the Mormons.
bringing the dance summarily to ter
minus, Brigham mounted the musicians
platform and announced the news to the
multitude, all of whom had by this time
assembled to hear the tidings brought Nv
the carriers.
After stating briefly the substance of
the information, he said:
"Brethern and Sisters: Ten years ago this day
as we stood upon the Temple block in Salt Lake
City, prophesied that if our enemies would let
us alone here for ten years, we would ask no odds
OF them. We are now Informed that our enemies
are coming to destroy us. ask you now do we
ask any odds OF them? I say, in the name of Is
raels God, we do not. And let every man, woman
and child that feels as do say Amenr'
Such all "Amen" went up from that
emotional mass of moved humanity as
literally shook the earth upon which
they stood.
The dance was then resumed with as
much earnestness as before the baleful
news was received and the two days cele-
bration at the headwaters of Big Cotton
wood was brought to close by an order
ly return of the guests, each in his own
conveyance, with his family and camping g
outfit, to their respective homes.
1t was but a few days after this that
general orders were issued from the head
quarters of the ''Nauvoo Legion mill
tary organization permeating every coun-
ty and town to prepare for marching Or
ders, armed and equipped as the law di-
rects.
Silently but promptly the orders were
obeyed. Every company was filled, every
man capable of bearing arms was muster
ed and required to provide himself with
gun, ammunition and the accoutrements
of active service.
The regiments of each military dis
| trict were fully oficered and company
and regimental parades, drill and inspec-
tion instituted.
Brigham Young, being governor of
the territory, issued his proclamation de-
claring the territory under martial law
and commanding that no person Or body
OF men be permitted to enter, pass thro'
or leave the territory without permission
from the officer commanding the military
forces of the territory.
1t was under this condition of things
that large and wealthy company of en-
igrants from Missouri and Arkansas
reached Salt Lake on their way to make
homes on the Pacific. Passing through
the city they pursued their way via what
is known as the "Southern route" for
California till they reached the Noun
tain Meadows, where they were beset by
merciless bands of Mormons and Indians
and 1870 men, women and children brutal
ly massacred-only fifteen infants "who
could not talk" being spared from the
bloody holocaust.
| And thus the curtain rose upon scene
that resulted in the deepest and most alb
ject humiliation ever inflicted upon the
United States government-and all under
a democratic administration.
The unwritten details of the stamped
ing of the government stock, the burning
of its supply trains, the feeding OF its
troops on mule-meat in the winter quar-
ters at Fort Bridger, the failure of the
expedition and the unconditional pardon
of the insurgents, may form theme for
another letter.