The Mountain Meadows Massacre
On a simple granite monument in the courthouse square at Harrison, Arkansas (where this page is being written) appears the following legend:
"In memory of 140 men, women, and children, northwest Arkansas emigrants to California. In 1857 under leadership of Alexander Fancher (Piney Alex) left from Caravan Springs four miles south of here around May 1st — camped at Mountain Meadows, Utah, in early September — attacked by Indians, directed by Mormons — formed a corral with wagons — fought several days till ammunition exhausted — approached by Mormons under flag of truce — promised protection — surrendered — all were then killed except 17 small children — found later in Mormon homes — rescued by Army in 1859 — taken to Arkansas — cared for by relatives. John D. Lee, Mormon Bishop, tried, found guilty, executed in 1877 — confessed guilt and Mormon complicity. (Consult Russell's 'Behind These Ozark Hills' (1947), Goodspeed's 'History of Arkansas' (1899) in regional library, Harrison.)"
"Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord." Romans 12:19
This marker, erected in 1955, was bitterly protested by the Mormon Church, and the guilt of Mormons for the massacre has been hotly denied by Mormon leaders ever since John D. Lee was executed. But the facts seem to be beyond controversy. One of the most damning of all evidences was the presence of the seventeen children in Mormon homes. It was never denied by Mormon leaders that John D. Lee and other Mormons had led the 200 Pah-Ute Indians and some 54 white men who attacked, tricked, and later massacred the emigrants. But it was their contention that Lee and his fifty-four renegades were "apostate Mormons," and had left the Mormon Church to form a band of brigands and outlaws. But the records show that Lee was a Bishop in the Mormon Church both before and many years after the massacre.
In fact, when he was first brought to trial the Mormon Church defended him, and denied that he had been in any way connected with the massacre. They blamed it on Indians who had been "enraged" by the actions of previous emigrant trains, and who slaughtered the Arkansas train out of spite and hatred. It was only when a mountain of evidence began to pile up, and when Lee finally confessed and implicated others, that the Mormon Church repudiated him, and declared him to be an "apostate."
The massacre was one of the most wanton and vicious in American history. The wagon train was made up of about 40 wagons and a number of carriages; they had approximately 1,000 head of live-stock, including a prize stallion, valued at about $2,000.00, a fabulous price for such an animal in that age. There were about 160 to 165 people in the train, counting men, women, and children. Leaving northwest Arkansas in May they traveled the usual route up through Kansas, northeastern Colorado, Wyoming, and down into Utah. They were in Salt Lake City in August. Feelings against all emigrants passing through Utah had been increasing rapidly in Utah. Brigham Young had warned the United States Government that he could not be responsible for the safety of any more who came through. Numerous small scale attacks and depredations had been made against earlier trains; their live stock had been stolen; they had been refused supplies and accommodations, and a hostile attitude was everywhere shown them.
The Arkansas train passed through Salt Lake City, and on down into southwestern Utah, coming to the valley of Mountain Meadows on September 3. Here they passed the house of Jacob Hamblin, Mormon sub-agent for the Pah-Ute Indians. The emigrants made a leisurely way down the valley, five miles long and one mile wide, allowing their cattle to graze on the luxuriant grass, and prepare themselves for the 90 mile trek across the desert which was in prospect when they left the valley. They camped on Sunday, September 6, at the lower end of the valley, and spent the whole day there. Early Monday morning, as they were preparing breakfast, without warning a volley of shots rang out, and seven people dropped dead, with seventeen others wounded. Quickly forming his company into a corral made up of the wagons, Captain Fancher ordered the fire returned. The battle lasted for four days, with little sleep or rest. Finally, under a flag of truce. John D. Lee approached the besieged train for a parley. He told them that if they would surrender their arms, the "Mormon Militia" would give them protection against the Indians, and take them safely to a near-by ranch where they could re-group their train, bury their dead, and proceed on to California.
Welcoming the white men as their deliverers, the emigrants quickly surrendered their arms to Lee, and each man was placed under one of the "Mormon Militia" to be escorted to the ranch. When they had gone perhaps a quarter mile from the wagon train, at a signal by William Bateman, Lee's second in command, each militiaman turned on his captive, and shot him at point-blank range. Then the Pah-Ute Indians were turned loose on the unarmed women and children to slay them with knife and tomahawk at will. Why the seventeen children were spared will always remain a mystery; about thirty other children were slain. All told there were 140 to 146 people massacred (the count varies some in different reports).
When Lee was finally brought to trial he declared, "Those with me at that time were acting under orders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."
The verdict of history has been pretty conclusive that Lee was indeed acting under at least the approval, if not orders, from his superiors in the attack on the train. Goodspeed's history states:
"A meeting of the Mormons in the Meadows, under Major John Higbee, was held; orders of President Haight of Cedar City, directing that the entire party should be exterminated, were read; and after prayers, Higbee announced in confident tones that he had the evidence of divine approval."
It is now nearly one hundred years since that fateful May morning when the covered wagons began to roll from Caravan Springs. A mighty nation has come to maturity, survived the horror of a fratricidal Civil War, and reached the point of world leadership. The Mormon Church has achieved power and stability, along with the nation. But there is a stain on Mormonism which has never been effaced; and there is a blot on our nation's record because she let the culprits go so long unpunished. For most of Lee's band were never even tried. These Ozark mountain people have not forgotten however. There is no Mormon Church in Harrison, nor is there likely ever to be one. Occasionally a couple of "elders" try to work the town, but they get a frigid reception. Not long ago some of the brethren tried to arrange a debate in Harrison between gospel preachers and some of the "elders." But Salt Lake City would not permit it. There was too much danger that an old chapter out of the past would be brought to light again — a chapter that the Latter-Day Saints must fervently wish had never been written, and which they would like to see forever forgotten.
— F. Y. T.