The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-28

which actuate their desires.
Brigham Young Is now engaged in
mounting cannon for the purpose OF resist
ing the government, and has reports circu- |
lated which have reached tho ears of
those In authority, In order to mature mis-
plans, gain time and prepare his cannon
II am credibly Informed, and believe
that the Mormons instigated the late at
tack by the Indians on the telegraph sta
ton at Pacific Springs in order to draw
my forces to that point. Mormons also
in the northern part Of this valley, en-
courage depredatlons by the Humbot In
dians by purchasing of them property of
which massacred emigrants have been de-
spoiled by giving in exchange therefor
powder, lead ana produce
II have, therefore, refrained from sub
hitting a report of these transactions TO
the general commanding, for the reason
that | desired to be previously well in
formed"
This letter was accepted by the war de-
partment as giving the true situation of
affairs along the overland mail loute as
far east as Pacihc Springs
The second of these letters was provoked
by an uprising of the Southern utes, who
first attacked the stage line beyond Salt
Lake City, and later came into Eastern
Wyoming. on April %, 1868, General
Conner, writing to the department OF the
Pacific, says:
"The Indians are congregating in large
force in the vicinity of the Mormon settle
ments south of this post with view to
depredating on the overland mail and emil
grant routes, and are melted and encour-
aged in their hellish designs by Brigham
Young, by whose direction they are also
supplied with food and by his people
with ammunition, which | have no means
of preventing, nor can | strike at them
before they get stronger, as, in order to
reach them, ] have to pass through Nor
mon settlements, and the Mormons notify
! the Indians of my approach, when they
scatter to their inaccessible mountain le-
treats and thus avoid me.
81 understand the agents of the Over
| land Mail company are opposed TO having
more troops sent here. Why, I am unable
| to say. ] can only surmise, but can not
| prove anything, as nothing can be proved
| against a Mormon or one of their Gentle
| favorites. | deem it a duty that owe to
my command to notify the government,
through the general commanding, Of the
danger to which they are exposed from
the treachery, the fanaticisn and disloy
atty Of their people In case of serious re-
verse to our arms In the East.
81 have also serious fears in consequence
Of my small command being scattered over
a large extent of territory, OF being over
powered in detail by the hordes Of Indian,
I now congregating under Mormon auspices
and who my spies inform me, are TO h'
joined by Mormons disguised as Indians,
Brigham Young has complete contro
OF the Indians of the Territory, and could
IL he chose, prevent the horrors that wi
soon be enacted on the overland route
and which, with the force at my command
| am powerless to prevent
tho pytcnucias Of the corVica will
not admit of my being adequately re;u
forced, I would again respectfully recon-
mend that Brigham Young's offer to pro
tect the overland mail and emigrant rout
for certain sum be accepted and my com
! mand be withdrawn, in which the case III
obnoxious Federal officers would, Q
course, have to leave"
On April g. 1868, a band of Indians at
= tackled a post known es the Sweetwate
J Station The hostiles were well armed
4 and made furious assault, but were final
q ly driven off
On April 10 General Conner telesrapne
3 to Major General HaIleck from Cam
4 Douglas: unless Immediately reinforce
e with cavalry the Indians urged on by III
s Mormons, will break UP the overland ma
o and make the emigrant road impossible.
= After some delay four companies o
o the First Colorado cavalry, under Maic
west on the overland stage line as far :
= Fort Bridges, Wyo., and there co-operat
+ with General Connor's forces.
+ On June is Governor Evans of Colorac
II notified General Scofeld, then command
n ing the department of the Missouri TN
= he had learned of a proposed war counc
= of Sioux, Cheyennes and Arapahoes' whic
}" was soon to be held north of Denver al
p near Fort Laramie This conference, Coy
~. "a fafv
le more systematic attack on emigrant tran
" and the overland stage.
ST The remaining months of the year rs
,t were characterized by savage attacks
1t along the route of the overland stag
Vt Many people were killed and much pro
in erty lost Several tribes became peace
at BILE, while others donned the war paint
a General Conner never allowed himsf
4 to become IDLE; but when not engaged
Id fighting the Indians he laid plans
IN thwart the Mormons He wrote long lie
tiers to Adjutant General r. c. Drum
ir the department of the Pacific, giving
oy detail the plans and purposes of Brigna
of Young and his followers in their treaso
o. able designs against the government
er Finally an idea occurred to him that
1t might successfully subdue the Mormon
OF in a peaceable way, and that was throu
of the opening of gold mines, and thereby
n duce large NUMBER OF HeutASo W ~
ut into the country. With his usual impet
n osity he issued an order TO a numper
IS. his officers to take their men INTO
a mountains and prospect for gold
hit General Conner, in writing OF TINS me
ID, to General Drum, said: Having reas
he to believe that the Territory is full
lel mineral wealth, / have instructed co
IN manders of posts and detachments to Pr
nit the men OF their commands to pr
nd pect the country In the vicinity OF theif
mp spective posts, wherever such course wot
hit not interfere with their military dut'
RS. and to furnish every possible taclilty
ad the discovery and opening of mines oil 90
is silver and other minerals.
nd 'If | am not mistaken in my anlIcl
ey lions | have no reason to doubt that
Tor Mormon question will, at an early d'
srs be finally settled by peaceable mes
without the increased expenditure OF
,cs dollar by the government or stil N
lp- important, without the loss OF slA
lis soldier in conflict.
me II have every confidence, therefore
being able to accomplish this desirable
suit without the aid of another soldier
re, addition to those already under my CO
he mand. notwithstanding the obs a
re- sought to be thrown in my way py
his Mormon leaders, who see in the pres
policy the sure downfall OF their III
to odious system az church tyranny.