Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-21
SURVIVORS Of
BLACKHAWK WAR
Senator Smoot Has Reported
His Bill to Senate for
Their Relief.
ALSO MAKES A STATEMENT.
Covers Scope Of the Entire Measure
And Tells Why Il should be
Promptly Enacted.
Especial to the "News.")

Smoot, from the committee on pensions,
has reported back to the senate his bill
10 place the survivors OF the Black
Hawk war on the pension rolls. In re-
porting the bill Senator Smoot sub
mitted statement In writing as to the
scope OF the measure and the necessity
for its enactment. This statement fol-
lows:
The bill proposes to extend the Unit
cd States pension laws to the surviv-
ing participants OF the Ute Black HAWK
Indian war OF lS85-67. This outbreak or
10 years ago, known as the Black Hawk
Indian war Of Utah. was the most seri-
Gus Indian uprising that occurred In
that locality. At the time Titan terri-
tory was sparsely settled. and compar-
atiyely few United states troops were
located at the government post at salt
Lake City-Camp Douglas. The exist
ing conditions necessitated holding this
force for the protection of the over
land mall route. hence the burden or
quelling this serious and prolonged
Indian disturbance deyolved upon the
territorial militia who furnished their
own equipment and supplies at cost
of upward Of 81 900, 900. The militia was
placed in the field at the request OF
the United states superintendent OF
Indian affairs In Utah and upon the
suggestion of General Pope. communl.
Gated by command OF General Dodge,
In response to a request for instructions
by Colonel +. II. Head, superintendent
OF Indian affairs. as shown In the pub
lIshed report OF the commissioner OF
Indian affairs. 1855, at page 1870.
The utbreak began on April 10. 1852
when a band of Sanpete Utes, head
ed by Black Hawk, killed Peter Lud-
weeksen, near Manti. Sanpete county
Utah, and the following day killed Bar
ney Ward and Mr. Lambson, near Sa-
lima, SEWER county, Utah also drove
off large number of stock. A COM
pany OF cavalry gave chase and en-
gagged the hostiles, but were compelled
/ TO fall back with a loss of two Killed
and two wounded. Upon securing rein
forcements fighting was resumed, but
the Indians escaped toward the Elk
mountains, with all the stock
Overtures Of peace were rejected by
the Indians, and the war commenced
IN earnest. extending over the central
and southern portions OF Utah territory.
Colonel O. II. Irish. superintendent Of
| Indian affairs called on the United
! States military authorities at Camp
| Douglas, Salt Lake City. for aid but
| this was not available for the reason
| heretofore stated The militia gave
such protection as they could but not
| withstanding their most vigorous eff
| forts II was impossible, owing TO the
| rugged nature of the country, to sub
| due the hostiles whose raids continued
resulting In the killing of men, women
| and children. and the driving off OF
| L., h. -
there were many conflicts with Black
Hawks warriors and about 40 OF the
| latter were killed.
The success of the Indians had been
| such, however. that they were we'll
| provided with horses. cattle, and sheep
! taken in their raids and early in Feb
| ruary, 1866. with increased forces they
| resumed hostile operations in Kane
county Further overtures Of peace
| were definitely refused. and during ,ht
summer OF 1865 the central and south
ern part of the territory for an extent
Of 300 miles was pillaged. FlourishinG
settlements were broken up and aban-
doned, many white people We're killed
! much property stolen or destroyd, and
but littl grain was raised In the com.
lies most affected, all the available mer
being in the militia service. Durlnc
June of this year Col. F. II Head. SUI
perlntendent of Indian affairs, reported
! Tabby, the head chief at Uinta. as oe'
ing on the way with all his warriors e
join Black Hawk, who was then SETTING
out from the Elk Mountain country
with about 300 warriors to attack n,
weaker settlements In Sanpet county
Col. Head had communicated with h,
commissioner Of Indian affairs an(
Gen. Dodge had notified Col. Proc,pr
commanding the district OF Utah, thai
Gen Pope had telegraphed that III
superintendent OF Indian affairs woult
have TO depend for the present oi
the n itia to compel the Indians to he
have" Accordingly, troops were mus
tered int service from the northern
counties OF the territory, and sent Z,
the scene of the outbreak. There wa.
! frequent fighting, and hostilities ceps
ed only upon the setting In of winter.
Early IN 1867 war was again resume,
by an Indian attack upon Pine Valley
Washington county. followed by othq
depredations, the killing Of women be
ing particularly attended with greq
atrocity. The militia was active. an,
It's efforts were attended with create
success than previously Finally, u
the autumn OF 1867. the superintend
ent of Indian affairs, Col. f. II. Head
obtained a promise from Black Hawi
that he would refrain from further dep
relations upon the white settlers, ans
the war ceased except as TO seVera
raids In 1868 by renegade Indians, whl2i
We're repealed by the militia,
Your committee Is OF opinion, afte
careful examination into the merits o
this bill, that Il Is but Just and RICH
that the men who, at a great risk AM
sacrifice, responded to the call to aup
press this serious Indian uprising
should be allowed the benefits ~ a pen
sion.
Your committee therefore recoih
mcnds the passage of the bill withou
amendment.