Selected trial records and aftermath, are now available from the university of oklahoma press and amazon. Eighteen months after the massacre, prompted by relatives in arkansas demanding an investigation, an army payroll escort passed through the area and reinterred the remains of the victims that could be found and erected stone cairns over the mass gravesat least two. Well, brigham young argued that he didnt know the story for a long time after. Records, history, monuments, information and links on the september 11, 1857 massacre at mountain meadows of more than 120 arkansas emigrants while traveling through utah on their way to california. Mountain meadows massacre mormonism, the mormon church.
Foundations of the restorationlesson 25 the utah war and. Mountain meadows massacre the church of jesus christ of latter. Sep 16, 2015 in 1877, 20 years after the mountain meadows massacre, participant john d. This month marks the 150th anniversary of a terrible episode in the history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In 1857 an army of roughly 1,500 united states troops was marching toward utah territory, with more expected to follow.
On september 11, 1857, a band of mormon militia, under a flag of truce, lured unarmed members of an emigrant company from their fortified encampment and, with some paiute indians, killed them. To everyones surprise, it scooped up the bones of 28 massacre victims, and with it unearthed a new controversy see mountain meadows massacre, november 30, 1999. There have been many accounts of the events that occurred in relation to the mountain meadows massacre, and a small library could be filled with pertinent materials. Since that time, there have been some black marks on the churchs history. Restaurants near mountain meadow massacre memorial. In april, the california bound wagon train assembled near crooked creek, arkansas, approximately four miles south of presentday harrison. The juanita brooks lecture series presents the 26th annual lecture revisiting the massacre at mountain meadows by glen m. Lee was tried, convicted, and executed by a firing squad on the very. The mountain meadows massacre happened on september 11, 1857. Legacy of the mountain meadows massacre 2004 and the mountain meadows massacre 2001. The mountain meadows massacre and poisoned springs.
We have never visited the site of the mountain meadows massacre though we have passed by on i15 numerous times. On september 11, 1857, some 50 to 60 local militiamen in southern utah, aided by american indian allies, massacred about 120 emigrants who were traveling by wagon to california. The mountain meadows massacre occurred 11 september 1857, when some 50 to 60 local militiamen in southern utah, aided by american indian allies, massacred about 120 emigrants who were traveling by wagon to california. It was a murder of 120 men, women, and children, ordered and planned by southern utahs mormon settlers members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Here is a list of the victims of the mountain meadows massacre, september 11, 1857. Lee was tried, convicted, and executed by a firing squad on the very spot that the mountain meadows massacre took place. Mountain meadows massacre and mormon theology wikipedia. With marina atherton, david chambers, nick hamilton, john stewart. Mountain meadows massacre brigham young had more than twenty. For the decade prior the emigrants arrival, utah territory had existed as a theocracy led by brigham young. Three years after the first latterday saint pioneers reached.
Lee did not lie to young and that jacob hamblin told him the truth within two weeks. As historian will bagley noted, lee reconstructed his chronology to distance himself from the initial attack and provided blistering attacks on the men who testified against him. In 1910, the massacre was the subject of a short book by josiah f. Frequentlyasked questions about the mountain meadows massacre.
The book provided an important history of early mormonism as well as offering lees somewhat selfserving account of the events leading to the mountain meadows massacre. But the stain of the mountain meadows massacre was not so easily erased. Mountain meadows massacre archaeology magazine archive. A series of attacks was staged on the bakerfancher wagon train around mountain meadows in utah. Sep, 2016 the mountain meadows massacre of 1857 remains one of the most controversial events in the history of the american west, and it is called the darkest deed of the 19th century. View all restaurants near mountain meadow massacre memorial on tripadvisor. On september 11, 1857 a group of mormons in southwestern utah brutally killed all the adult members of a nonmormon wagon train on its way to california.
In 1857, at the time of the mountain meadows massacre, brigham young, was serving as president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and as governor of utah territory. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 and the trials of. In the book, brooks demonstrated convincingly that the mormon militia was responsible for the massacre, and that john d. Well, basically brigham young knew that he had received a letter from isaac haight. What was done here long ago by members of our church represents a terrible and inexcusable departure from christian teaching and conduct. The event was the apex of decades of violence, mistrust, and fear.
One of the most controversial and highly debated events is the mountain meadows massacre. The mountain meadows massacre stands without a parallel amongst the crimes that stain the pages of american history. On august 3, 1999, a backhoe began digging the foundation. While it seems likely that brigham young was initially lied to about the mountain meadows massacre, at what point did he learn that mormons were involved. By the time a wagon train led by alexander fancher reached mountain meadows in remote south ern utah in early. Mormon theology has long been thought to be one of the causes of the mountain meadows massacre. Eighteen months after the massacre, prompted by relatives in arkansas demanding an investigation, an army payroll escort passed through the area and reinterred the remains of the victims that could be found and erected stone cairns over the mass gravesat least two at the massacre site and one at the siege site. Mountain meadows massacre 1857 massacre frank kirkmans.
Mountain meadows massacre page 2 legends of america. This model of political agency is then applied to an empirical analysis of the mountain meadows massacre, a mass murder of emigrants in utah. On september 11, 1857 a group of mormons in southwestern utah brutally killed all the adult members of a nonmormon wagon train on. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 and the trials of john d. The attacks began on september 7 and culminated on september 11, 1857, resulting in the mass slaughter of most in the emigrant party by members of the utah territorial militia from the iron county district, together with some southern paiute native americans. She writes, the church leaders decided to sacrifice lee. The massacre has also been of subject of several film documentaries including, burying the past. Juanita brooks famed account of the mountain meadows massacre has stood the test of time as a well researched explanation of the atrocity that does not shy away from blaming prominent mormon figures, despite belonging to the lds church herself. The church of jesus christ of latter day saints made a distressing discovery while restoring a monument to the victims of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre in southwest utah.
Turley, assistant church historian for the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, publicly announced a forthcoming book on the mountain meadows massacre. Mountain meadows massacre archives gospel tangents. This book was the first to seriously attempt an honest investigation of the massacre, unflinchingly seeking the truth. Saints, publicly announced a forthcoming book on the mountain meadows massacre. Pdf the mountain meadows massacre and poisoned springs. The mountain meadows massacre took place over the course of five days. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows, by will bagley, university of oklahoma press, 2002, p. The tragedy at mountain meadows, september 1857 sally denton in september 1857, a wagon train passing through utah laden with gold was attacked. Mountain meadows massacre of 1857 the vintage news. The mountain meadows massacre site in washington county, utah, marks the location of the september 11, 1857, massacre of 120 emigrants by militiamen associated with the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The booty stolen from this train alone most likely built the temple in salt lake city.
In 1877, 20 years after the mountain meadows massacre, participant john d. Jun 03, 2008 what are the historical roots and causes behind the mountain meadow massacre. This is the scene of the infamous mountain meadows massacre in 1857. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 remains one of the most controversial events in the history of the american west, and it is called the darkest deed of the 19th century. Mountain meadows massacre mountain meadows massacre. The aftermath of mountain meadows the massacre almost brought the united states to war against the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, but only one man was brought to trial.
This is a category about a place or building that is listed on the national register of historic places in the united states of america. Mountain meadows massacre utah, united states 1857. Managing director, family and church history department. Revisiting the massacre at mountain meadows dixie state. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 and the trials of john.
Baker reportedly found nothing relating to the massacre, clearing the way for the construction of the new monument. The 26th annual lecture revisiting the massacre at mountain. September dawn book by carole whang schutter burying the past documentary by brian patrick. What are the historical roots and causes behind the mountain meadow massacre. Known as the mountain meadows massacre, the history of this event continues to generate fierce controversy and deep emotions even to this day. The mountain meadows massacre church of jesus christ. Prattill feeling against the emigrants alleged outragestheir arrival at mountain meadowsthey are attacked by indiansa flag or truceplan of the massacre surrender of the emigrantsthe butcheryburial of the slainthe survivors. This book was the first to seriously attempt an honest investigation. He was replaced as governor the following year by alfred cumming. Fee0c5df hiking and exploring the paria river including. Mountain meadows massacre 187576 called the darkest deed of the nineteenth century, the brutal 1857 murder of 120 men, women, and children at a place in southern utah called mountain meadows remains one of the most controversial events in the history of the american west. The group included some 120150 men, women and children. An arkansas emigrant party arrives at salt lake cityassassination of parley p. The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows in southern utah.
Massacre at mountain meadows mountain meadows massacre. This is a category for images that are related to the events surrounding the mountain meadows massacre, which occurred in the state of utah in the western united states. Scientific testing of the more recent, anthrax theory article pdf available in international journal of legal medicine 1271 march 2012. Critics charge that the massacre was typical of mormon culture of violence, and claim that church leaderspossibly as high as brigham youngapproved of, or even ordered the killing. Johnson, and lajean purcell carruth on september 11, 1857, a group of mormons aided by paiute indians brutally murdered some 120 men, women, and children traveling through a remote region of southwestern utah. Captain john jacktwitty baker lead a wagon train of arkansas immigrants to california in 1857.
It was a crime committed without cause or justification of any kind to relieve it of its fearful character when nearly exhausted from fatigue and thirst, the men of the caravan were approached by white men, with a flag of. On september 11, 1857, a wagon train of 120 immigrants bound for california were slaughtered under a white flag by utah mormons in one of the worst massacres in american history. Largest collection of records and information on the mountain meadows massacre on the internet. The mountain meadows massacre was a mass slaughter of the fancherbaker emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows, utah territory, by a local mormon militia and members of the paiute indian tribe on september 11, 1857. Lee, the only militiaman executed, was effectively a scapegoat. May 11, 2017two new volumes contribute to understanding the mountain meadows massacre the volumes, titled mountain meadows massacre. The victims were a group of emigrants mostly from arkansas who were traveling by wagon train north to south through utah on their way to california. Horrible massacre of emigrants the mountain meadows. The mountain meadows massacre kindle edition by brooks, juanita, shipps, jan.
The victims of the massacre, known as the bakerfancher party, were passing through the utah territory to california in 1857. While visiting the utah shakespearean festival, jill and i left the drama and tragedies behind for a morning to visit a site of much greater drama and tragedy. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the mountain meadows massacre. For a more complete, documented account of the event, readers are referred to the forthcoming book massacre at mountain meadows. From the cedar city i15 exit it is approximately 50 miles to the monument. Collected legal papers, initial investigations and indictments, and mountain meadows massacre. William allen aden 19 traveling alone, aden was already in utah when the wagon train arrived. What amazes me most about the evolution of the story of the mountain meadows massacre is that 150 years it was about blood atonement, hatred of gentiles and robbery. We cannot change what happened, but we can remember and honor those who were killed here. American massacre by sally denton the mountain meadows massacre by juanita brooks white flag americas first 911 by wayne capurro american history revised.
Through the actual testimony of a young girl who survived, interviews with descendants, and forensic investigations. In september 1857 a group of mormons in southern utah killed all adult members of an arkansas wagon train that was headed for california. Western american literature, volume 44, number 1, spring 2009, pp. The 26th annual lecture revisiting the massacre at. Juanita brooks in september 1857, one of the worst atrocities in the history of the westward movement occurred when the fancher company was massacred with the exception of approximately eighteen small children. They were camped near what is the presentday town of enterprise when they were besieged by what they thought were indians. Brigham young and the mountain meadows massacre wikipedia. An american tragedy kindle edition by walker, ronald w.
Revisiting the massacre at mountain meadows by glen m. Gibbs, who also attributed responsibility for the massacre to young and smith. The massacre has been portrayed in several plays, and in a 2007 motion picture, september dawn. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows. The mountain meadows massacre was the first work to fully document mormon involvement in the massacre. The survivors mountain meadows massacre descendants. The aftermath of mountain meadows history smithsonian. Juanita brooks examination of the destruction of a californiabound wagon train in utah in 1857 by indians and mormons. The mountain meadows massacre is something most people have probably never heard of before unless youre a mormon or had ancestors who were part of the massacred fancher wagon party. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Perhaps the bestknown of the recent polemical accounts are. This massive slaughter claimed nearly everyone in the party from arkansas and is the event referred to as the mountain meadows massacre. For our primary article, see mountain meadows massacre.
988 227 58 243 292 1069 366 258 716 739 735 778 1364 1011 602 1272 84 96 1218 954 103 607 175 91 973 1343 7 666 467 416 1157 579 871 424 552 528 314 1108 1207 62 716