lOS-ANGElfj> Or-*^ - o_Lli g s-T "v 3> >^i ^HAINd]^ % irrl ,vlOSANCElfj> i irr >-v-i iiirrf tiic PETER GOTTFREDSON The Compiler HISTORY OF INDIAN DEPREDATIONS IN UTAH ILLUSTRATED Copyright 1919 by Peter Gottfredson grraa of SKELTON PUBLISHING Co. 9alt Cake Citii b /IS In collecting and compiling this history of In- dian depredations in Utah, it has been my purpose to obtain my information first handed, as far as pos- sible. I was personally acquainted with conditions in Sanpete and Sevier Valleys during the years 1863 to 1872. It fell to my lot to be herd-boy in Thistle Valley, which was then a favorite haunt of the In- dians, and they often told us that we were trespassers on their domain. In 1865, when the Black Hawk war broke out, I had left Sanpete to locate in Sevier Val- ley, which was then most exposed to Indian raids be- cause of having been settled but one year when the war broke out and that valley afforded the handiest and most convenient outlets into the Indian strong- hold in the mountains and country lying to the east, which was then unsettled by white people and but little known to them. I have also made it a point to obtain information from reliable histories and individual diaries and records, and by interviewing persons who were ac- tually in the places and took part in the affairs as recorded. And finally I obtained much information from newspaper files and documents in the Church Historian's Office. It is half a century and more since the raids and assaults recorded in this book took place, most of the persons who took active parts in the same have re- sponded to the last earthly call, and what information we get first handed must of necessity be obtained now or never. I have often querried; why should those 4 PREFACE Ulllllllllllltlllll Illlllllll I ill minimum immiiimi lllltlllllltlllll Hill conditions be forgotten, and why has so little interest been taken in keeping memorandas and records of events and conditions of those early and trying times. I have written several times over much of the information I have gathered in order to make cor- rections and supply additional information. I have been more than twenty years compiling this history, and have not left a stone unturned in my endeavors to obtain correct data on all the important events which properly belong to this history. My aim has been to give credit where such was due, but to get in the names of all who took part or were enrolled in the different Militia Companies participating in the Indian Wars would be too great a task, and yet, they are all deserving of mention. It has not been my purpose to single out any one as a particular hero ahead of all others, but to record conditions and facts as they existed and oc- curred. S I sincerely thank all who have assisted me, especially the Indian War Veterans and the Church Historians for their willing and interested assist- asce. I will make special mention of Assistant Church Historian Andrew Jenson, who has given me important assistance in obtaining correct dates and information, and preparing my manuscript for the printers, and hope my little book will fill an important place in the history of our fair State. — The Compiler, It has always been the policy of the Mormon people to court the friendship of the American In- dian and treat him kindly. President Brigham Young said, ''It is cheaper to feed them than fight th^m. ' ' In the early rise of the Church, Missionaries were sent out to preach to them. The Prophet Joseph Smith visited and preach- ed to them. As early as October 1830, Oliver Cowdry, Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whittmer, Jr. and Ziba Peter- son were called by revelation to preach the gospel to the Lamanites (Indians). In 1835 elders Brigham Young, John P. Greene and Amos Orton were ap- pointed to preach the gospel to them and when the people were driven from their homes in Missouri and Illnois and wended their way into the unknown west, the various Indian tribes in Iowa, Nebraska and on the western plains received them kindly, as a rule, believing they were outcasts, driven from their homes and the graves of their fore-fathers, as they themselves had been. In the year 1858, I with my parents came from Omaha where we had lived for some two years, was then twelve years of age, After spending one year in Salt Lake City, herd- ing cows in the su|mmer time, I with my parents and two brothers and one sister went to Sanpete and were pioneers of Mount Pleasant, and in the year 1864 were also pioneers of Richfield in Sevier County. The Indians at that time were generally friendly towards the settlers, although, a few years previous INTRODUCTION they had committed depredations upon the settle- ments in Utah, Tooele and a few other Counites. Not however the whole Ute nation, but turbulent spirits in large numbers under the leadership of the great War Chief Walker or Wah-ker, (which means in the American language, yellow, or brass.) and later in 1856, by a renegade Goshute Chief named Tintic and his band, who claimed the country on the west side of the Utah Lake in Cedar, Tintic and Skull Val- leys. The Indians were numerous in those days. I was herd boy and spent much of my time with niy companions at the Indian camps. I had a companian by the name Conderset Rowe who could talk the In- dian language nearly as well as the Indians, it seem- ed that he enjoyed the companionship of the young Indians as much as he did the whites, which drew me into their company more than I otherwise would have been. It was the inherent nature of the Indian to steal, and this brings to my mind an incident told of an In- dian who brought a worn out axe to a black smith to be fixed, the blacksmith said, I can't fix it, it hasn't any steel in it. ' ' Oh yes, said the Indian, it is all steel, me steal it last night." Indians could not be depended upon as to their lasting friendship, mostly on account of their thiev- ing propensity, so it was necessary for the settlers to build forts for protection. At Mount Pleasant a fort was built the first summer, of large sand stones that were dug out of the ground, and picked up near the site, it was twenty six rods square, the walls were four feet thick at the bottom eighteen inches on top and twelve feet high, with rooms built against the wall sixteen feet square, with a port hole through INTRODUCTION fort wall in middle of each room, about seven feet from the ground, the holes were about two feet wide inside, four inches on outside and eighteen inches high, there were heavy double wooden gates in the middle of north and south sides of the fort, and there were some rows of houses in the inside. The creek ran through the fort from east to west. Similar forts were built in most all the new settlements. As the settlements became more populous, towns were surveyed with blocks generally twenty six rods square with six rod streets which made 100 blocks to a square mile, or section of land. CONTENTS Chapter I. 1847-1864^Pioneers First Winter in Utah. By Solomon F. Kimball and John R. Young 15 1849— First Battle with Indians in Utah, at Battle Creek 18 Extract from the journal of Judge George W. Bean.... 20 Settling of Utah Valley, copied from Whitney's History of Utah. Trouble at Fort Utah (Provo) 24 The First Indian War 25 1850— Battle at Fort Utah 28 Chief Walker Plans to Massacre the People 35 1851— Copied from Tullidge's Histories, Vol. II, Page 83 37 Death of Squash-Head 42 1853 — Cause and Origin of the Walker War, by Geo. McKenzie 43 Further Particulars of the Walker War by John W. Berry 47 The Walker War Continued, Treachery of the Indians From Whitney's History of Utah, Vol. I, page 514 53 Colonel George A. Smith Given Command of the Militia 55 Attack on Willow Creek, (Mona). Issac Duff in Wounded 56 At Parley's Park, Two Men Killed, One Wounded.... 56 William Hatton Killed While Standing Guard at Fillmore 59 Col. Markham's Brush at Goshen. C. B. Hancock Wounded : 59 The Gunnison Massacre, by J. F. Gibbs 59 Four Men Killed at Uintah Springs, Sanpete County 74 Skirmish at Nephi, Juab County. Eight Indians Killed 75 Wm. Mills and John E. Warner Killed at Manti 76 Attack at Santaquin, Utah County, Fernee L. Tindrell Killed 78 Chase's Sawmill in Sanpete Count}7 Burned by Indians 82 1854— The Allred Settlement, (Spring City) Burned CONTENTS 9 imiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiimifiiiiitiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiini by Indians 83 Treaty With Chief Walker and Kanosh. End of Ute War 83 William and Warren Weeks Killed in Cedar Valley.... 83 1855 — Chief Walker Died at Meadow Creek, Millard County 84 The Elk Mountain Mission and Abandonment 84 The Salmon River Mission 89 1857 — The Salmon River Mission Abandoned. Another Account 97 1856— The Tintic War 100 A Posse Went in Pursuit of Chief Tintic and Band.... 101 From Tullidge's History, Vol. 3, page 157, by John Banks 104 1858 — Four persons massacred in Salt Creek Canyon.. 107 The Bodies of Josiah Call and Samuel Brown found Murdered at Chicken Creek, Juab Co 108 1860 — Murder of a Peaceable Indian by Officers from Camp Floyd 109 Mail Station at Deep Creek Attacked, One Man Shot 110 Attack on Smithfield, John Reed and Ira Merrill Killed 110 1863 — Colonel Conner's Command Starts, for Bear River Ill Colonel Connor's Battle at Bear River 112 Attack on a Platoon of Soldiers at Pleasant Grove.... 115 Indian Outrage in Boxelder County, Win. Thorp Killed 118 Stage Attacked in Cedar Valley, Two Men Killed 119 Treaty at Brigham City, with Shoshone Indians 120 Statement by N. O. Anderson of Ephraim 120 Herdsman C. C. Rowe in Thistle Valley 121 1864 — Herdsmen Jens Gottfredson and Ole Jensen in Thistle Valley. (Peter Gottfredson) 124 Chapter II. 1865— The Black Hawk War. Treaty at Manti. The Lowry Affair 129 P. Ludvigson, Barney Ward and J. P. Anderson killed 130 Col. Allred with 84 Men Defeated in Salina Canyon.... 132 Statement of Gotlieb Enz.... . 138 11 CONTENTS iitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Walter Jones of Monroe Seriously Wounded 140 Jens Larsen a Sheep Herder Killed Near Fairview.... 140 John Given, Wife and Four Children Murdered in Thistle Valley 140 David H. Jones Killed Near Fairview 144 Indians Killed at Circleville 144 About 150 Head of Stock Stolen from Richfield 147 Government Aid Refused. The Militia Ordered Out 150 Treaty by Col. 0. H. Irish at Spanish Fork Reservation 151 Meeting With the Indians 154 Indian Etiquette 155 1865— President Young and Party Left G. S. L. City for Sanpete 156 R. Gillispie and A. Robinson Killed South of Salina.... 156 Gen. W. S. Snow Took Command of the Sanpete Militia 159 Gen. Snow Start After the Indians, the Squaw Fight in Grass Valley, Marine York Wounded 159 Gen. Snow and Command Start to Green River 161 Attack on Glenwood, Merritt Staly Wounded 163 Minute Companies Ordered Away From Home 166 Battle at Red Lake, Snow, Taylor and Franson Wounded 167 Attack on Ephraim, Seven Settlers Killed, Two Wounded 169 Raid on Circleville, Four Persons Killed 176 1866— Dr. J. M. Whitmore and R. Mclntyre Killed at at Pipe Springs. Bodies Recovered, Seven Indians Killed 179 Gen. Snow Arrests a Camp of Indians at Nephi 181 Killing of Joseph and Robert Berry and Wife 181 Removal from Long Valley, Report of Mrs. J. D. L. Pierce 183 Raid on Salina, Three Teams Attacked, Cow Herd Taken, Herder Killed 185 Indians at Manti Broke Jail, 3 Indians Killed, 5 Escape 187 Chief Sanpitch Killed near Moroni, Sanpete County.. 188 Town of Salina Vacated After Losing Their Stock.— 189 Organizing of the Panguitch Militia, Skirmish at Fort CONTENTS 10 Sanford, John Butler Wounded 190 Ambuscade at Marysvale, A. Lewis and C. Christensen Killed 193 Thomas Jones Killed and Wm. Avery Wounded at Fairview Pres. Young Advises the People to Move Together 196 Col. Dodge Sends Word to Call Out the Militia 197 Kimball's and Conover's Commands Arrive at Manti 199 Christian Larsen, a Herder Killed on Spanish Fork Bench 199 Old Father J. E. Ivie and Henry Wright Killed at Scipio !;. 201 Gen. Pace's Battle at Gravelly Ford, Wm. Tunbridge Wounded 201 A Race for Life 204 Gen. Wells and Militia Leave Salt Lake City for Sanpete, Gen. Wells Takes Command of the Militia in Sanpete 205 Captain A. P. Dewey was ordered to establish a post in Thistle Valley 207 Battle in Thistle Valley 208 Reported by Joel Andrew Johnson one of Major duff's Men . 212 Battle in Diamond Fork, Edmundson and Dimick Killed Copied from History of Springville 213 Circleville in Piute County Abandoned 220 Captain Bigler With 60 Men Arrive in Mount Pleasant Indians Steal 150 Head of Cattle Near Ephraim 220 A Cavalry Company Leave St. George. Elijah Everett Killed History of St. George Stake 221 Muster Roll of Indian Expedition to Reach Junction of Green and Grand Rivers 225 An Extract from James M. Peterson's Diary 226 Death of Black Hawk 226 A Letter from William Probert 227 Attack on the J. P. Lee Ranch Near Beaver. Joseph Lillywhite Wounded 229 Account of the War in Wasatch County and 12 CONTENTS Vicinity 245 Account of the War in Wasatch County Continued 254 Col. Pierce and Andrews Engage Indians Near St. George 255 Raid on Pine Valley, Indians Overtaken Eleven Killed 256 J. P. Petersen, Wife and Mary Smith Killed near Glenwood A Skirmish at Glenwood, Stock Recovered 257 Sevier, Piute and Parts of Other Counties Vacated.... 261 Gen. R. T. Burton and Command Ordered to Sanpete 261 Capt. Wm. L. Binder's Infantry Left Salt Lake City for Sanpete Adam Paul of Capt. Miles Cavalry Company Wounded 262 Attack on Fountain Green Cowherd. Louis Lund Killed 262 Major Vance and Sgt. Houtz Killed at Twelve Mile Creek 267 The Paraoonah Range Swept by Indians 268 Raid on the Stock at Little Creek, Beaver County.... 268 Wm. J. Allred Recovers His Horses, Kills Two Indians 269 Spring City Fight, J. Meeks and A. Johnson Killed.... 270 Raid on Spring City (by H. S. Ivie) 272 John Hay Killed near Warm Creek While on Guard 275 Gen. Wells Issue Orders for a General Muster 276 Raid on Beaver 200 Head of Stock Stolen 278 Girl Stolen at Wellsville, Never Recovered 281 Battle at Rocky Ford, Justesen and Wilson Killed.... 281 Raid on Scipio, Fifteen Head of Horses Stolen 284 Indians Stop Col. Ivie in Salt Creek Canyon 284 Indian Gratitude 285 Skirmish at Ephraim, Battle at Rock Lake 287 Col. Heath's Treaty with Indians in Strawberry Valley 289 Navajoes Raid Harrisburg Some Stock Stolen 290 Franklin Benjamin Woolley Killed near Fort Mohava " 290 Raid on Kane County, Three Friendly Indians Killed . .. 291 CONTENTS 13 Raid on Kanarra, Many Horses Stolen, Some Recovered 291 Niels Heizelt Killed at Twelve Mile Creek 293 Indian Outrage at Manti, Sanpete County 295 Indian Outrage at Manti, Sanpete County 295 Chief Tabby Sends Word He Can No Longer Control His Indians 296 Col. Ivie Sends Dispatch to General Wells 297 Assault Upon Jeremiah D. Page at Mount Pleasant.... 297 Information on Assault by Bishop Seely 298 Gen. Morrow Makes Treaty at Springville 302 Treaty Concluded at Mount Pleasant 303 Attack on Fairview Cow Herd. Nathan Stewart Killed 303 Horses Stolen From Richfield and Glenwood 303 Horses Stolen from Fountain Green (The Pursuit).... 305 Dan. Miller killed and Son Wound ad Near Spring City 305 General Morrow's Recommendation to Indian Agent Dodge Indians go to Washington to Interview President Grant 312 Indian Tradition and legends By D. B. Huntington 314 Ute and Piute Traditions by H. J. Gottrfedson 321 An exploring Trip and Treaties with Indians in Grass Valley and Vicinity, by A. K. Thurber, G. W. Bean and others 324 Three Navajo Indian Killed in Grass Valely 322 Utah Indian War Veterans Organize at Springville.... 322 Reunion at Manti, John Lowry States Cause of Black Hawk War 335 Grass Valley Indians Do Not Want to Go to the Uintah Reservation 348 Grass Valley Indians in 1914 341 Kanosh Koosharem Indians Bear Dance 343 Bill Awarding Medals to Indian War Veterans 345 Legislature Appropriate $50,000.00 to Indian War Veterans 348 Legislature Appropriate $25,000.00 to Indian War Veterans 348 The Federal Pension Bill, Granting Pensions to Indian War Veterans.... .. 350 CHAPTER I. J847— 1864 FROM THRILLING EXPERIENCES, By Solomon F. Kimball. The first winter spent by the pioneers in Salt Lake Valley was a quiet one. The surrounding tribes of Indians were on their good behavior, as far as the new comers were concerned, although at war with each other. The victorious parties dur- ing such wars scalped all the warriors whom they captured or killed. Their custom was to hang these scalps on their scalp-poles, which they took great pride in exhibitng. The brave that could show the greatest number was considered the greatest Indian of them all. The young women and children were held as slaves, and sometimes treated in the most cruel man- ner. The red men were not long in learning that the Saints were a tender-hearted people, and could not witness such scenes without sympathizing to the uttermost with those who were being tortured. Among the first accounts given by the pioneers of this barbaric treatment is one found in Mary Ellen Kimball 's journal of 1847, of which the following is a brief extract: A number of Indians were camped near the Hot Springs, north of the Fort. They had with them a little girl who had been captured from another tribe, and they offered to trade her for a rifle. Fire-arms were scarce with the pioneers, and besides it was not good policy to arm these cruel savages who might at any time turn on those who had armed them. The 16 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS iiMiiiiiiiiniimiimi minim inn Illllilil llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllMMIllllilill* Indians finally began to torture the little one, at the same time declaring that they would kill her, unless the rifle was forthcoming. One of our pioneer boys, Charles Decker, whose heart was wrung by witness- ing such cruelty, very reluctantly parted with his only gun. He took the little girl home, and gave her to his sister, Clara D. Young. They named her Sally, and she lived in the family of President Brigham Young until she had grown to womanhood. After- wards she married a noble and friendly Pauvante chief named Kanosh. She made him a good wife and did much towards civilizing him. He joined the 11 Mormon" Church and died a faithful Latter-day Saint. That winter several pappooses were pur- chased under similar circcumstances. John R. Young referring to the same incident relates the following : Elder John R. Young writes : ' ' Soon after we moved on to our city lot in the fall of 1847, a band of Indians camped near us. Early one morning we were excited at hearing their shrill, blood curdling war whoop, mingled with occasionally sharp cries of pain. Father sent me to the fort for help. Charley Decker and Barney Ward (the interpreter) and others hurried to the camp. It was Wanship's band. Some of his braves had just returned from the war path. In a fight with " Little Wolf's" band, they lost two men, but had succeeded in taking two girls prisoners. One of these they had killed and were torturing the other. To save her life Charley Decker bought her and took her to our house to be washed and clothed. She was the saddest looking piece of humanity I have ever seen. They had shingled her head with INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 17 butcher knives and fire brands. All the fleshy parts of her body, legs and arms had been hacked with knives, then fire brands had been stuck into the wounds. She was gaunt with hunger and smeared from head to foot with blood and ashes. After being scrubbed and clothed, she was given to Pres. Brigham Young and became as one of his family. They named her Sally, and her memory has ben perpetuated by the "Courtship of Kanosh, a Pioneer Indian Love Story," written by my gifted cousin, Susa Young Gates. But Susa gave us only the courtship, while the ending of Sally's life, as told to me by a man from Kanosh, was as tragic as her childhood days had been thrilling. After she married Kanosh, several years of her life passed pleasantly in the white man's house which he built for her. Then her Indian hus- band took to himself another wife, who became jeal- ous of Sally and perhaps hated her also for her white man's ways. One day when they were in a secluded place dig- ging segoes, the new wife murdered Sally and buried the body in a gully. When Kanosh missed her, he took her track and followed it as faithfully as a blood hound could have done, and was not long in finding the grave. In his grief he seized the murderess and would have burned her at the stake but white men interfered. In due time the Indian woman confessed her guilt and, in harmony with Indian justice, offered to expiate her crime by starving herself to death. The offer was accepted, and on a lone hill in sight of the village, a "wick-i-up" was constructed of dry timber. Taking a jug of water, the woman INDIAN DEPREDATIONS walked silently toward her living grave. Like the rejected swan, alone, unloved, in low tones she sang her own sad requiem, until her voice was hushed in death. One night when the evening beacon fire was not seen by the villagers, a runner was dispatched to fire the wick-i-up and retribution was complete. Sally's funeral had taken place only a few days previous. Over a hundred vehicles followed the re- mains to its last resting place, and beautiful floral wreaths covered the casket ; for Sally had been wide- ly loved among the white settlers for her gentle ways. — Young's Manuscript page 45, copied at Historian's Office by H. H. Jenson. 1849. FEB. 28th, FIRST BATTLE WITH INDIANS IN UTAH, AT BATTLE CREEK. Copied from records in the L. D. S. Historian's Office. A report having reached Salt Lake City that some renegade Indians were molesting the settlers, a company of thirty or forty men under Captain John Scott left Salt Lake City Feb. 28, 1849, in pur- suit of some Indians who had been stealing and kill- ing cattle and running off horses from Willow Creek (Draper) and other places. The company proceeded to Utah Valley and met Little Chief and his band of Timpanogos Utes on the Provo River who told the military boys where the thieving Indians were en- camped. The company left-thfi_Provo river in the night, taking with them as guide Little Chief's son who led them over the Provo Bench toward the creek (Battle Creek) north of the base of the mountains, INDIAN DEPREDATIONS whence from an eminence they discovered the fires of the Indians who were encamped on the creek which ran in the midst of willows~and dense brush-wood in a deep ravine. The company was divided into four smaller bodies and posted north, south, east and west of the Indians, who, when they awoke in the morn- ing, found themselves besieged. The savages packed up their baggage and ineffectually tried every way to escape. They then commenced to fight by shooting arrows and firing guns. This small predatory band of Indians consisted of two lodges under Kone and Blue-Shirt and numbered seventeen souls in all, including four men. The squaws and children were secured and fed and warmed. After a desultory fight of three or four hours, the four men who took every advantage of the brush for cover were killed. None of the brethern were injured. The skins of fifteen cattle, which the Indians had killed were found near by. During the fight Stick-in-the-Head and his band of Timpanogos Utes came up ready for a fight and took position on an elevation, whence they vainly called to the besieged and urged them to come that way. The company returned to Great Salt Lake City March 6th. The squaws and child- ren of the slain were taken to the City, and after being fed went to their friends among the other In- dians. From this circumstance the creek on which the fight took place was named Battle Creek. The fight referred to was the first battle which the ' ' Mor- mon" Pioneers fought with the Indians in the Ter- ritory of Utah. — From Journal History at the Historian's Office. 20 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS EXTEACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF JUDGE GEORGE W. BEAN. (Almost a life-long Indian interpreter.) Early in the spring of 1849 a move was made to commence a settlement at Provo, among the power- ful tribe of Timpanodes, (Timpano gos] John S. and Isaac Higbee and Alex Williams gathered up a com- pany of about thirty families, James Bean among the rest. They reached the river Provo the 1st of April. About three miles out they were met by a young brave Angatewats by name, who placed himself on horseback across the trail in front of the foremost wagon and forbad them from proceeding farther. Interpreter Dimic B. Hunting-ton, who was with the Company, pleaded for them to try the emigrants a while and see if they could not live in peace together, and after about an hour's delay they were allowed to proceed in peace. They located on the south side of the river, near the lower crossing. They built their houses in a paralellogram, about 20 by 30 rods, en- closing an ancient mound near the center. Most of the houses were built of cottonwood logs, in solid continuous line, and where vacancies occurred, the space was filled in with pickets, about 12 feet long, set in the ground close together, for protection in case of attack from hostile Indians. They had a gen- eral stock corral on the East side of the fort outside, beside several private corrals behind the respective houses, with gates or back door openings, the farming was conducted on the east, south and west of the fort, mostly on the west side towards the lake. They got along pretty well with the natives the fore INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 21 part of the season, although some of the worst In- dians of ihis western region belonged to this tribe, and they soon found that Provo was the great an- nual gathering place for all the Ute bands of the val- leys for two hundred miles, east and south, on ac- count of the wonderful supply of fish, moving up the stream from the lake to their spawning grounds every spring, indeed so great were the number of suckers and mullet passing continuously up stream that often the river would be full from bank to bank as thick as they could swim for hours and sometimes days together, and fish would be taken in all ways and places. The Indians could feast from morning until night for weeks together, free of all cost, ex- cept a little labor catching the Paligar (suckers), or Mpahger (speckled trout, good fish). At the time of their arrival at Provo the Timpanodes were govern- ed by a chief called by the whites, Little Chief, but in about a month after this, he led a party of war- riors to attack Wanship's band, north of Salt Lake City, and was killed in a battle up at Ogden hole, or north Ogden, then Opecarry (Stick-in-the-Head). There was also Old Elk, (Pareyarts], Old Battiste, Tintic, his brother, Portsorvic, Angatewats and other noted ones here, Old Sawiet, old Petnich, Walker and his brother, and old Uinta and his sons, Tabby, Graspero. and Nicquia, old Antero, and some times Kanosh. These with their bands had been accustom- ed to meet at Provo, and have a great good time, horse racing, trading, gambling and eating fish, for several weeks every year. There were some addi- tions made to the population at Provo during the summer, and in the fall when Indian troubles broke out, they were situated in the fort. 22 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS The Indians were anxious for traders to bring guns, ammunition and various merchandise to barter for their skins and furs, horses and such things as they had, sometimes buffalo robes, as those Ute In- dians were an enterprising race, generally going once a year to the eastern plains, to kill buffalo, and for many winters had made incursions into Southern California, robbing the ranchers of thousands of horses. The cause of these raids being based on the bad treatment of some of Chief Walker's party many years ago, by certain ranchers, taking their buffalo robes, Indian children and confiscating their property without compensation. The settlers no doubt acted under law of trade and intercourse, but which was not understood by those tribes of the Utah band. In this way Walker's band of Utes had accumulated many horses. Some of the men here started up a traffic with the natives, notably Alex Williams, the guides James B. Porter and D. B. Huntington, their interpreter. After a while came trouble. The first serious outbreak was occasioned by three of our people, namely: Richard A. Ivie, Y. Bufus Stoddard and Gerome Zabriskie, who met an Indian called Bishop Whitney, in the field and claimed a shirt the Indian had on. The Indian re- fused to give it up. Ivie claimed it as his and tried to take it, was resisted and in the scuffle that in- sued, the Indian was killed, and his body weighted with rock, was sunk in the river, so reported by the Indians, who found the body after 24 hours search. This killing of the Old Bishop, so called, occur- red about the 1st of August, 1849, and immediately INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 23 caused great excitement amongst the Indians, es- pecially the Timpanodes, located here. They first demanded the murderers, which, of course, was re- fused by the whites. They then required compen- sation in cattle and horses, but nothing was ever given, and shortly after this cattle and horses were found with arrows sticking in them, several per- sons were shot at while in the woods and other places. Meanwhile the people prepared for defense. Peter W. Conover was chosen Captain of Militia with E. T. Thomas and G. T. Willis, lieutenants, Miles Weaver, adjutant, Joseph Clark, sergeant. Guards were posted at night and armed herdsmen on horseback, kept the stock by day. The leading Indians ordered the people off their lands. They made serious threats in case of failure to leave and stock was stolen from time to time. About September 1st a bastion was constructed on the mound in the fort, of heavy posts, 30 feet square, with log railings, and a six pounder iron cannon placed on the pfatlorm of the bastion, which was sufficiently elevated to protect the fort and stockyards from attack, which was considered liable to occur at any time. About this time a large company of gold seekers enroute westward by way of southern California, made their camp alongside the fort and they hav- ing plenty of arms and ammunition, were a great aid, they stayed four or five weeks and had stock which was cared for together for mutual protec- tion. Our militia company continued to practice al- most daily, and through the liberality of the emi- grant camp powder was supplied for the cannon. 24 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Illl HIM After the California emigrants had passed, the Indians got very troublesome, and were some- times aggravated by our people, so that, towards Christmas, open war seemed inevitable. The measles got among our people and from there to the natives, having taken some prisoners, from them the disease spread through the tribe. With the aid of the measles and about 100 men from Salt Lake County the Indians were finally driven off into the mountains and far away valleys. During a three days fight near here, the Indians being behind a breatwork of logs and earth banks, Joseph Higbee was killed and Alex Williams, Al- bert Miles, Alev Stevens and Sam Casus (?) were severely wounded and Isham Flyn, John Nowlin and one or two others slightly wounded. SETTLING OF UTAH VALLEY. COPIED FROM WHITNEY'S HISTORY OF UTAH. TROUBLE AT FORT UTAH (PROVO). It was with reluctance that the Timpanogos Indians who met the Higbee colony in March, 1848, permitted the first white settlement on Provo River, and that, too, in spite of the invitation previously extended to the colonists by the chiefs, Sowiette and Walker, to settle among their tribes and teach them how to become civilized. It has also been stated that soon after Fort Utah was founded, Walk- er, according to Colonel Bridger and Mr. Vasquez be- gan stirring up the Indians against the "Mormon" settlers. In this movement Walker was aided by another chief named Elk, — variously styled Big Elk, Old Elk, etc., — like himself a hater of the whites, INDIAN DEPREDATIONS and apparently quite as fond of fighting. It was with Big Elk and his band that the Provo settlers, in their first regular battle with the savages, had im- mediately to deal. It was believed by Governor Young that Colonel Bridger and other mountaineers were at the bottom of much of the ill-feeling manifested by the red men, and they were incited to attack the "Mormon" set- tlements. The Governor, (Brigham Young), how- ever, seemed to have confidence in Mr. Vasquez, who had opened a small store in Salt Lake City, and whose interests to that extent were identified with those of the settlers. The Indians, at first so friendly with the Utah Valley colonists, began their depredations in that vicinity in the spring of 1849. Grain was stolen from the fields, cattle and horses from the herds, and now and then an arrow from an Indian bow would fall un- comfortably near some settler as he was out gather- ing fuel in the river bottoms. THE FIRST INDIAN WAR. The first fight with the Indians took place on Battle Creek, near the present site of Pleasant Grove, it occurred early in the spring of 1849. There, Colonel John Scott, with thirty or forty men, after a sharp skirmish defeated the savages under Chief Kone — also Roman Nose — and drove them up Battle Creek Canyon. Five Indians were killed, but none of Col- onel Scott's men were hurt. He had been sent south to recover some stolen horses taken from Orr's herd in Utah Valley, and several cattle stolen from Ezra T. Benson 's herd in Tooele. Battle Creek derived its INDIAN DEPREDATIONS name from this initial encounter between the Indians and Deseret Militia. For some reason the authorities at Salt Lake City did not altogether approve the conduct of this campaign. No doubt they regretted the necessity for a military expedition against the savages, and de- plored the fatalities attending it, not only from hu- manitarian considerations, but fearing probably that it would precipitate a general war, and unify all the savage bands of the vicinity against a handful of settlers at Fort Utah. "Shed no blood" was a standing general order to the "Mormon" militia in those days, and the troops were expected to adhere to it wherever possible. Yet blood had now been shed and the Indians were doubtless exasperated. This may or may not have been the reason that Colonel Scott was found fault with. That would materially depend upon the nature of the orders he had received from his superiors, and his ability under subsequent circumstances to carry out those orders. It is a fact, however, that the Colonel fell under some censure at the time, and because of it declined to take part in succeeding Indian campaigns. It is said that the Utah Indians never sought re- venge for any of their number killed while stealing or making an attack. Colonel George A. Smith is authority for this statement. But the Battle Creek skirmish, which was not strictly an affair of that kind, could not but have the effect of straining the relations between the settlers and their savage neighbors, and extinguishing in the hearts of the latter that spark of friendship which yet remained. 27 They continued their petty depredations and be- came bolder and more insolent daily. The settlers at Fort Utah would occassionally fire their cannon to warn the redskins that they were not unmindful of their misdeeds, and were prepared to maintain their rights. But the Indians were not to be awed by sound and smoke. Their nefarious practices went on. They were evidently provoking a conflict. Stock con- tinued to be taken from the herds, and all efforts to recover stolen property were stoutly resisted. Fi- nally the Indians began firing on the settlers as they issued from their fort, and at last the stockade was virtually in a state of siege. No longer was it arrows alone that fell around them. Bullets whizzed past their ears. The In- dians were now well supplied with fire-arms and ammunition, obtained in exchange for horses, mostly from California emigrants who had passed through the country. Captain Howard Stansbury's party, during the fall, had been surveying around Utah Lake, where they also were much annoyed by the savages. As winter came on, they suspended their labors and returned to Salt Lake City, feeling satisfied that in the existing state of affairs in Utah Valley it would be both difficult and dangerous for them to continue operations in the spring, exposed, as they would be, to attacks from the savages, either in open field or deadly .ambush. The subsequent sad fate of Lieutenant John W. Gunnsion and his party on the Sevier showed that these apprehensions were well grounded. INDIAN DEPREDATIONS FEB. 9th. BATTLE AT FORT UTAH. As for the inhabitants of Fort Utah, they pa- tiently bore their annoyances and losses until nearly spring, 1850, when affairs became so serious that they felt compelled to appeal for aid to Governor Brigham Young and the Legislature, still in session at Salt Lake City. Captain Peter W. Conover, in charge of military affairs at the fort, and Miles Weaver carried the message of their anxious fel- low settlers to headquarters. Governor Young, on receiving the message, found himself in a somewhat peculiar position. That the beleaguered settlers must be relieved, and at once was evident, not only for their own sakes, but for that of other settlements already forming or in pros- pect in the south. But how best to relieve them was the question. The thought of more fighting and blood- shed was most repugnant to him. Not for worlds would the " Mormon" leader have the sons of La- man think that he and his people came among them for that purpose. "Feed them and not fight them,' was his life-long motto and policy toward the red men. Besides, how would the authorities at Washing- ton, by whom the petition of Deseret for statehood was then being considered, regard the opening of a warfare by the "Mormons" upon these dusky "Wards of the Government." Deem not this a trifling consideration, reader. A people like the "Mor- mons, liable to be misinterpreted, had to be cautious and circumspect in their public acts and policies, where other communities, whose loyalty and good intents were unquestioned, might have risked all with impunity. INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 29 iliiiiiiiini i iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin mi MI ii ii i iitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilMlllllliliiilililiiliiiiiiiiniiiiiiim Fortunately, there was a government office]?"" on the grounds, a brave and honorable man, — Cap- tain Howard Stansbury. It being evident — all con- ciliatory efforts having failed — that force must be employed to put an end to the aggressions of the savages, the Captain was asked by Governor Young and other officials for an expression of opinion as to what view the Government would probably take of it. 1 1 1 did not hesitate to say to them, ' ' says Stansbury, "that in my judgment the contemplated expedition against these savage marauders was a measure not only of good policy, but one of absolute necessity and self-preservation. He therefore warmly approved of it, and not only that, but at Governor Young's request permit- ted Lieutenant Howland to accompany the expedition as its adjutant, and contributed arms, ammunition, tents and camp equipage for the soldiers. Dr. Blake, of the Stansbury party, acted as surgeon for the ex- pedition. A company of fifty minute men under Captain George D. Grant started from Salt Lake City, Feb. 7 1850, followed by fifty others, commanded by Major Andrew Lytle. Colonel Scott had been ordered to go, but declined, for which he was afterwards court- martialed. Major Lytle went in his stead. The expedition set out early in February, 1850. The weather was extremely cold, and the snow, fro- zen and hard-crusted, was over a foot deep in the valleys. Progress was therefore rendered very dif- ficult. Captain Grant's cavalry, after marching all night, on the morning of the 8th, arrived at Provo River. Such a march was deemed necessary in order INDIAN DEPREDATIONS to take the Indians unaware and secure an advanta- geous position. The militia found the settlers in their fort on the south side of the stream, and the Indians strongly entrenched in the willows and timber of the river-bottom, a mile or two above. They were pro- tected not only by the river-bank, but by a breast- work of cotton-wood trees which they felled. Near by their strong-hold stood a double log house facing the river. This house, built by James A. Bean and sons, which at one time became the center of action in the fight that ensued, was immediatey opposite the Indian fortification. It had been deserted by one of the settlers, James A. Bean, who had taken refuge with his family at the fort. The house was now held by the savages who, during the battle, kept up a continuous fire from its windows and crevices, as well as from their redoubt, upon the attacking party. Captain Conover, commander at the fort, united his men with Captain Grant's, and the main forces then proceeded to occupy a position near the deserted building, about a half a mile south-west of the log house mentioned. The Indians were led by Chiefs Elk and Ope-Carry — surnamed "Stick-in-the-Head" — the latter, like Sowiette, rather friendly with the whites, while Elk, as has been stated, was more like the warlike Walker. Ope-Carry, it seems, de- sired peace, and had come out of the redoubt to talk with Dimick B. Huntington, the interpreter, when Elk and his warriors opened fire, and the bat- tle was thus begun. The engagement lasted two days, during which time an almost incessant fusilade was kept up be- tween the white assailants and the dusky defenders INDIAN DEPREDATIONS of the river redoubt. Artillery was also employed against the savages, but with little effect, as they were right under the bank, and most of the balls passed harmlessly over. A squaw was killed by a chain shot, however, during the progress of the fight. The Indians would make frequent sorties, and after delivering1 their fire, return to cover. Again, they would thrust their gun barrels through the snow lying deep upon the banks above them, and momentarily raising their heads high enough to take aim, discharge their broad-side at the be- siegers. They fought so stubbornly that all efforts to dislodge them for a time proved futile. They killed Joseph Higbee, son of Isaac Higbee — then president of the settlement — and wounded several others of the attacking force. Finally, in the afternoon of the second day, (Feb. 9th) Captain Grant, whose care had been to expose his men as little as possible, determined to capture the log-house at all hazards. He therefore ordered Lieutenant William H. Kimball, with fifteen picked men, to charge upon the house and take it. Among those who participated in this charge— the one daring exploit of the campaign — were Rob- ert T. Burton, Lot Smith, James Ferguson, John R. Murdock, Ephraim K. Hanks, A. J. Pendleton, Or- son K. Whitney, Barney Ward, Henry Johnson and Isham Flyn. Kimball and his men preceded up the river until directly opposite the log-house, which now intervened between them and the stream. They turned to the left, facing the rear of the house, and the leader gave the word of charge. Dashing forward through a ravine that for some moments hid them from view, the horsemen emerged upon the flat and 32 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS were within a few rods of the house, in the act of crossing a small slough, when a roaring volley from the log citadel met them. Isham Flyn was wounded and the charge was momentarily checked. Several swept on, however, and the Indians hastily vacating the house, fled to their entrenchments. The first two troopers to gain the house were Lot Smith and Robert T. Burton, who, riding around to the front of the building, entered the passage be- tween the two compartments. Bullets whizzed past them, splintering the wood-work all around, but both they and their horses were soon under shelter. Their companions, a moment later, gathered to the rear of the house, and none too soon, for the Indians, recovering from their surprise, began pouring their volleys into the ranks of cavalry and upon the cap- tured building. Half the horses were instantly killed and their riders escaped by miracle. Between the volleys, Lieutenant Kimball, Ephraim K. Hanks and others, darting around the corner of the house, gained the inside, while others waited until an open- ing had been made in the rear. To support the cavalry charge, Captain Grant ordered forward a small detachment of infantiy. These men, ten in number, were a portion of Captain Conover's command, and were led by Jabez B. Now- lin. On reaching the log-house, with saw and ax they effected an entrance at the rear. Some, however, went around the corner into the passage, and were fired upon by the savages ; Nowlin being wounded in thr. nose. The services of a surgeon was now in demand. Seeing that something was wrong, Captain Grant requested Hiram B. Clawson, General Wells' aide, The Indians who claimed that part or the country had gone south .into Sevier Valley for winter, where less snow fell and where game was more plentiful, such as deer rabbits, ducks, geese, etc. Beaver otter and mink were in the river and small streams. In th spring of 1850, the Indians returned and camped south west of the colonists, Arrapene was their chief, they were friendly towards the whites. At the death of Arrapene, Sowiette became chief of the tribe, which numbered several hundred. The author herded in Sevier Valley, at Willow Creek (now Axtel) during the winter of 1860. More than three years prior to settling the valley, our number consisted of George Wilson, David Wilson, Eli Openshaw, Samuel Allen and myself we had the Mount Pleasant dry stock and a bunch of sheep to care for. The Indians came out from Manti to winter as usual, to hunt and trap, there were about forty or fifty lodges with from four to ten Indians, young and old to each lodge. Their tents were made mostly of smoked buckskins, the smoking prevented them from becoming hard after being wet, and they were very strong and durable. Their sewing thread consisted of sinew taken from the back of deer, which is the strong ligaments that lays near the skin, extending from the hip to shoulder, it could be stripped apart in as fine threads as desired and was very strong and durable, their bow strings were made of the same material and they glued a covering of sinew on the back, or ontside of their bows to give them strength and spring. As a rule they were better marks- men with their bows than with guns. The squaws enjoyed target prac- tice, but were not strong enough to pull the arrow back as the bucks did, consequently they would lay on their back, place the middle of of the bow against the soles of their moccasins, placing • the arrow- between their feet and with both hands pull the arrow back its full length, with a good bow they could send an arrow four hundred yards or more. Their best bows were made of mountain sheep horns. Their tent poles were about twelve feet long and about two inches in dia- meter, with holes through the small, or top ends to tie them together when traveling, they dragged about five on either side of a horse and fastened a small stick across behind the horse and loaded them with blankets, provisions and pappooses. A squaw would generally ride, hunched on the horse between the ends of the tent poles. The tents, or wicki-ups were open at the top to let out the smoke and the poles weer spread out at he lower ends to hold out the tent. There was a flap to fasten over the entrance at night and to keep out storms. They generally pitched camp in a sheltered place, I never heard of their wickiups blowing down. The squaws tanned the buckskins and hides, their tanning mate- rial was the brains of animals, they laid the hides over a small tree, cut down, laying on a slope and do the working with hands, sticks and rib bones, and rocks. They sewed their moccasins and clothing with sinew, they also made blankets or robes by tearing rabbit skins in strips and twisting them in long rolls with the fur out, sewing them together as a white woman would a braided rug, their robes were very soft and warm. Peter Gottfredson. PRESIDENT BUIGIIAM YOUXG First Governor of Utah. "It is cheaper to fe^tl them than to f'.ght them." 'mtt££^j3F&ll% . ™M:™%Z«/faWm t* ^ ; XT*' SK-- " z^~^^ V.^>^x 5> ' ~n >^K_^ INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 33 who had accompanied the expedition, to ride to the house and ascertain what was needed. He did soy performing the hazardous feat successfully, though bullets sung past him as he rode. His friends at the house, seeing him coming, redoubled their vol- leys and drew most of the Indians fire in their di- rection. Returning, Colonel Clawson reported that surgical aid was at once required for the wounded. He and his cousin, Steven Kinsey, a surgeon, then rode back to the building. Returning, the two were again fired upon, one bullet just missing Clawson 's head and piercing Kinsey 's hat. Later another ball came nigh hitting Clawson and went through Kin- sey's trousers. Both, however, escaped unhurt. Meantime, Lieutenant Howland, with something of the integrity of a Cortez, had conceived the idea of a movable battery, to operate against the In- dian redoubt. His idea was at once acted upon. A barricade of planks, in the shape of a V, was con- structed and placed upon runners, blankets being hung loosely on the inside to stop the force of the balls that penetrated the timber. The outside was covered with brush and boughs to conceal the true character of the improvised battery. This pointed barricade, behind which quite a number of men could take shelter and deliver their fire without being much exposed, was pushed towards the Indian stronghold. Like Macbeth, when Birnam Wood, or what he took to be a forest, came toward Dunsinane, the Indians were thoroughly alarmed at the ap- proach of this strange object, and divining its pur- pose made up their minds to retreat. Accordingly, that evening, they opened a furious fire upon the po- sition held by the troops, and under cover of the 34 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS darkness withdrew. The log-house had previously been vacated by Kimball 's men, a circumstance which enabled the Indians to depart unobserved, after help- ing themselves to a supply of horse-beef from the dead cavalry animals lying near. General Wells, who had been sent for to take charge of further operations, arrived next moiiimg, Feb. 10th, but on preparing to attack the Indians it was discovered that they had gone. One party, the smaller band, had retreated in the direction of Eock Canyon, a rough and difficult gorge a little north-east of Provo, while the main party had fled southward in the direction of Spanish Fork. A dead squaw — the one killed by a cannon shot — was found in the Indian encampment; also two or three warriors, dead or dying. Elk, the chief, subse- quently died of wounds received during the siege. His being wounded had probably disheartened the savages and caused the retreat quite as much as Lieutenant Rowland's battery. The lieutenant had returned to Salt Lake City after the second day's skirmish. Some of the Indians, more friendly than their fellows, had deserted their ranks before the fighting began, taking refuge with the white fami- lies in the fort. Detailing certain men to garrison the stockade, and others to pursue the Rock Canyon refugees, Gen- eral Wells, with the main body of the cavalry, set out upon the trail of the Indians who had gone south- ward. At Spanish Fork and Pe-teet-neet (now Pay- son) — short skirmishes occurred, and eventually, on Feb. llth the Indians were overtaken near Table Mountain, at the south end of Utah Lake. Another battle ensued, and the Indians were practically an- INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 35 nihilated. Most of the fighting took place on the ice, which was very slippery, making it extremely difficult for the horses to keep their feet. The In- dians, being shot at, would fall, as if dead, and then, as their pursuers drew near, rise up and fire. They killed several horses in this manner, but none of the cavalrymen were hurt. Night came down, and a bitter night it was. The soldiers were forced to take refuge in the wicki- ups vacated by the Indians on the bleak mountain side. As these primitive shelters swarmed with ver- min the result may readily be imagined. On returning to Fort Utah, General Wells found that Major Lytle and Captain Lamereux, joining their forces, had pursued the other band of Indians up Bock Canyon. The fate of these savages was similar to that of their fellows at Table Mountain. The total Indian loss was about forty, more than half the number of warriors engaged Efforts were made to civilize the squaws and papooses who were captured, but as a rule without avail They lived with the whites during the winter, but in the spring again sought their native mountains. A treaty of peace was entered into between the settlers and the Indians, and the latter now agreed to be friendly and molest their white neighbors no more. CHIEF WALKER PLANS TO MASSACRE THE PEOPLE. In the summer of 1850, Walker, it is said, laid a plan to massacre the people at Fort Utah. It was in revenge for a slight that he imagined he had received from Governor Young. The Ute chief had visited the INDIAN DEPREDATIONS '* Mormon" leader to obtain his permission to engage in a campaign against the Shoshones, in which Wal- ker wished some of the young men of Provo to join. Governor Young would not listen to such a thing, and again advised the warlike chief to cease fight- ing and bloodshed. Walker returned to Utah Val- ley in a rage. Gathering his band, he was about to fall upon the fort, when Sowiette, the white man's friend, again interposed to thwart him. He not only warned the inmates, who flew to arms, but told Wal- ker that he with his band would help the fort against him. Walker again gave way, and for several years warred elsewhere, not molesting the "Mormon" set- tlements. The late Bishop Henson Walker of Pleasant Grove, Utah County, Utah, related an incident that occurred at the battle at Provo, in which he formed a conspicuous figure. He said: "I shot at an In- dian sixteen times from behind a log. To do him jus- tice, he was equally active. There we were, both under cover blazing away at each other, when neither showed even a part of his body. But I had the last shot. He stuck out too much of his head and never got back." Copied from l ' Deseret Xews ' ' Vol. 1 : One white man by the name of Baker was killed by Indians on the 29th of May, 1850, between Utah and Sanpete Valleys. The following summer a successful expedition was undertaken by a company of volunteer (cavalry) under Captain George D. Grant, against the Goshute Indians, a band of renegades who for some time had been stealing stock and committing murders in Tooele Valley and the surrounding region. Their headquarters were in Skull Valley. Captain Wil- liam McBride with a company of infantry had pre- ceded the cavalry to that point, but finding it im- possible to operate successfully against the Indians with his troops, had requested that a force of mounted men be sent to his assistance. The Indian camp was among the Cedar Mountains, on the west- ern edge of a desert, twenty miles wide and very dif- ficult to cross, owing to an utter lack of water. A first effort to surprise and chastise the savages proved futile, as they had learned of the coming of the troops and laughed and jeered at them from the rocky heights where they were entrenched. A second march of the cavalry across the desert, during the night, when the Indians supposed the pursuit had been abandoned, was completely successful. The savages were surprised in their wickiups just at day- break, and the males almost annihilated. Tons of 11 jerked beef," manufactured from the stolen cattle of the settlers, were found stored in the Indians' stronghold. Among those who participated in this expedition, which gave many years of peace to the western settlements, were George D. Grant, William H. Kimball, Robert T. Burton, Nathaniel V. Jones, Rodney Badger, James M. Barlow, John Wakely, Charles Westover and Jesse Turpin. COPIED FROM TULLIDGE'S HISTORIES, VOL. II, P. 83. 1 ' The pioneers of Tooele County had their com- plement of trouble with the Indians, in common with the early settlers in Utah. ''With them," writes the Historian Edward W. Tullidge for several years, the loss of cattle and horses was frequent and often 2771 56 38 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS severe. Scouting after the enemy, standing guard and forting up formed an important factor of their lives. Many incidents of interest will remain un- written, as only a few of the most important events can now be gathered up and placed on record. In the spring of 1851, some emigrants on their way to California were assisting Ezra T. Benson to put up a saw-mill at Kichville, (now known as the Mill), when a party of the surrounding Indians stole their horses. One of them Mr. Ouster, with. Harrison Severe, Thomas Lee and other "Mormon" settlers, followed them, as they supposed, to the west side of Rush Lake; but evidently mistook the route the marauders had taken. However, they there found a band of Indians with their families, took thorn prisoners and started for Tooele, but without dis- arming the men. On the way the Indians and con- sequently the guard became separated into small squads. It appears that Mr. Ouster was a little in the rear and south of the town of Tooele when the two or three Indians with him made a break in the darkness, for it was in the evening, and in the melee Ouster was shot. Those ahead of him soon learned the fact by his horse coming up with them riderless. Some men went back and found his body on a rock where he had fallen. The blood-stained rock was a witness of the event for many years. His body was taken to Salt Lake City for burial. This was the first bloodshed connected with Indian difficul- ties in the County. Harrison Severe, and perhaps others, succeeded in getting five Indian warriors in- to Tooele City to a military camp prepared by Cap- tain Wright for their reception. 0. P. Rockwell, cdmmonly known as Porter Rockwell, was sent from INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 39 Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll IIIIM it lllllfllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillliiliilniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinilllN headquarters and took direction of affairs in this Indian trouble. Considering it best to make another effort to obtain the stolen horses, he took a party of men, and with them the five Indian prisoners and went through the mountains west of Grantsville into Skull Valley. The prisoners were evidently in sym- pathy with their thieving brethern and professed to know nothing of those who had stolen the horses. Their assertions received no credit from the whites. The party formed camp, went on a scout, and left Harrison Severe to guard the Indians for some twenty-four hours, rather a precarious business for one man under the circumstances. Eockwell and his men, not finding any trace of the stolen horses, deemed it unwise to turn the thieves in their power loose to commit more depreda- tions and perhaps shed the blood of some useful citi- zen, and they were sacrificed to the natural instincts of self-defense. Soon after the above events the Indians stole about one hundred head of cattle from a herd kept by Mr. Charles White near Black Rock, at the south end of the Salt Lake, drove them past the present site of Grantsville, through Skull Valley into the mountains west. Some of the cattle being too fat to drive, died by the way; the remainder were killed and the meat dried and stored in cedar trees. These Indians were first pursued by fourteen men from Salt Lake City under Captain Wm. McBride. They got track of the stolen cattle in the region of Skull Valley, but found the Indians too numerous for their numbers and they sent an express to Salt Lake City for assistance. General James Ferguson and Col- onels Geo. D. Grant and Wm. H. Kimball came out 40 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS iifiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiin n i ii i inn i inn tiiiiiiiiiimiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiin mr from Salt Lake City with forty men, were joined by ten more from Tooeie City, and \xith these went after the marauders. After considerable scouting and several attempts to surprise bands of Indians, while on the march early one morning a camp was dis- covered in a canyon up the side of a mountain. It was approached as near as possible wihout being discovered, when the command was given to make a rush upon it, every man to do the best he could. The best mounted were upon the Indians before they could get away, and nine of the warriors V ' were kille_(L_J Several expeditions from Salt Lake City afterwards assisted in the defense of the settlements, but there being no records of these events it is now difficult to write them. Mr. Harrison Severe, one of the first pioneers of the County, had ever advocated a kindly policy towards the Indians who were not known to be guilty of crime. The following circumstance shows the wisdom of such a policy, and that the dispised In- dian is sometimes capable of gratitude. In the Autumn of 1852 he went into the mountains with a wagon and two yoke of oxen for timber. Near his home was the wicki-up of a friendly Indian whose life he had once saved from the vengeance of his irate people. This Indian closely followed him into the mountains where three or four thieving savages were watching the coming of Mr. Severe, and had al- ready plotted to kill him and take his oxen. As he was unarmed they easily took him prisoner, and were proceeding to carry out their bloody purpose, when the friendly Indian appeared on the ground, placed an arrow in his bow and informed them that before dispatching Mr. Severe they would be obliged INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 41 Hllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllflllll to kill him. A parley ensued and the robbers were imbued with a more kindly feeling. One of them went home with Mr. Severe, and the latter sent a messenger into Salt Lake City for an interpreter. On his arrival a personal treaty was made between Mr. Severe and the Indians, after which he always went wherever he wished in safety, regardless of the difficulties the Indians might have with others. The last raid made by Indians on the the animals of the citizens of Tooele Valley was, doubtless, brought about by some thieving white person. Not far from Tooele City an Indian Chief known as Naraquits had a son, about sixteen years old, who sickened and died ; with him, in accordance with the custom of his people, he buried a rifle and some buckskins for his use. After an absence of several weeks he returned to visit the resting place of his son to find that some sacrilegious white man had robbed the grave. It was but natural that his vengeance should be aroused. Shortly after this some one hundred horses, mostly belonging to Nay- lor and Bringhurst, were driven off. It afterwards transpired that they were taken to Fort Bridger and sold to U. S. Soldiers, who at the time were stationed there. In 1864 General Connor's Command was used ! to protect the Overland Mail Coach on the road from / Stockton west, where the Indians had committed some depredations. Detachments guarded all sta- tions and a guard of two or three men were killed at what was then known as Bunt Station, near where the town-^^liftott^iow stands. At one time thirty men were stationed at Government Creek for sixty days. A little west of the creek Captain A. Smith 42 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS attacked a band of Indians and killed nine of them. The outbreak ended as usual with such affairs. The barbarians wasted away, and a miserable remnant was glad to make peace on any terms." (Tullidge's Histories, Col. II, pp. 3-85.) DEATH OF SQUASH-HEAD. The following was written by J. C. Lemmon at Ferron, Aug. 6, 1906 : 11 James Lemmon was killed by an Indian called Squash-head about the middle of May, 1851. Mother was helping father to plant beans, when a neighbor came to borrow a wash-tub and board ; the man had a little girl with him. After giving the man the tub, she returned to help father in the lot and did not notice that James followed them and that in cross- ing the ditch by the fence he fell in and was swept down by the stream in the opposite direction. The child must have gone down the ditch about a quarter of a mile when Squash-head happened along and found the child and made off with him. When the alarm was given, all turned out to hunt, but no trace of the child could be found. Some time after- wards, however, the Indian commenced to brag about it, in consequence of which he was arrested and taken to Provo. He broke away, but was caught again by Joseph Kelly between Spanish Fork and Springville and lodged in a house belonging to Bis- hop Johnson. While Alex Williams was guarding him he told how he killed the child. He had tortured the little one by taking off its toes and fingers, and finally finished his brutal work by taking him by the heels and smashing the back of its head on a 43 rock. The child was twenty months and six days old at the time of its death. Williams then killed Squash- -head by cutting his throat with a case-knife which he had brought in with the Indian's breakfast. At the time of the tragedy the child's parents lived at Moun- tainville (now called Alpine), Utah County. ' The writer was a brother of the child who was killed. Geo. McKenzie, assistant-adjutant general of the Utah County War Veterans, said, after read ing the above that it was written by some one who did not fully understand the whole matter. Don C. Johnson says : ' ' Squash Head killed him- self in the absence of Alex Williams and that it happened in Bishop Johnson's house."" CAUSE AND ORIGIN OF THE WALKER WAR. By Geo. McKenzie. Having been requested by State commander J. M. Westwood of the Utah Indian War Veterans As- sociation to write up the cause of the "Walker War," having been a resident of Springville at the time, and being well acquainted with James Ivie, who was the principal actorjn the drama that caused the war, I submit the following as told to me by Ivie at the time, and on several occasions since the war. Walker, the war chief of the Ute nation, with his braves and their families were camped on Spring creek about one mile -north of the present town of Springville, (Utah Co., Utah) all at peace with the white settlers, spending their time fishing and hunting, and trad- ing and begging from the people. James Ivie, at 44 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS that time had built a cabin, and was living in it with his wife and one child about half a mile north and west of where the Indians were camped. In the fore- noon of July 17, 1853, an Indian and squaw came in- to Ivie's cabin. The squaw had three large trout which she wanted to trade to Mrs. Ivie for some flour. Flour being very scarce at that time, Mrs. Ivie called her husband in to get his views on the trade of that kind, he being at work digging a well. When he saw the trout, he said "They look mighty good to me," and suggested that Mrs. Ivie might give three pints of flour for them, if the squaw would trade that way. He then went out of the cabin to resume his work. Just after Ivie left two more Indians came into the cabin, one of whom seemed to be the husband or had some kind of claim on the squaw who had closed the trade with Mrs. Ivie. When this Indian saw the three trout, and the small amount of flour received in exchange, he became enraged and began beating the squaw, knocking her down, kicking and stamping her in a brutal manner. While this assault was being committed, Mrs. Ivie ran and called her husband, Mr. Ivie came to the cabirt; and while the Indian was still beating the squaw he took hold of the Indian and pulled him away, the squaw lying prostrate on the floor. Ivie tried to push the Indian out of the cabin. When the Indian came, he left his gun standing by the door, and as Ivie pushed him out he grabbed his gun and tried to get in position to shoot Ivie. Ivie got hold of the muzzle of the gun, and in the struggle the gun was broken. The In- dian retaining the stock and Ivie the barrel. When the gun broke, Ivie dealt tlie Indian a hard blow on the head with the barrel of the gun. The Indian fell INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 45 to the ground, apparently dead, but did not expire until some hours later. The other Indian who came to the cabin the same time as his companian drew his bow and arrow and shot Ivie, the arrow passing through the shoulder of Ivie's buckskin hunting- shirt. At this Ivie struck the Indian a violent blow and he fell unconscious by the side of the prostrate body of the other Indian. Just as Ivie got through with this second Indian, the squaw that he had been trying to protect came out of the cabin door with a stick of wood in her hand which she had picked up by the side of the fire in the cabin. With it she struck Ivie a blow in the face cutting a deep gash in his up- per lip, and the scar showed plainly from that time until his death. Ivie again used the gun barrel to de- fend himself and struck the squaw. She fell uncon- scious by the side of the prostrate bodies of the two Indians. At this stage in the drama Joseph Kelly one of the foremost settlers of Springville, car»_:e rpon the scene, and while looking at the three In- dians lying apparently dead he was told by Ivie what had taken place. Kelly took a bucket of water that stood in the cabin and poured it on the Indians, try- ing to restore them. He then sent the Indian who first came to the cabin with the squaw for another bucket of water to try to restore the Indians to life ; this Indian having taken no part in the trouble. Kelly told Ivie to take his wife and child and go into town before the Indian camp was notified of the trouble, which he did. The Indian that Kelly sent after the water went to the Indian camp and told of what had taken place at the Ivie cabin. The news of the trouble soon spread INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS through the camp and the settlement of whites. In- tense exictement reigned, both in the Indian camp and the settlement. Bishop Aaron Johnson, who was chief magis- trate in all civil and military affairs at Springville, took immediate steps to protect the settlement. He ordered Caldwell's cavalry and Parry's infantry to be mustered in and be ready for action at call. All the other male citizens over sixteen years of age were enrolled as a home guard. Johnson with his interpreter, Wm. Smith, tried everything in their power to settle the trouble with Chief Walker, by offering ponies, beef, flour, and blankets, but Walker refused to settle unless Ivie was given up to be tried by the Indians, which Johnson refused to do. The next day (July 18th) Walker broke camp and went to Payson; joined his brother Arrapene another Indian chief, and together they went into Payson canyon, killing Alexander Keele who was on guard at the outskirts of Payson, saying, that, the war would last until the white people were all ex- terminated. The Indians then went into the moun- tains east of Sanpete Valley and left their families in a place of safety. The Indians returning in war paint, raided the settlements of Utah, Juab, Sanpete, Millard and Iron Counties during the summer and fall. The last engagement was at the south end of Utah Lake gen- erally spoken of as the Goslien Valley battle, which lasted about three hours ; the troops taking the In- dian camp. Nine Indians were killed; some of the troops and horses were shot, but none mortally. Some Indians and their families came down INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS 47 Hobble Creek canyon to Springville a short time after, saying that the war was over. A short time after Caldwell's cavalry and Parry's infantry were released from duty, having served a period of ninety-one days ; from July 18th to October 15, 1853. The treaty of peace was signed by Walker in May, 1854, at his camp on Meadow Creek, Juab Co. — Signed Lieut. Geo. McKenzie. Walker died Jan. 29, 1855, at Meadow Creek, Millard County, Utah and was buried by his tribe with the highest honor that could be given him as the most noted war-chief of the nation. His brother Arrapeen succeeded him as chief. FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE WALKER WAR GIVEN BY JOHN W. BERRY OF PALMYRA, UTAH COUNTY. "On the 19th of July 1853 the Indians killed Alexander Keele at Payson and commenced what is called the Walker War. On the 20th of July, Colonel Conover, from Provo, in command of a company of militia known as the Nauvoo Legion, called at Pal- myra and asked for volunteers to join his company and defend the settlements not provided with suf- ficient guards. Major Stephen Markham, John W. Berry and fifteen others went with him as far south as Manti. Colonel Conover, wishing to send a mes- sage to President Brigham Young, at Salt Lake City, to ask for his advice, appointed Clark Roberts, of Provo, and John W. Berry as messengers to the President. These messengers left Manti at 4 o'clock P. M. on the 23rd of July 1853, and arrived at Summit 48 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Creek, (now Santaquin) about 10 A. M. on the fol- lowing day. On their arrival they found the inhabi- tants had all moved to Payson for safety and that the town was in the possession of tlTe Indians. While riding along through the streets of the deserted set- tlement, with no thought of the Indians being in full possession of the same, they were fired on by twenty one Indians, from a house in which they were con- cealed. Clark Roberts was shot through the right shoulder and John W. Berry in the left wrist. Six or seven Indians pursued the two white men on horse- back to Spring Lake, wrhere the Payson cow herd was stationed under a guard, consisting of five or six men. The Indians seeing this guard gave up the chase and started back into the mountains. The wounded men went on to Payson, where their wounds were dressed, and in the afternoon they were con- veyed to their homes. When the messengers arrived at Palmyra, the citizens were camped in the school house. On July 23rd, 1853, W. S. Berry and Charles Price, who were on guard discovered Indians at- tempting to steal cattle, and the savages commenced firing upon the guards, Charles Price was hit in the right thigh by a bullet, which made a very severe flesh wound. For fear of further Indian hos- tilities the people from the upper settlement all moved to Palmyra where they spent the winter of 1853-54. Indians stole about fifty or sixty head of cattle, among which were a number of oxen, and took them up Spanish Fork Canyon to the Warm Springs, where they camped all winter and fed upon the stolen stock. In February, 1854, Captain Hancock of Payson, INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 49 mum M ii i inn in i IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIII lllllllllllllll minium captured two Indians, one of them being the son of Chief Peteetneet. He held the chief's son a pris- oner, and sent the other Indian to the tribe with the message that he would hold the chief's son a pris- oner until an interview was obtained with the chief. On the following morning the chief came and held a consultation with the citizens, after which he agreed to terms of peace, which in a short time ended the Walker War. Governor Brigham Young advised the brethern to erect Peteetneet a home in the fort line and have him make his home among them. This was considered wise counsel, and accordingly the house was built ; the chief moved into it and remained until the settlement was broken up. Silas Hillman of Palmyra, Utah County, makes the following statement which is published in Tul- lidge 's Quarterly Magazine, Vol. 3, page 154. It was feared the Indians would attack Sanpete County settlements as they appeared to be heading that way. The settlements in that county were sparse and some were small, and the inhabitants knew nothing of the Indians being hostile. There- fore, a council of war was decided to follow the' In- dians and get to Sanpete as soon as possible. We started next morning. I took command of the cavalry company, of Palmyra, being lieutenant of said company; the captain staying at home left me in command. This was on the 21st of July, 1853. "When we arrived in Sanpete Valley, the main body of troops kept straight on for Manti City, but I, with my company, was detailed to go around to the Allred settlement, afterwards called Springtown. We saw some fresh signs of Indians, but no Indians. We found the families gathered to- 50 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS IIIIIMIMIM Illlllllllllllllllllllll Illllllllllll I Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Illllllll gether and a board fort put up around them — a rather flimsy fort to stop bullets. We camped with them that nigh£, during which one or two Indians were seen skulking around. Our boys shot at them, but I do not think they hit them ; it raised the alarm however, and every man was at his post ready for a fight, but no Indians came. We advised the few settlers of Springtown to move down to Manti City, but they said they could take care of themselves. We had been ordered to make for the main army to report what we had discovered of the situation of affairs in that section of the country, therefore, the next morning we took up our line of march for Manti, where we arrived the same day in the after- noon, joined the main army consisting of about two hundred men under command of Colonel Markham and Conover. "We stopped at Manti seven or eight days, dur- ing which time companies were scouting the country in every direction in search of Indians. One of our companies ran across a camp of thirty or forty In- dians and had a brush with them. Some of the In- dians were killed ; the balance retreated. Another party of the Indians came down the canyon to the mill, a short distance above Manti, in the night. After this discovery was made, a strong guard was kept up in the mouth of the canyon. One night I had command of a company doing guard service and Captain Chidester had charge of another in the mill below us, where the road came down the canyon. It was a very steep place, and a thick under- growth of young pines grew close to the road. We concealed ourselves along the road in this under- INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS 51 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII linn 1 1 ii ii ii i iiiiiitiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiii it growth and watched all night for Indians, having planned to let the Indians pass us; and when they should reach the mill Captain Chidester's company was to attack them and drive them back for us to attack them. Thus they would have been attacked both in the front and rear- but we got no chance to put our plans into action, for the Indians never came. ' ' After we had been away about twelve days, we received orders from the Lieutenant-General to re- turn home. The first night after we left we encamp- ed at the springs north of Nephi City. That night the Indians tried to drive off our horses, which were feeding, but our guard being strong around the horses prevented the Indians from getting them, and fired pretty lively for a short time ; the balance of the guard with the camp surrounded the horses and drove them into a corral, which had been left standing when the inhabitants evacuated the settle- ment and took shelter in the city of Nephi. The next morning we saw some blood, but no dead Indians. Next day we reached Palmyra. During the summer and fall we had to keep up a vigilant watch against the Indians. While we were in Sanpete, Indians were lurking around Palmyra. One man by the name of Price was shot in the knee; also one of our men (John W. Berry), sent home with an express, was shot at Summit Creek through the hand. The In- dians drove off the Allred settlement's stock, and during the season killed several men in Sanpete. One man was also killed at Summit Creek. We had another expedition, Sept 26th, of a couple of days after Indians at Salt Greek, in Go- shen Valley. We came to an Indian camp just at day break and took the savages by surprise. As they 52 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS begged for peace, we told them if they would give up their arms and go to the settlements, we would not hurt them. We dallied with them for some time, as they did not like to give up their arms, that being the last thing an Indian will part with. But at last Colonel Markham gave them five minutes to decide. Not complying with his order the colonel gave the order for our company to attack. The Indians re- turned the fire very lively for some time, but our men pressed them so hard that they soon silenced the firing of the Indians. Those of them that were not killed retreated into a cane swamp and got away. Casualties on our side were small, considering the smartness of fire of the Indians. One man (Bishop Charles Hancock) was slightly wounded in the head, and one horse shot in the hip. The Indians being in the cane and in the swamp dragged their dead in there; Consequently we could not tell how many were killed. After peace was made they told us we only wounded two or three; but they reported at Nephi that we killed nineteen or twenty of them. They made a haul of sixty or seventy head of cattle from our place late in the fall and during the fore part of the winter, while the cattle were running two or three miles up the creek from Palmyra; the owners thought it was so late in the fall that there was no danger of Indians disturbing them ; but they nevertheless, came down from the canyon over to Palmyra and took some out of our corrals, and took all they could find up the creek and got away with them to Uintah Valley. After peace was made they returned what thev had not killed and eaten. INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS 53 Illlllllllllllllll minimum: 1 1 1 1 MI MIIMIII IIIIIIIMMM n IIIIIMMIIIIIIIIIIMMIIIIIMI iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin THE WALKER WAR CONTINUED. TREACHERY OF THE INDIANS. From Whitney's History of Utah, Vol. 1, p. 514. "On July 18th, 1853, Walker, with a number of warriors, rode down to Fort Payson, whose inhabi- tants, thinking no evil, received the red men kindly, and as usual gave them food. The Indians made no hostile movement until they started back to camp in the evening, when they shot and killed Alexander Keele, who was standing guard near the fort. Know- ing well what would follow, Arapeen hastened back to his brother and told him what had been done. Walker immediately ordered his followers to pack their wigwams and retreat up Payson Canyon, which they did. Several families of settlers were then living in the canyon. Upon these the savages fired as they passed, but were evidently in too great a hurry, fearing pursuit, to do serious execution. The people of Payson on their part, expecting a general attack from the Indians, at once flew to arms. They also sent messengers to Provo to apprise the military authorities there of what had occurred, and request immediate reinforcenient. Colonel Peter W. Conover, who still commanded the militia in Utah County, hastily gathered about a hundred and fifty men, and proceeded at once to Payson. He arrived there July 20th. Troops from Spanish Fork and Springville were already on the ground. A council of war convened, consisting of Colonel Conover and his associate officers, and it was decid- ed to follow in the tracks of the savages, who, it was feared, intended to attack the Sanpete settlements. Leaving the infantry to garrison the Payson fort, the 54 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS cavalry, under Colonel Conover and Lieutenant Markliam, at once set out for Manti. These move- ments were doubtless in accordance with, orders from headquarters. General Daniel H. Wells, at Salt Lake City, having been apprised of the situation, had dis- patched Lieutenant-Colonel William H. Kimball with a hundred mounted men to join Colonel Conover at Payson. Meantime, simultaneous attacks had been made by Indians at various points. At Springville, in a second assault upon that set- tlement, William Jolley was shot and wounded in the arm. At Nephi, in Juab County, cattle were stolen and the guard fired upon, while similar depredations were committed at Pleasant Creek and Manti in San- pete County. (This was July 19th.) On July 20th the Guard at Nephi, Juab County, was fired upon by Indians. Colonel Conover, on reaching Sanpete, left some of his men at each settlement to protect it against the Indians, who were now raiding and running off stock in all directions. Arriving at Manti and secur- ing that place against attack, Conover 's command divided and companies were sent out to scour the surrounding country in quest of redskins. One of these detachments, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jabez Nowlin, — who it will be remembered was wounded in the two days ' fight at Provo, — came upon a band of twenty or thirty Indians near Pleasant Creek on the 23rd of July. Being hailed by an interpreter and asked if they were friends or foes, the savages admitted that they were enemies, and without wait- ing to be attacked fired upon the troopers. Nowlin then ordered a charge, and the Indians, after the INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 55 Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllltlllllllllllllllllll iiiiiiiinni in inn linn mi n nun first fire, broke and fled, leaving six or seven of their number dead upon the field. Nowlin's com- pany sustained no loss. Colonel Conovei* now dispatched messengers to request further orders from General Wells. The messengers sent were Clark Roberts of Provo, and John W. Berry of Spanish Fork. Leaving Manti in the afternoon on the 23rd, they reached Summit Creek — Santaquin — in Utah County, next morning. They found the place deserted, the settlers, fearing attack and massacre, having sought safety at Payson. As the messengers rode through the town they were fired upon by twenty-one Indians concealed in some houses. Berry was shot in the left wrist, and Roberts through the shoulder. Putting spurs to their horses they rode at full speed toward Payson, hotly pur- sued by the Indians, from whom, however, they suc- ceeded in escaping.'* COLONEL GEORGE A. SMITH GIVEN COMMAND OF THE MILITIA. On the 25th of July, Colonel George A. Smith was given command of all the militia in the Territory south of Salt Lake, with instructions to take prompt and thorough measures for the defense and safety of the various settlements. The policy he was di- rected by Governor Young to pursue was to gather all the inhabitants into forts, corralling their stock and surrounding it with armed guards. No acts of retaliation or offensive warfare upon the red men were to be permitted ; but on the contrary a concilia- tory course towards them was to be maintained. At the same time vigilant watch was to be kept, and such Indians as were caught attempting to steal or 56 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS •niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiittiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiimiiiitiiiimiiiiii kill, were to be summarily punished. These instruc- tions Colonel Smith executed with his usual fidelity, and though it entailed much labor upon the settlers to put themselves in a proper state of defense, the wisdom of the policy, evident at the outset, was speedily confirmed. Those who failed to follow the instructions suffered heavily from the raids of the Indians. ATTACK ON WILLOW CREEK, (MONA). ISAAC DUFFIN WOUNDED. August 10th. — Lieutenant R. Burns and a com- pany of ten men, encamped at a small settlement on Willow Creek — Mona — in Juab County, were attack- ed by Indians, and during the fight that followed, Isaac Duffin was slightly wounded in the knee. Two of the soldiers had their horses killed, and one In- dian was sent to the "happy hunting grounds." About this time Colonel Conover was ordered back from Sanpete to guard the settlements of Utah County and assist in putting them in better condi- tion of defense. AT PARLEY'S PARK, TWO MEN KILLED, ONE WOUNDED. On the 17th of August, four men — John Dixon, John Quayle, John Hoagland and John Knight, — were hauling lumber from Snyder's saw-mill in Par- ley's Park, when they were fired upon by Indians in ambush and two of them instantly killed. These were John Quayle and John Dixon. Hoagland was wounded in the arm, but was able to help Knight detach two of their horses, upon which they rode with INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 57 liliiiiiilinliiliiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiMiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiimliiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiMi all speed to Salt Lake City. Barely escaping with their lives ; they left their wagon, four horses, two mules, and the dead bodies of their companions be- hind them. Their savage assailants did not linger long in the neighborhood of the massacre, not even long enough to scalp or otherwise mutilate the dead, according to their custom. Taking the animals they hastily decamped, and though followed by an armed party from Salt Lake City, as soon as the news of the killing* reached there, they were nowhere to be found, though diligently sought for in all the sur- rounding region. Another John Dickson, the spell- ing of whose name slightly differs from that of the other man killed in Parley's Canyon, had been shot by Indians near Snyder's Mill a short time before. The situation now became so serious that travel- ing from settlement to settlement, unless accom- panied by a strong guard, was extremely perilous. Though the Utah Indians had taken the initia- tive, other tribes or parts of tribes were also begin- ning to engage in the war, shooting and stealing stock in various section of the Territory. Governor Young, on the 19th of August, issued a proclama- tion forbidding the sale of fire-arms and ammuni- tion to the Utah Indians and calling upon the offi- cers of the militia in the several districts to hold their commands in readiness to march at any moment against the murderous marauders. Colonel George A. Smith returned to Salt Lake City from Iron County on the 22nd of August. He reported that the southern settlements generally were in an excellent state of defense, and that the inhabitants were on the alert in relation to the sava- 58 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS ges. He had been assisted in his labors by Apostle Franklin D. Richards, who was traveling through southern Utah on public business, and returned north with Colonel Smith. Two days later Lieutenant- Colonel William H. Kimball, who had also rendered important service in Iron County, came back from the south. He and his men had been followed closely and watched by Indians for several days, but heed- ing the Governor's instructions they had not taken the offensive, and the savages, seeing that they were prepared, did not attack them. As a means of defense and an example to other settlements during the Indian troubles of 1853, the authorities at Salt Lake City decided to build a "Spanish Wall" around the town. The project was first mentioned by President Young in a meeting of the Bishops held at the Council House in the latter part of August. The City Council then took up tho matter and the same month a committee consisting of Albert Carrington, Parley P. Pratt and Franklin D. Richards submitted a report to the council sug- gesting the line of the proposed wall around the city. It was to stand twelve feet high and be six foet through the base, tapering to a thickness, half way up, of two-and-a-half feet, and preserving the same thickness to the summit. Gates and bastions were to be placed at suitable intervals, and the wall, which was to be built entirely of earth, wis to be about nine miles long. It was never completed, but fragments of the portion finished may yet be seen on the north- ern outskirts of the city, a reminder of the early days that witnessed its erection. Subsequently many of the outlying settlements of the Territory built simi- lar walls for their protection. INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 59 WILLIAM HATTON KILLED WHILE STANDING GUARD AT FILLMORE. Still the Indian war went on. At Fillmore, on the 13th day of September, William Hatton, while standing guard, was shot and killed by the savages — Pah-vants — who, catching from the Utes the infec- tion of the hour, had begun stealing and killing in that locality. COL. MARKHAM'S BRUSH AT GOSHEN. C. B. HANCOCK WOUNDED. On September 26th, Colonel Steven Markham and his men had a brush with the redskins near Go- shen, Utah County, in which C. B. Hancock was wounded, and a number of Indians killed. Six days later, in another skirmish at Nephi, eight more sav- ages were slain and two or three captured. THE GUNNISON MASSACRE. Copied from (Lights and Shadows of Mormonism) by J. F. Gibbs. ' ' The attention of the traveler on the road from Deseret, Millard County, Utah to Nevada, will very likely be drawn toward a cedar post that occupies an unusual position a few rods north of the Sevier River, and a hundred feet from the east side of a shallow lake. The place, which covers about ten acres is about six miles west of Deseret, Millard County, Utah, with no habitation within several miles. The rough bark has been removed from the post, other- wise there is nothing in its appearance to attract at- tention except its isolated position. Yet, the spot over which that solitary post stands sentinel is his- 60 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Illlllllllllllllllll 11111:111 miiiiitiiiiMMiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiii nit iiiiiiiniii iiiiniiiiiiiiiniiiii toric and tragic — it is the burial place of a small party of employees of the United States, where. over forty years ago, Captain Grunnison and a por- tion of his military escort fell easy victims to a band of revengeful Indians. "The memorable spot is situated nearly midway in the Pahvant valley, about thirty miles west of the Canyon range, and twenty-five miles east of the House mountains. "Except where narrowed in by encroaching mountains, the valley stretches out in an almost un- broken plain to the great Salt Lake, one hundred and fifty miles distant to the north. "About two miles to the south, the monotony of the desert-like plain is relieved by a basaltic mesa, & dark volcanic mass which rises abruptly from the level country to a height of perhaps two hundred feet, the surface of which was swept by the waves of ancient Lake Bonneville, until it is nearly as smooth as the surrounding plain. ' * Dotting the valley in the vicinity are numerous shallow lakes, formed by the overflow of the Sevier Eiver whose sinuous trails across the valley is in- dicated by patches of scrub willows. "The small lake first mentioned, is separated from the river by a small strip of ground occupied by grass and willows which abound in the immediate vicinity, both sides of the river ( which is only four to six rods wide) being fringed with them. Rising grad- ually from the lake towards the north and east, the ground is three to five feet higher than the surface of the water, and is covered with a stunted growth of grease wood and shadscale, (the local name given to a low-growing thorny shrub). Patches of saline 61 land glisten in the sunlight, and under the transform- ations wrought by the western mirage are often mis- taken for bodies of water. "At the time of the massacre the present lake was marshy ground covered with flags, rushes and a rank growth of grass which extended well out to- wards the higher ground, thus forming an inviting, but dangerous nook. At the present time nothing re- mains of the willows on the east and west sides of the dead swamps. In other respects the place and its surroundings have nearly the same appearance as on that fateful afternoon when Captain Gunnison went into camp for the last time. "The scene of the tragedy has been thus min- utely described to enable the reader to more clearly understand why the Captain whose reputation for courage has never been questioned — and his little band of brave companions failed to make even a sem- blance of resistance, and because no description of the place has heretofore appeared in print. Cap- tain Gunnison 's brother, when the locality was de- scribed to him several years ago in Salt Lake City, said he had always imagined the place to be in, or near, the mouth of the canyon from which the river debouched upon the plain. "In the year of the massacre, 1853, Fillmore, was the capital of Utah, and the nearest settlement to the scene of the tragedy, being distant thirty-fivo miles southeasterly. A few of the old settlers yet re- main who remember the occurrence. Among the old- timers is Byron Warner, now residing at Oasis, and who is not only familiar with the incidents of the 62 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS limiiimiiimmimiiiMlimimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiimm i n IMIK 1 1 1 IIMIMIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIII ill IIMII I lull: tragedy, and well acquainted with the Indians who participated therein, but with the circumstances of which the Gunnison massacre was the unhappy re- sult. "And it is to Mr. Warner that the writer is most deeply indebted for that part of the account of the unfortunate occurrence. "Mr. Warner's statement has been corroborated by Daniel Thompson, now residing at Scipio, and who in company with Mr. Warner and others, helped to bury the dead. But three of the Indians that were present and took an active part in the bloody deed yet linger on this side of the "happy hunting grounds." One of them is old Mareer, who, with his squaw Mary, and old Sam, another of the surviving reds, is living in a wickiup on some otherwise vacant ground southwest of Deseret. By the aid of two rough maps placed before Mareer on two separate days, and with the assistance of some small coins and other presents of tobacco, etc, and after assuring the old fellow that the Mericats (Americans) wouldn't be mad, the story of the attack was drawn from him. "That his story is perfectly truthful is proved by the fact that at the second interview a new map was spread before him and the relative positions of the white men and Indians were accurately indicated as compared with the first map, and no amount of cross-questioning could shake his clear and vivid de- scription of the attack and its blood-curdling details. "Early in October, 1853, a company of Missouri emigrants, en route to California, passed through Fillmore and camped on Meadow Creek, eight miles to the southwest. "A small band of Pahvant Indians were also INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 63 • mimnm inn I n in n i in nun MIIIIIII in mil M 11 in null n I iiiiiiinii iiiiiiunii Ullillilliiiiliii camped further up towards the mountains on the same creek as the emigrant train. "Anson Call was at that time bishop of Fill- more, and when the emigrants passed through, told them they would find a few of the reds camped on Meadow Creek, that they were friendly, and the com- pany need have no apprehension of danger, and asked that the Indians be not molested. "The train had hardly gone into camp when Moshoquop — (the Pahvant war chief — and his father, Mareer) and several others of the band, ar- rived at the camp of the strangers and offered to "swap" buckskins for tobacco and other articles. "The emigrants were unnecessarily suspicious of the bows and arrows carried by the Indians, for they surrounded the reds and attempted to disarm them. The Indians resisted what they regarded as an unwarranted intrusion of their rights. One of them "jabbed" an arrow into the breast of one of the emigrants, which so enraged them that, whipping out their revolvers, they opened fire on the Indians. In the melee, the father of Moshoquop was shot in the side and died the next day. Two of the other Indians were wounded, one in the shoulder and the other in the arm. Of the white men all escaped injury except the one who received the slight wound in the breast form the arrow thrust. "A few days after his father's death, Mosho- quop and a band of about twenty Indians moved northwesterly to the vicinty of the lakes near the present site of Desert for the purpose, as Mareer said, of hunting ducks, and crossing the Sevier River, camped a little to the northwest of the site of the present residence of David Crafts at Ingersol, and 64 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Ill linn about twelve miles northeast of Sevier Lake, and six miles west of the place where Gunnison and his party were afterwards murdered. There were six wicki-ups, or tepees, and among the band were many Indians whose names are fami- liar to the old residents of Millard County. They are: Moshoquop, Pants (the brother of Moshoquop), Mareer and his brother Jim, Carboorits, Nunkibo- olits, Tomwants and his son Koonants, Skipoke, "Doctor Jacob," Wahbits, Moab, Sam, (Toady), Hunkootoop, Boquobits, and an unusually tricky red, Jimmy Knights, well known to the early stock- raisers by his thieving propensities and the boldness he exhibited in killing their stock. There were also in the band two Snake Valley Indians, a Ute buck from Nephi, one whose name can- not be learned, and the father of Mareer; in all, a band of twenty-three warriors. During the year 1853, Captain Gunnison, with a small military escort under command of Captain B. M. Morris, had been exploring for a railroad route through the Eocky Mountains ; in the latter part of October, Gunnison and his escort entered Pahvant valley from the north and camped on Pioneer creek, six mies north of Fillmore. Gunnison, with a few of his party, went into the small settlement of Fillmore for supplies. The captain lost no time in» hunting up Mr. Call, with whom he was acquainted, a warm friendship having existed between them for several years, and from him learned of the killing of Mosho- quop 's father by the emigrants a few days previous. Mr. Call also warned the captain of probable danger, as the Indians, with threats of revenge, had left their camp at Meadow Creek, Gunnison expressed sorrow Portrait of General Daniel H. Wells, Com- mander of Nauvoo Legion and Utah Militia. BRIG. GEN. WM. BYRAM PACE, Commander Utah Militia led the battle ~~ GENERAL ERASTUS SNOW COL. JOHN R. WINDER i:i DKI; ORSOX HYDE, Apostle :*]'r. n:c City. Siinpete County. COL. HEBER P. KIMBAI.L COL. CEO. A. SMITH INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 65 mil iiiiiiiiMiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiimiiiiiiiiimiiiiiitiiiiiiiimiiiiimiMimiiiiiiiiiii over the unfortunate affair, and said the Indians would very likely carry out their threats at the first opportunity. Being so near the Sevier Lake — the dead sea of Millard County — Gunnison resolved to explore it and then to go on to Salt Lake City and establish winter quarters. Breaking camp on pioneer creek, the party pro- ceeded a few miles north to the present site of Holden where they left the territorial road and bore north- westerly. Passing the southern termination of the Canyon range, the party continued on over the desert to the Sevier River and camped on a large bottom surrounded by high, precipitous banks, known at the present time as Gunnison 's Bend, and situated about five miles northeast of Deseret. On the morning of October 25th Captain Gun- nison started on his last and fatal mission of explora- tion. Accompanying him were R. A. Kern, artist and topographer; F. Creutzfeldts, botanist; Wm. Potter, a Mormon guide and interpreter from Manti, Sanpete County, Utah; a man who served as cook; a corporal and six men. The provisions and camp outfit were packed on an improvised cart, the tongue and front wheels of a wagon which was well adapted to the purpose. Cap- tain Morris and a part of the escort were to continue in camp until the return of the Gunnison party. Meanwhile some of Morris's men were to examine the northwestern part of the valley as to the feasi- bility of a wagon road through to the Great Salt Lake. Following down the north side of the river in a southwesterly direction, the Gunnison party arrived in the vicinity of the upper lakes, where some of the 66 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS men began shooting at wild fowl which fairly swarm- ed in that vicinity. The firing was most unfortu- nate, as the reports of firearms reached the ears of Sam and Toady, two of Moshoquop's dusky band, who were hunting ducks along the river and sloughs. The Indians watched the little party until they went into camp on the ground now marked by the cedar post, when they hastened to the Indian camp and reported the presence of strangers. Wm. Potter, the guide advised the Captain to make camp further to the north on open and higher ground. His familiarity with the traits of the Indians led him to be suspicious of the surroundings, but his prudent advise was overruled. There is something in the nature of men that impels them, when camping near a spring or stream of water, to get as near to it as practicable. The horses were "picketed" along the margin of the swamp to the north and northwest, and after the usual camp duties were over, and the last of the stories of exciting Western life had been told, the little party spread their blankets on the ground and retired for the night with no apprehension of the terrible fate that awaited them. On receiving the news of the white men, Moshoquop determined to avenge the death of his father. Calling his band of warriors together, he told them his purpose and ex- plained in detail the plan of attack which was to begin at the firing of a signal gun. Each warrior was in- structed as to the position he would occupy in the deadly cordon that was to be drawn around the slum- bering explorers. It was about midnight when the line of march began. In single file they moved silent- ly and swiftly forward, and as the dusky line glided 67 in a sinuous course to avoid clumps of stunted grease-wood and willows it resembled the lithe movements of a huge serpent. The reds followed up the north bank of the river until they reached the western margin of the swamp which separated them from their victims, where the band divided. Moshoquop, Pants, Mareer, Nun- kiboolits and several others continued on up the river bank. Stealthily creeping through the willows and tall grass, the Indians took their pre-arranged stations to the south and east of the Gunnison party and not over one hundred feet distant. The white men had beaten quite a distinct trail from their camp to the river. Carboorits skulked in the grass a few yards west of the trail on the bank of the river, while Pants crept to a position on the margin of the swamp, and not over thirty yards distant from the smouldering camp-fire; each sav- age being concealed in the rank grass and willows. The other portion of the band skirted the west side of the swamp, and bending easterly, cautiously crept to the north of the low lying ridge which is not more than five feet higher than the marsh. Each Indian took the position previously assigned him, and before the faintest streak of dawn ap- peared, the doomed explorers were nearly sur- rounded by the wily savages who occupied the east, north and south sides of the camp, while the marsh cut off escape on the west. The first sign of activity on the part of the white men occurred just before sunrise. The cook was the first to arise, and in a few minutes the cheery gleam of the camp-fire shot upward, warning the men that no time was to be 68 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 11.11 I I Illltll I I II I Illl lltl I II I Illllll wasted in preparing for the morning meal. The iron tripod had been placed over the fire, the camp kettle hung in its position, the cook had begun mix- ing bread. Prof Creutzfeldt was standing near the camp-fire warming himself, Captain Gunnison had walked out to the river, about seventy-five feet south from the camp-fire, and while in a sitting position, was bathing his hands and face. The sun had just risen from behind the distant canyon range when Pants stealthily rose from his place of concealment near the edge of the swamp, a sharp report rang out on the crisp air and the cook fell dead beside his camp-fire. Carboorits had been watching the captain and waiting for the deadly signal. Startled by the report, Gunnison sprang to his feet and the bullet from Car- boorits ' gun sped past him. Quickly pulling his six- shooter, the captain opened fire on his copper- colored assailant, who ducked and dodged to escape injury. The signal gun was followed by the rapid firing of nearly a dozen guns intermingled by the piercing war-whoop of the savages. The surprise was complete, and the dazed of- ficers and men thought only of escape. Amid the shower of whizzing arrows which followed the empty- ing of the guns, the men ran toward the open ground to the north and northeast, and in the desperate race for life, threw aside their arms and divested them- selves of coats and everything that might impede their flight. A few of the men fled in the direction of the horses. One of the soldiers, as he was about to mount, caught sight of an Indian as he was adjusting an arrow to his bow. With exceptional coolness the 69 man quickly lowered his gun on the savage and fired. The Indian dropped, and the soldier rode away be- lieving he had killed him. (Old Mareer says the wily redskin fell as the gun fired, and escaped with- out injury, and that not an Indian was wounded), Two others of the escort succeeded in mounting, one of them escaped on horesback, the other was thrown from his horse a short distance east of the camp, but had the good sense to remain quiet for several hours while the reds were passing to and fro, sheltered only by the stunted greasewood. The fourth man that escaped ran southeasterly, evaded his pursuers, and plunged into the river, swam to the south bank, where, within the friendly shadow of the willows, he continued his flight to the camp of Captain Morris. The Indians who had taken positions to the north made no sign until the fleeing men were nearly onto them, when they sprang to their feet and with fierce yells poured a volley of arrows into the panic-strick- en men, who, no doubt, were congratulating them- selves on their escape. Captain Gunnison, after emptying his revolver at Carboorits, turned in the direction of the horses and had reached a point about seventy-five yards distant from the camp when he fell, stricken down by nearly a score of arrows. Temporarily screened by grass and willows, he lay helpless while the cries of his comrades and the discordant war-cries- of the savages resounded in his ears. Some two or three hours later he was discovered by a party of the reds, among whom was Mareer, and who described in pan- tomime the last act of the terrible tragedy. Gunni- son was lying on his side, and when the Indians ap- peared, slowly and painfully raised himself to a Lit- 70 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS iiiiiiiiiiiititiiittmiimmiiitiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ting posture. He made no sound, but reached out his arms in an appealing manner towards his as- sailants. Gunnison, in his several years of exploring in the west, had endeavored to impress upon the red men that he was their friend. In his conduct to- wards them he was uniformly kind and upright, and it was this fact that probably prompted the captain to extend his arms, possibly, with the hope of mercy. Mareer said he did not know, until he saw the captain partly rise from the ground, that he was with the party. Moshoquop was not present or he might, possibly, have given Gunnison a chance to recover from his wounds. As it was, the Indians hesitated, the captain's mute appeal seemed to stir some latent feeling, or strike a stranger cord in their savage natures. But while standing there undecided "Jimmy Knights," the renegade Indian, came up, discharged his gun into Captain Gunnison 's body which settled slowly back upon the sward, and one of the bravest and best spirits joined his comrades in the mysterious beyond. During the afternoon of the day of the tragedy, one of the fugitives staggered into the camp of Cap- tain Morris and told the story of the attack, and stated that all but himself were slain. In a few min- utes the two who had escaped on horses arrived and corroborated the story of the massacre. Hurriedly mounting, the Morris party rode down the river. Darkness coming on, they dismount- ed in the vicinty of their lifeless comrades, and hold- ing their horses by the bridles, kept vigil throughout the long night which was rendered more dismal by the howling of the wolves which had begun the work INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 71 of mutilating the bodies of the slain. In the dim light of the early morning, one of the survivors guided Captain Morris to the camp ground, the bodies were identified and their positions mentally recorded. The dreary night had been a severe strain on the men, and the spectacle of the mutilated bodies of their friends was so terrible and suggestive as to completely unnerve them. The stampede that ensued was more like that of men pursued by the bul- lets and yells of those who had made the previous morning memorable by their savagery than a com- pany of armed men leaving behind them the forms of their stricken comrades. Overcoats, knapsacks, carbines, revolvers and ammunition marked the trail of their frenzied flight and added to the booty previously secured by the Indians. The news of the massacre reached Fillmore, and Bishop Anson Call sent Daniel Thompson, William and Culbert King, to Salt Lake City with a dispatch announcing the deplorable event. Meanwhile, Captain Morris and remnant of his command had reached Salt Lake City, and sent the corporal who, twenty-four hours after the massacre, went over the ground and helped to identify the re- mains, down to Fillmore. On his arrival, some ten days after the tragedy, Bishop Call selected Geo-.are Black, Daniel Thompson, John King, Lewis Barthol- omew, Byron Warner, and as Mr. Warner believes Nelson Crandall, now of Springville, Chief Kanosh and Narrient of the Pahvant tribe to go with them to the scene of the massacre. Messrs Warner and Thompson describe the sight as the most pitiable they ever saw. About twelve days had elapsed between the morning of tho 72 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS iiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiimmmiimMH niiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiini iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniii in massacre and the arrival of the burial party. The coyotes had so mutilated the dead that nothing re- mained of the small party of explorers but glisten- ing skeletons. In some instances a leg, arm or foot could not be found. The remains of Potter were nearly intact. Those of Captain Gunnison were more readily recognized by the iron gray hair which clung to his temples. The remains of Prof. Creutz- feldt were found near those of the cook, who was the first to perish. A steel-pointed arrow had pierced the body of Creutzfeldt and the barb was found im- bedded in his backbone. Some of the men had reach- ed a distance of about one third of a mile to the north east before being killed. Immediately after the arrival of the Fillmore party, Kanosh sent Narrient down the river in search of Moshoquop and his band, and gave orders to come in if they could be found. In those days not a member of the Pahvant tribe dared to disobey the intrepid chief, and as Mr. Call and his party were rounding up the top of the com- mon grave, Moshoquop and his band came in sight across the swamp on their ponies. Circling the marsh they came on whipping, kicking and leaning from side to side and yelling like demons. The reds were in their war paint, and with their long black hair streaming behind, presented a wild appearance. The corporal, who was not acquainted with the absolute power wielded by the Indian chiefs, thought another massacre would be perpetrated, and trem- bled like an aspen. Mr. Warner, who is a very ner- vy man, and accustomed to the ways. of the Indians, says his sensations were anything but agreeable. INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 73 IIIIMIMIIUIIMIIlllHllmlllllllltllllllllMIIIIIMMIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIlmmiMlllllllllllmllllllllllllllllllllll However, when within a few rods of the scene of their murderous work, a motion from Kanosh caused them to be quiet, when he upbraided them for their devilish work. Moshoquop then told the partial story of the massacre, and endeavored to exonerate himself by relating the circumstances of his father's death at the hands of the white men. Mr. Warner asserts that during the recital, tears streamed from Mosho- quop's eyes and that his appearance was a mixture of fiend incarnate and savage affection. The remains of Captain Gunnison and Wm. Pot- ter were wrapped in blankets and taken to Fillmore where the captain was buried ; those of Potter were sent to Manti for interment. Of the three surviving Indians, Carboorits, who shot at the Captain, has lost his eyesight, and is end- ing his days in darkness on the Indian farm near the town of Kanosh. Mareer and Sam, as previously stated, are living near Deseret. Mareer is fast has- tening to the grave, and Sam is a muttering imbe- cile. Moshoquop died two years ago in Deseret. He was of medium stature, compactly built, and as lithe and wiry as a pather. His forehead was high and retreating, his bearing reserved and dignified, his face, while indicating strength and a fearloss nature, was frank and not unkind. In spite of the terrible deed he planned and carried out so relentlessly, he was better than the average Indian. While his part in the Gunnison tragedy cannot be justified by revenge for the death of his father, it is somewhat palliated by reflecting that his nature — like that of all other INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Indians — was the result of generations of trasinis- sion of ideas and customs incident to the environ- ment of the red men. FOUR MEN KILLED AT UINTAH SPRINGS, SANPETE COUNTY. On September 30th, 1853, a party of four men, William Reed, James Nelson, William Luke and Thomas Clark, started from Manti, Sanpete County, with ox teams loaded with wheat for Salt Lake City. It was arranged that they were to camp the first night on the Sanpitch River, near where Moroni is now located, and wait there until a company with horse teams under the leadership of Isaac Morley should overtake them ; then they were to travel slowlv V */ together through Salt Creek Canyon ; but contrary to arrangements they went on to Uintah Springs (now Fountain Green) and camped for the night. Early on the morning of October 1st their camp was at- tacked by Indians and all four men were killed. The savages had time in this instance to com- plete their fiendish work, mutilating the bodies of their victims to such a degree that when found they could scarcely be recognized. When Morley 's company came along they found three of the bodies of the murdered men, but the body of Clark had been covered up in the wagon with wheat that the Indians had emptied out of the acks which they had taken away with them. INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 75 "t SKIRMISH AT NEPHI, JUAB COUNTY. EIGHT INDIANS KILLED. The company went on to Nephi at the mouth of Salt Creek Canyon, and on the morning of the 2nd of October encountered a camp of Indians and had a skirmish, in which eight Indians were killed and one squaw and two boys taken prisoners. When they reported in Utah County, a possee of about twenty men from Springville, Spanish Fork and Payson was organized under command of James /' T. Guyman. They went to the Uintah Springs and found the remains of Thomas Clark under the wheat in the wagon. He had been scalped, his head crushed and his body cut open and his heart taken out. The posse went on to Manti and reported. They were \ accompanied by George Peacock from Springville V who returned with the posse. At Manti they learned of the killing of William Mills and John Warner near Manti on the 4th. On their return the company stopped and buried the remains of Clark which was by then badly decom- posed. It was said that George Peacock, who was a relative of Clark, got the body and buried it at Manti. The particulars here given were obtained from Samuel T. Curtis of Salem, Utah County, who was one of the posse. 76 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS llllllllllllll 1 1 ii 1 1 >i 1 1 ii mil II nil IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMI till Ill WM. MILLS AND JOHN E. WARNER KILLED AT MANTI, SANPETE COUNTY. On October 4, 1853, William Mills and John Warner were killed by Indians, near Manti. The following particulars are copied from a sketch writ- ten by Eunice Warner Snow, wife of John E. Warner one of the men killed at Manti, October 4th: "On the 4th of October, 1853, my husband was killed by the Indians in the edge of Manti Canyon while attending the grist mill. Mr. Warner, my hus- band, owned one third of the mill at the time he was killed, and it fell to his lot to attend the mill and grind the wheat for the people of Manti. The mill was situated about a mile from town. He had taken a number of men with him as a guard until the day he was killed. On that day it seemed there was no one who was willing to go with him. A man by the name of William Mills offered to go, as he needed some wood. He said he would take his oxen and cart and while Mr. Warner was grinding a grist, he would go into the mountains close to the mill and get some wood. Mr. Warner would not let him go out aJone, so they both went out a short distance from the mill, but before they went, my husband filled the hopper with wheat. He had taken his gun with him every day and had killed two rabbits the day before. I was cooking them for his supper when word came that he had been killed. We heard the report of the guns that killed the two men, but paid no attention to it as we had heard similar shooting before when my husband killed the two rabbits. The men were killed in the morning, as we thought. Soon after dinner a young man went up INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 77 to the mill for some flour. There was no one to l:a found around the mill, which was running at full speed, but had no wheat in the hopper. He knew something was wrong and came to town as fast as he could and told the condition in which he found the mill. They soon found a number of men to go in search of Warner and Mills and found their bodies a short distance from the mill. The cattle had also been killed with poisoned arrows. The Indians had been in ambush waiting for an opportunity to do their work. Both men were stripped naked, except that my husband had his garments left on him. I was not allowed to see him as he was so badly disfig- ured in the face. The Indians, after they had tried to make peace with our people told that Mr. Warner had fought desperately and killed one Indian. Soon after the killing an Indian came to our house carrying my husband's gun, and one day two Indians came to our door, one of whom had my hus- band's neck tie on his black neck; the other had his pocket rule, which he always carried with him, and also his pen knife. This knife was a useful one, as it contained a number of articles, such as a button hook, an ear spoon, etc. Two or three articles they had broken up. ^They were showing these things to my father and mother at the table as we happened to be eating dinner at the time. I grabbed a butcher knife which was lying on the table and started for them. My father seeing me rise from the table, caught me in his arms and carried me out of the room. It was more thar. I could stand to see the black imps with my husband's things. This hap- pened a short time before the birth of my son, who was born six months after my husband was killed. INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Another serious trouble came of which I will piake mention; Soon after my son was born, Chief Walker came to our house one day. He said he in- tended, when I got around again, to have me for his wife. He told my father and mother his intentions. They did not let me known anything about it until he came several times to see me: when they told me it almost frightened me to death. I was obliged to keep in hiding from him for about six weeks, in fact until the good news came one mornng that Walker was dead. He died very suddenly. " ATTACK AT SANTAQUIN, UTAH COUNTY. FERNEE L. TINDEELL KILLED. On October 14, 1853, Indians attacked the infant settlement of Summit (now Santaquin), Utah Co., of which occurrence Albert Jones, of Provo, Utah County, wrote the following : The settlers of Santaquin had been driven from their homes, and had made their temporary residence at Payson, that being a more populous town and able by its numbers to defend itself against the In- dians who were then on the war-path under the lead of their chief Wah-ker. Crops had been planted at Santaquin that spring and a small party owning land there had come from Payson in the morning of Oct. 14, 1853 to harvest their potatoes. Among the number were Jonathan S. Page, Fernee L. Tindrel, Sybrannus Calkins, (a Mormon battalion boy) and John Sheffield, then a lad of about fifteen years. These harvesting parties came and returned to Pay- son the same day. On the morning of this day one of the boys go- ing over the hills with some companions espied a INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 79 wolf and could not resist taking a shot at the brute, although that was contrary to orders in those days, as the firing of a gun was the signal agreed upon an- nouncing the approach of Indians. The older people were alarmed on the instant, but upon finding out the cause of the shot, reprimanded the boys and re- turned to their several patches of potatoes, working with a will to secure them for their winter's use. About 2 p. m. firing was heard again, but the men had grown careless, thinking it was the boys shoot- ing again. However, as the shooting continued, the parties became alarmed, and Jonathan S. Page and Sybranus Calkins, who were working together, looked up from their work and saw a number of In- dians in the distance firing at Furnee L. Tindrel and the boy John Sheffield. They saw Tindrel run quite a distance and then fall, but lost sight of the boy entirely. ' ' The Indians, ' ' said Captain Jonathan S. Page, who narrated this incident of the early Indian wars, "came straight on towards us, firing at us as they came. We prepared to take off a wagon box for breast works and fight them, but so many of them came in view through the oak brush and corn that we decided to leave and run to the main body of har- vesters. We had two yoke of oxen with us, one yoke chained to a wagon got so excited and sagged back on the chain, so that we could not unhook it. We started off driving a yoke of Calkin's cattle before us, but they were so heavy and moved so slow, that we abandoned them, and away we ran. The In- dian war-whoop was ringing in our ears, and the bul- lets whistling around us. I was young and a good runner, and with that horrid war-cry to urge me on, I 80 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS cleared the three foot sage brush in our path like a deer. Calkins who had been exposed in his service in the battalion, could not keep near me — and called out, ' ' Page you ain 't going to leave me ? ' ' I slackened speed until he came up. The bullets and arrows were whistling and screaming around us again. We renewed our pace, the Indians pressing close behind us, until we came to a thicket of large oak brush, into which we rushed for shelter ; the Indians soon approached above us on a ridge — not a rag on them. Their red .bodies shone and glistened in the sun. They must have been greased. They danced about the ridge, waving the scalp of poor Tindrel, and shouting their terrible war-cry. The thrilling effect is felt when imitated in our sham battle in the celebration of the twenty-fourth of July, but in the position we were in at the time, its terrifying effect had full force and our hair stood on end. As we dashed into the thickest oak brush we saw Abel But- terfield (a man noted for his great size and strength) on another ridge. We called to him that the Indians were upon him and that he had better run for safety. It seemed to daze him, as we looked out from our hiding places, we could see the old man (we always called him old) walking up and down on top of the slope opposite the Indians, waving his arms, and call- ing with his stentorian voice foj^the boys of Payson and the boys of Spring Creek to come on. This ruse, no doubt, had its effect, for the Indians did not ad- vance farther. They continued to cry to us to come out of the brush and attack them. They dared not come near us. I had a Kentucky rifle that carried a ball about INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 81 mill I ii 1 1 ii 1 1 mi 1 1 in ii mill Ill II 1 1 1 nil ill n I I II II II n inn Hill as big as a pea, while Calkins had an old time Taylor rifle. After some time the Indians withdrew and went to the wagon and the cattle we had left. There were two other yoke of cattle there belonging to James Holman. The Indians shot and killed the oxen chained to the wagon and drove off the others with them. Luke Holman and Levi Colvin came up to the thicket where we had hid. There were now five of us, and we followed on after the Indians in hopes of getting the cattle back. The Indians saw us coming and divided their party, some continuing on with the cattle, while the rest made southward, toward San- taquin canyon. Here I found a good opportunity to count them, and made out thirty-nine. We thought they might have had horses at the mouth of the can- yon, and concluded we had better turn back for fear they would cut us off from the main body of harvest- ers. We then went back to the rest of the people, who numbered about nine. Levi Colvin had a pair of horses there, and Jonathan Davis mounted one of them and rode down to Payson to give the alarm ; soon about forty men in wagons and on horseback were hastening to our re- lief, in charge of Col. W. C. McClellan. Robert E. Collet (later of Pleasant Grove) also ran into Payson on foot, following down the creek northward, and arrived there soon after the horse- men got in. Levi Colvin and myself, before the relief party came, went up through the brush and found the body of Tindrel; he was scalped, and all his clothes were off, except his shirt. He was shot seven times. Two bullet holes and five arrows were found in his body. 82 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS The reason they had not taken off his shirt, was that one of his arms was pinned to his body with an arrow. One arrow had gone through the body, en- tering the back and protruding at the breast bone: one bullet passed through him close to the heart, and he must have run seventy-five yards at least, after receiving this shot, before he fell. The horror that filled my soul at seeing the scalped and naked body of my friend, who but a few hours ago had been full of life, is indescribable. Shot down by cruel and relentless Indians, he laid there stripped, dead and mutilated, under the bright Oct- ober sun. We left him there, and returned to the po- sition occupied by the party of harvesters. The company from Payson under the command of Col. W. C. McClellan soon came on the ground. We took up the body of Brother Fernee L. Tindrel and sorrowfully wended our way back to Payson, where we interred his body in the cementery with military honors. I being one of the party that fired the salute above the grave. Young John Sheffield had hid in the brush and escaped unhurt. He came to us when he saw the ar- rival of the relief parties from Payson. The leading Indian of this party of marauders was a Ute known by the name of Showan, the brother of Santaquin, who lived in Thistle for many years and owned a ranch there and is now on the Indian reservation. — Albert Jones." CHASE'S SAWMILL IN SANPETE COUNTY BURNED BY INDIANS. November 6th — Chase's sawmill in Sanpete County, was burned by Indians. Three days later, INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 83 November 9th — The Indians burned six houses in Summit Creek (Santaquin) Utah County, which had been vacated during the summer. THE ALLRED SETTLEMENT, (SPRING CITY) BURNED BY INDIANS. 1854, Jan. 6th — Allred's settlement (Spring City) Sanpete County, which had been deserted the pre- vious summer because of Indian troubles, was burned to the ground by Indians. April. — A number of Elders was called on a mis- sion to the Indians in southern Utah. This more directly resulted in opening up that part of Utah south of the rim of the great basin to settlement. TREATY WITH CHIEF WALKER AND EANOSH. END OF UTE WAR. In May, 1854, after a "talk" with President Brigham Young, the Indian chief Walker (Surround- ed by his braves) and Kanosh, chief of the Pahvant Indians, entered into a formal treaty of peace at Chicken Creek, Juab County. This ended the Ute war, during which nineteen white persons and many Indians had been killed. During the war a number of the smaller settle- ments had been broken up, and their inhabitants moved to larger towns. WILLIAM AND WARREN WEEKS KILLED IN CEDAR VALLEY. August 8th William and Warren Weeks, sons of Bishop Allen Weeks, were killed by Indians in Cedar Valley. 84 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifff CHIEF WALKER DIED AT MEADOW CREEK, MILLARD COUNTY 1855, January 29th.— Walker, the Utah Chief, who had so long been a terror to the whites, died at Meadow Creek, in Millard County, and was succeed- ed by his brother Arapeen. Walker prior to his death, became convinced that the "Mormons" were his friends, and among his final words was an injunc- tion to his tribe to live at peace with the settlers and not molest them. According to the cruel custom then in vogue among the savages, an Indian boy and girl and thir- teen horses were buried alive with Walker, being secured near the corpse of the Chief at the bottom of a deep pit or walled enclosure, and left to suffer until death brought relief, It was said that two In- dians passed by the place, and the boy begged to be let out, but they passed on. The boy said that Wal- ker was beginning to stink. THE ELK MOUNTAIN MISSION, AND ABANDON- MENT. An Indian Mission known in the history of the Church as the Elk Mountain Mission was established for the purpose of educating a tribe of Indians who occupied the region of country in south-eastern Utah in the vicinity of the Elk Mountains (now the La Salle Mountains). Their main rendezvous was in a little Valley on the Grand River where the settlement of Moab is now situated. Those who went on this mis- sion were called at a general Conference of the Church held in Great Salt Lake City in April, 1855. INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 85 Forty-one men were called, namely Alfred N. Bill- ings, Eobert Brown, John Clark, Oliver B. Hunt- ington, James Ivie, John Lehi, Levi G. Metcalf , John McEwan, Joseph L. Eawlins, Moses Draper, Alma Fairchild, Wm. Freeman, Wm. E. Holden, James W. Hunt, Lot E. Huntington, Charles A. Huntington, Steven E. Moore, Byron Pace, Ethen Pettit, Christo- pher C. Perkins, Wm. W. Sterrit, Wm. P. Jones, Ephraim Wright, Clinton Williams, Thomas Wilson, Andrew Jackson Allred, Edward Edwards, Archi- bald W. Buchanan, William P. Fairchild, John Craw- ford, John Lowry, Jr. William G. Petty, Peter Stubbs, John Shelby, Shelton B. Cutler, Martin Be- hunin, Wm. Behunin, D. Johnson, John Lewis, Eichard and William Hamblin. Elder Alfred N. Bill- ings was appointed president of the mission by Presi- dent Brigham Young. The company after being partly organized for traveling, left Manti, Sanpete County, Monday May 21, 1855. It consisted of 41 men, 15 wagons, 65 oxen, 16 cows, 13 horses, 2 bulls, 1 calf, 2 pigs, 4 dogs, and 12 chickens, besides im- plements, seed grain, etc., and provisions. After a hard journey they arrived on Grand Eiver on the evening on June llth. On the 12th they crossed the river, came to some land that was cultivated by In- dians who were friendly and wanted the white peo- ple to settle among them. By July they had built a stockade corral of logs, set three feet in the ground and six feet above, and had put in their grain, etc. and they started work on a stone fort. The fort was finished July 19th. One of the settlers writes : Sunday September 22nd we changed herd-ground, feeling apprehensive of mischief intended by some Indians as they were 86 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Illllllllllllllllllllll mini illinium iiiiiMiiiitiiiiniMii i iMiiiiiiiiMiliiiiiiiiMiiiiMiiiiiinmiiiiiMi m very saucy and impudent. On inquiring why we had changed herd-ground, the boys began loading their guns, which caused the Indians to cool down, the Indians went off a short distance to consult to- gether. Soon three of them started for the field in the direction of the cattle, and in a few minutes James W. Hunt started with a lariat to get his horse. Char- les, a son of Suit-Sub-Soc-Its or St. John, followed him on horse-back ; he kept telling him to go ahead of him, asking what he was afraid of, Hunt kept turn- ing his head occasionally towards him, as though being apprehensive of danger, they got nearly a mile from the fort when Charles told him to look at the stock. He did so, raising himself on tip-toe. That instant Charles shot him, then shouted to an- other Indian, not far off, to run and take the horses. The ball entered Hunt's back, ranging downward about one and a half inches from the back bone, on the left side, and four inches from the small of the back. This happened about half past twelve o 'clock. Ephraim Wight and Sheldon B. Cutler were herding the stock. The Indians left and went across the river, Cutler came to the fort on horse-back and told what had happened. President Billings jumped on behind him. Peter Stubbs followed, and while John Clark and another followed with water and re- turned to the fort, Clinton Williams started on horse back after the stock. The boys carried Hunt in a blanket; but before they got within one fourth of a mile of the fort, the Indians re-crossed the river and came charging towards the boys and stock, rais- ing a war whoop. Wm. M. Sterrett, Sheldon B. Cut- ler and Clark A. Huntington acted as rear guard to the boys who were carrying Hunt and fired upon INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 87 the Indians who had fired some eight or ten guns be- fore our boys commenced shooting. President Bill- ings was wounded by a ball passing through the fore finger of his right hand. The bullets whistled briskly all around. The men arrived safely with the wounded man and the horses and cattle were taken inside the corral, except those the Indians had driven off. Every man was engaged. Soon one of the Indians set fire to our hay stacks which were ad- joining the north end of the corral ; they were entire- ly consumed, as also the corn, and it took five or six men steady to carry water to save the corral logs, so as to keep what stock we had on the inside. The firing was kept up by the Indians till after dark. We succeeded in saving the corral, although some of the logs were nearly consumed. Seven Indians were seen to leave, Charles at their head, going to the moun- tains. The day previous (Saturday) two of the boys, Edward Edwards and William Behunin went hunt- ing, expecting to return Sunday afternoon, Captain Capsium, a Tampa Ute, came down to the corner of the fort and corral and talked to Clark A. Hunting- ton for some time when a few more Indians came. They said we had killed two or three of them and wounded as many, and they would not be satisfied till they had killed two more "Mormons." They at first denied having killed the two boys who were out hunting and wanted bread. We gave them all we had. The Indians had turned the water off from us, They finally acknowledged killing the two boys out hunting. Hunt expired the following day. Early in the morning of Monday, Sept. 24th the Indians came to the fort and said they were glad that three Mormons had been killed ; they had killed 88 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS the two boys as they were coming down the moun- tain. Thus three of our boys were killed. Three In- dians had also been killed and three others wounded who would die. It was now thought best to move out right away, or we should all die, as the Indians had sent runners out into the mountains for help. We packed up and without breakfast left about eleven o 'clock in the morning, leaving fifteen head of horses twenty-four head of cattle with a calf, besides six head which we gave the Indians. When we got to the north side of Grand river, a brother of St. John and uncle to Charles, the leader, came to us. Clark A. Huntington told him all that had taken place, and what we had left behind. He said it was too bad, but he was only one against many. He said we should have our cattle, and he would see that the bodies of the boys who had been killed were taken care of and buried. Together with his sons he went to the fort and talked to the Indians. He had some difficulty with them, when they began shooting the cattle. The friendly Indians who succeeded in driv- ing away fifteen head of cattle, delivered to us eight cows and kept seven that were wounded. They butchered three head and brought us a little of the meat. We arrived in Manti, Sunday Sept. 30th, be- tween 4 and 5 o'clock p. m. John McEwan who was left behind the last morning driving his pony which was tired, some three miles from where we started, got bewildered and lost his way. The trail being dim and not very easy to follow, left all he had except his gun, and traveled eating nothing from Saturday night the 27 till Wednesday forenoon the 3rd of October about eleven o'clock a. m. when he was INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 89 met by three men, viz: Nathaniel Beach, John Lowry, jr. both of Manti and Lyman A. Woods of Provo, and two Indians belonging to Arrapeen's band who left Manti on Tuesday night at half past ten o 'clock in pursuit of him. They arrived at Manti Thursday morning 7 :30 o 'clock. THE SALMON RIVER MISSION. On May 19, 1855, a company was organized on the west side of Bear River, Utah, for the purpose of colonizing the Great Northwest. The company consisted of twenty-seven men with thirteen wagons, twenty-six yoke of cattle, a few cows and implements of industry. The personel of the company was : Thomas S. Smith, Farmington, Davis County, Utah ; Ezra J. Barnard, Farmington, Davis County, Utah; Isaac Shepherd, Farmington, Davis County, Utah; Baldwin H. Watts, South Weber, Utah; Geo. R. Grant, Kaysville, Davis County, Utah; Charles Dalton, Centerville, Davis County, Utah; Israel J. Clark, Centerville, Davis County, Utah; Wm. H. Batchelor, Salt Lake City, Utah ; Ira Ames, Salt Lake City, Utah; William Bunbridge, Salt Lake City, Utah; Thomas Butterfield, West Jor- dan, Salt Lake County, Utah; William Burges, Provo, Utah; Abraham Zundel, Willard, Box Elder, Utah; Everett Lish, Willard, Box Elder, Utah; Francillo Durfee, Ogden, Utah; David Moore, Ogden, Utah; Benjamin F. Cummings, Ogden, Utah; Gilbert R. Belknap; Ogden, Utah; Joseph Parry, Ogden, Utah1 Nathaniel Leavitt, Ogden, Utah ; Pleasant Green Taylor, Ogden, Utah ; Charles McGeary, Ogden, Utah; John Gallagher, iimiiiniiiiiiii 90 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Mtiiiiiiiiiimmitmmm tfllllllllllllliiiltmiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiuiiii Ogden, Utah; John W. Browning, Ogden, Utah- David H. Stevens, Ogden, Utah; William Birch, Ogden, Utah ; Geo. Hill, Ogden, Utah. The following officers were elected: Thomas S. Smith, President; Francillo Durfee, Captain; David Moore, Secretary; B. F. Cummings, Captain of the guard. Thus organized, on the 20th day of May, tho company commenced their journey. They traveled up Malad valley and crossed the Bannock divide, then they went down Bannock Creek, crossed Port- neuf River, and Ross' Fork and Blackfoot River, thence until they reached Snake River, which they crossed at a point five miles above Fort Hall and near Ross' Butte, and traveled on the west side of the river until they reached a point three miles above Eagle Rock. On leaving Snake River they passed Market Lake on the north and camped on Muddy Lake. Leaving Muddy Lake the company traveled thirty miles across a desert when they reach- ed Spring Creek, (Birch Creek). Traveling northward they followed little Lost River sixty miles until they arrived at the top of Salmon range of mountains. They journeyed down this creek called Salmon River (now Limhi), until they reached a point twenty miles above where it empties into Sal- mon River. They arrived at this point June 15th, which was three hundred and thirty-three miles from Ogden, according to the odometer constructed by Col. David Moore. Here they built a stockade fort and named it "Fort Limhi." It was about twenty rods square. The wall was built of logs sixteen feet long, standing on end close together. It had one gate on the east side and one on the west. They built INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 91 Illllllllllllllllllll Mill I I III III their houses of logs, on one side of the fort. Bas- tions were built at each corner of the fort. The country through which they traveled was a dreary waste, very forbidding, and covered thick ly with wild sage, and at that time was but little known to white people. It was eastern Oregon, (now in Idaho.) On their arrival they found a large number of Indians consisting of Bannocks, Sho-shones and Nez- Perses, who were on their annual fishing trip. Through their interpreter, Geo. W. Hill, the Indians were made to understand that the colony had come there to settle, that they were their friends, that they were there to help them, to teach them how to till the ground, how to build houses and live like white people. The Indians gave the colonists a friendly welcome. In the afternoon of the same day on which they arrived, the colony commenced to build their irri- ation canal. David Moore and B. F. Cummings, surveyed the ditch with a bottle filled with water for a level and steel square for a straight edge. A part of the company commenced work on the water ditch, while others were engaged in herding cattle The water for irrigation was brought from a creek on the east side of the valley, about forty rods above the fort, where the dam was built, to flood the land before it could be ploughed. About the 22nd of June the colony planted peas, potatoes, turnips, etc. This was the first irrigation that was done in the Great Northwest. Bancroft gives this credit to these first settlers. The crops of the first year were a failure, being destroyed by heavy frost on the night of the 4th of September. 92 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS The same year the grasshoppers appeared in count- less numbers and deposited their eggs. There being no saw mill, the lumber for the windows, doors, and floors, was manufactured with a whip-saw. Every day and night a strong guard was placed over the cattle; and men were forced to go heavily armed. Prior to the loss of the crops it was discovered that the supplies on hand would run out and the seed remaining would be insufficient for next year 's sow- ing. So, early in August, about one half of the col- ony returned to Utah for supplies and to carry the mail. They returned on the 19th of November, 1855, bringing the mail from Utah. Some of them also brought their families. Francillo Durfree brought his wife and daughter; C. M. McGeary, his wife; I J. Clark, his wife and three children. These women and children were the first white females to settle in the Great Northwest. Louisa, daughter of Col. G. Moore subsequently became the wife of Lewis W. Shurtliff, who is now a member of Congress. (This marriage took place January 4th, 1858, being the first white couple married in this north country.) About the first of August, Lewis W. Shurtliff and John Leavitt started from Salt Lake with mail and supplies. By the first of December, 1855, President Smith, ascertained that their food supplies would be ex- hausted before the first of March, 1856. He called for volunteers to go to Utah for supplies and also to carry mail. The following eight responded: viz: George W. Hill, Joseph Parry, Abraham Zundel, INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 93 II IIIMIIII11MI.nl. II Ml III II 1 1 II I I II II II I Illlllllllllllll II till I MM I Mill II HI nil Wm. Burch, Isaac Shepherd, Thomas Butterfield and William Batchelor. They left fort Limhi on the 4th of December with an outfit consisting of eight men, six yoke of oxen and three wagons; one wagon they were compelled to leave by the wayside. They arrived in Ogden on December 26th in good health, but "Mighty hungry " and suffering more or less from frost bites. On March 28th, 1856, they left Ogden on their return to Limhi with the mail from Utah and their supplies, bringing with them the following new colonists : Alexander Hill, John Freece, Sylvanus Collett, Thomas Abbot, Wai. Mclntyre, William Perkins, Thos. Carlos, Thos. Day, Clifton, S. Browning, Jos. Harker, Jacob Miller, Geo. McBride, H. A. Cleveland, Thomas Bingham, William Shaw, John Murdock, Pardon Webb, James Walker, R. B. Margetts, Henry Nebeker, William B. Lake, Hathron C. Hadlock. The party reached Fort Limhi May 15th, 1856, in charge of Joseph Parry. During the summer '56 Messrs. Moore, Cummings and Parry commenced the erection of a grist mill ; Mr. Burges having brought the mill stones with him from Utah and Mr. Moore brought the mill irons. The mill was completed in 1859. In 1856 the colony commenced to build an- other irrigation ditch, which they finished in 1857. and it is still in operation by Mr. J. B. Sharkey. An addition was made to the colony by the ar- rival of M. D. Hammond, H. V. Shurtliff, E. Bobin- son and Owen Dix who brought the mail from Utah. They came during the summer of 1856. In August L. W. Shurtliff and Nathaniel Leavitt carried the mail from Limhi to Utah, and had a narrow escape 94 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS from death by Indians, near where Bailey Lake was subsequently shot and killed. During this summer Lot Smith and John Clawson arrived from Utah with the mail, and returned with the mail from Limhi to Utah. Early in the spring of 1856, the colony sowed a large acreage of wheat which gave promise of an abundant harvest ; but the grasshoppers hatched out in myriads and destroyed the fruits of their toil and blighted their hopes for this year. Before them was indeed a fruitful field, but when they left, behind them was a desolation. The land was cleaned of every vestige of vegetation. This forced the colony for the third time to resort to Utah for fresh sup- plies of provisions and for seed grain for the en- suing year. iDavid Moore, Pleasant G. Taylor and others were sent with the mail to Utah and to bring back supplies. At the commencement of winter, Hill, Parry and Lychonius Barnard were also sent with the mail from Limhi. The two companies returned with the mail and supplies for the colony, May, 1857. (It should have been stated in the summer of 1856, a body of troops, fifty or more arrived at the colony in search of Indians who had commited depredations on white settlers in Oregon. They stayed about one week and then left. In May, 1857, the colony had a pleasant visit from President Brigham Young and a large company of others, including Heber C. Kimball, Gen. Daniel H. Wells and prominent citizens of Utah. They ex- pressed themselves much pleased with the colony and the President said he would send them more aid to strengthen the colony. He advised them to build a INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 95 •tiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiifiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiM Spanish wall for their better protection, which they did at the south end of the fort. The wall is still standing. This same year, they raised about 2,000 bushels of wheat besides other grain and vegetables. This was the first grain raised in Idaho by irriga- tion. In fulfillment of this promise the President sent the following persons to strengthen the settlers at Limhi: John L. Dalton, James Wilcox, Jane Had- lock, Oliver Eobinson, James Miller, Chas. F. Mid- dleton, Henry Smith and wife, Jesse Smith and wife, William S. Smith and wife, William Marler, Frederick A. Miller, Reuben Collett, Fountain Welch, Orson Rose, Andrew Quigley, William Perry and wife, William Taylor, Levi Taylor, James Allred, Martin H. Harris, Jonathan Bowen and wife, Joseph Bowen, Steven Cheen and wife, Henry Harman and wife, and James McBride. They arrived at Fort Limhi Oct. 27th, 1857. Arrangements were at once made for building a new fort about two miles below Limhi, thereby in- creasing the acreage and strength of the colony, and also giving more room for new arrivals. A num- ber of log houses were erected on the plan of those of the upper fort. Milton Harmon was appointed to preside over this little community. Everything went along peacefully and all were taking hold of needed work, to prepare for winter. November 28th, President Smith and L. W. Shurtliff started with the mail for Salt Lake City, but were compelled to return, arriving on the llth of December, and reported that the snow T»as too deep and they found it impractical to cross the moun- tains. 96 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS The threshing of the wheat (which was done by oxen) and the cleaning occupied all winter. The cleaning was done by a fanning mill, which was con- structed by David Moore and others at the fort. Feb. 28th, 1858, Col. Smith saw the Indians in a hostile attitude ; he saddled his horse and called on the men to follow him, and then started to head off the cattle which the red skins were stealing. Many of the men started to follow him, but Col. Moore, fearing that the fort would be left exposed to the foes, organized a company of ten to follow Col. Smith and detained the rest to defend the fort. The In- dians fired on all of the colonists. Geo. McBride and •James Miller were killed, and Col. Smith and four others were wounded. Col. Moore detailed men to bring in the dead and wounded. The foresight of David Moore saved the fort, for it was discovered afterwards that the Indians expected that the col- onists would pursue them, when, having some of their tribe in ambush, they would take possession, kill the men and carry off the women and children. An express was sent by B. H. Watts and Ezra Barnard to President Young, informing him of what had occurred. He immediately sent out one hun- dred and fifty mounted men and twenty wagons with provisions, under the command of Col. Cunning- ham, to relieve the colony and escort them to Utah. The fort was vacated March 28th, 1858. The men were sent forward as a van guard. The Indians followed them two hundred miles. They waylaid them. They killed, stripped and scalped Bailey Lake. When the colony left the fort snow was on the ground in many places, and the men had to help the teams with lariats. On April llth, 1858, at 3 JESSE KNIGHT Sergeant in Captain Alva A. Green's cavalry company. American Fork. One of >ur comrades whom fortune has favored. Now prominent mine owner and •apitalist. \Vhat is more legitimate than to cause the earth to yield her fruits and treasures in abundance. BRIG. GENERAL ALBERT KING THURBER Indian Interpreter and Explorer. INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 97 inn MII; II ii Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll I ii illinium Illllllllllllllllllllltlllllllllllllll o'clock p. m. they arrived in Ogden. Before leav- ing Limhi the colony cached their wheat, about two thousand bushels, in different places. This ended the first mission to colonize the great Northwest to introduce the system of irriga- tion and endeavor to civilize the aborigines, after two years and nine months most incessant labor, toil and sacrifices. It cost three lives of colonists, and five others were wounded. It also cost them hun- dreds of thousands of dollars in time, horses, cattle, crops and other property. THE SALKGN RIVER MISSION ABANDONED. Since the fort was vacated the land fell into other hands, and a government reservation was es- tablished a little distance above this point, and now appears on the maps as "Fort Limhi" and "Limhi Valley Indian Reservation." The names of Crandle Dunn and Amos Wright of Box Elder Co., and James Hill of Mill Creek, Salt Lake County, have been inadvertently omitted from the body of this report. They should be in as they were in the Salmon Eiver Mission. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. An account of an expedition that was sent out from Utah by Governor Young to relieve a colony of settlers that had located on Salmon River, Ore- gon: In 1855 President Brigham Young and the lead- ers of the Church called a company of men with their families to go North into Oregon and explore the country and establish a settlement to open up the country for other settlers. This company crossed the mountains to Snake river and followed the river up 98 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS llllllllimillllllllllllll ii 1 1 inn mill IMI ii in 1 1 lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllliliiiilliil it to Market Lake. From here they turned Northwest onto the head waters of the Salmon river and built a fort which was named Fort Limhi from which Lim- hi County, Idaho, was afterwards named. This col- ony got along alright until the winter of 1857 and spring of 1858, when through the influence of one John Powel, a mountaineer who was very bitter against the Mormons, the Indians made a raid on the colony. A battle was fought and the colonists lost all their stock, except some animals they were using at the time. Two men were killed and four others wounded. The names of those killed were George McBride and James T. Miller of Farmington Davis County, Utah. Those wounded were Thomas S. Smith, the Captain of the company, 0. L. Robin- son, Andrew Quigley and Fountain Welch all of Farmington. The last mentioned never fully recov- ered from their wounds. This left the colony in a helpless condition, and over four hundred miles from any assistance. After some consideration they saw there was only one chance for them to get help, and that was for some one or two persons to risk their lives and go out by night and attempt to get by the Indians. George W. Hill and Baldwin Watts undertook this task. After three weeks travel and suffering from hunger and cold they got through to Salt Lake City and reported the condition of the colony to Governor Young, who immediately called out three companies of the Utah militia consisting of fifty men in each company. One company being from Davis County with Horton D. Haight as captain, one company from Weber County and the other from Lehi, Utah County, Abram Hatch, Captain. Colonel Cunningham of Salt Lake INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 99 County was placed in command. We were called out on the fourth of March, 1858, and started on the 10th. Some of the men were poorly clad and suffered with the cold. Every man had to furnish himself, except what neighbors were pleased to donate to help him. We reached the fort on March 27th, seventeen days after starting and found the colonists alright. The commanding officer concluded to send an express of ten men on the return to report the con- dition of things, which was opposed by all the othei officers, but he was obdurate and would not yield. The men were selected and I was one of the party. We started on the 29th of March. When we got to Market Lake, we met a party of Indians who had the horse that George McBride was riding when he wa,i killed. The boys seemed determined to get this horse and after some dickering they succeeded, but the In- dians seemed quite sulky. Just as we were ready to start someone told the captain that they had seen a cowhide close to the Indian camp. The captain fool- ishly accused the Indians of stealing cattle which made the chief angry and he raised his spear and would have killed the captain, had not Brother Watts raised his gun in his face, shouted at him which made him drop his spear. The chief gave a war-whoop and in a few seconds we were entirely surrounded by the Indians and it looked as though we would all be killed on the spot, but brother Watts talked to them in their own language for about ten minutes. Finally he went up to the captain and gave him a push and called him a squaw. This saved our lives for they turned away and left us. This was on the first of April. Again on the 4th of April, the Indians 100 / INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Canyon about thirty jniles southwest of where Pocatello now stands. We fought them from two o'clock p. m. until after sun down when they pulled off and left us. We had one man killed — Bailey Lake of Ogden — three saddle horses shot and we lost all our pack animals with our sup- plies and one extra horse, — nineteen head in all. Our loss was not less than $1,500.00. We were one hundred miles from any settlement and two men were without horses to ride. We traveled this distance in forty-eight hours without food or rest. The names of those in this party were Franklin Cummings, George W. Hill, Baldwin H. Watts, Bai- ley Lake, who was killed, Thomas Bingham, George Barber, Thomas Blocksom, John B. Blanchard, J. T. Workman and one other whose name I have for- gotten. The last of the company arrived on April 20th and we were honorably discharged after having been out forty days. (Signed) F. A. Miller, Parker, Fremont County, Idaho. July 2nd, 1906. THE TINTIC WAR. In the year 1856, the Indians, a part of the Utos, again became hostile, and a sufficient number of them went on the war path to make it expensive, and annoying to the settlers. The Indians were stealing cattle and horses in Utah and Cedar Valleys and a sub-chief of the Utes named Tintic was the ring-leader of the hostiles, some of whom dwelt in a Valley subsequently called Tintic, and others in Ce- dar Valley; both of these valleys lies west of Utah INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 101 ilimmiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiimiiiiiiiimiiiimiiiiiii iiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniii Lake. The Indians killed two herdsmen, — Herri v Moren and Washington Carson, Feb. 21, 1856. When these two men did not return when expected a search was instituted by the citizens. A POSSE WENT IN PURSUIT OF CHIEF TINTIC AND BAND. Deputy Marshal Thomas S. Johnson came to Provo and enlisted a posse of about ten men who, armed with writs of arrest, issued by Judge Drum- mond, in Utah County, set out for Cedar Valley to apprehend the murderers. The posse started from Provo and went by way of Lehi where they camped the first night. Colonel Conover accompanied the posse as far as Lehi, at which point he left for Salt Lake City to seek advice from Governor Brigham Young who at that time was also superintendent of Indian affairs. The posse proceeded into Cedar Valley, and while Johnson with part of the men went to the north settlement, ten men were detached to go to the south fort, afterwards known as Camp _Flo_v^L One division of the posse was under com- mand of Deputy Marshal George Parish. The posse stayed at Cedar Fort during the night, and on the following morning sent interpreter John Clark to the Indian camp, about, a mile .southwest of the fort to talk to Chief Tintic and his followers. He went to the chief's tent, where several Indians were pres- ent. Tintic treated the matter with contempt, and spoke vilely of President Young. The Indians were talking of keeping Clark there until dark, and when he should start away, they would kill him. He (Clark) understood them ; he had on an overcoat and INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Illllllllllllllll carried two revolvers under it on his belt. He had walked to the camp, and as he was fast on foot (being considerable of an athlete) he intended on leaving to dodge round as he ran. Thus, if they fired at him, they would not be likely to hit him, so he said after- wards. While talking, a squaw on the outside called out, "Mommons coming." The Indians, while in conver- sation, had stripped and painted in their war-paints, and prepared for fight; they had their spears set up against the tent handy to get at. When the com- pany came up, Deputy Sheriff Parish got off his horse and came into the tent, walked up to Tintic, caught him by the hair with one hand, and with re- volver in the other said: "Tintic, you are my pris- oner. ' ' Tintic grabbed the pistol with one hand and jumped, the pistol went off and shot him through the hand ; he broke loose and went through the back of the tent; then firing commenced. Tintic 's brother Battest aimed his rifle at George Parish and fired, but the gun-barrel being knocked aside the bullet missed its mark. One of Parish's friends then drew his revolver and shot Battest through the head, kill- ing him instantly. A general fight followed in which one of the posse, George Carson was mortal- ly wounded, one squaw and three or four Indians were also killed and several wounded. At this junc- ture, John Clark, the interpreter, ran back into the tent and got two guns and four or five bows and quivers of arrows, ran out, untied Tintic 's and his brother's horses, jumped onto Tintic 's horse arid led the other. He laid down on the horse as he rode away, with bullets whistling by him, but escaped without injury. All went back to the fort. A mes- INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 103 senger was sent to notify Deputy Marshal Tom Johnson who came immediately with the remainder of the posse. That night the Indians killed two boys, by the name of Henry Moran and William Carson who were herding sheep on the west side of Utah Lake. The next morning the posse followed the trail of the Indians who left during the m&I.t, and found them camped on thesije ~of a. mountain in the cedars on the~egsfc=sdrle of ^RiijOTVaTlej^ A parley was held, but the Indians refused to sur- render and fired upon the posse. It being late in the evening the Deputy Marshal deemed it wise to re- turn to the fort with the intention to pursue the next day ; but in the morning they found the Indian camp broken up and the Indians going in a direction where they would be overtaken by Colonel Conover 's com- pany, the posse gave up the pursuit, turned attention to the security of the settlements, and in searching for the other two, Moran and Carson and young Hun- saker, a thirteen year old boy whom the Indians had also killed; they found them where the Indians had killed them. Meantime, Governor Young had given orders to Colonel Peter W. Conover to raise a company of the Utah County Militia, pursue the In- dians and recover the Hunsaker herd of stock which had been driven off after killing the herds -men. Ac- cordingly, Col. Conover, with eighty men pursued, crossed the Utah lake on ice, and took the trail of the Indians where they crossed the mountains. The company pursued all day and camped in Tintic Valley, just out of the mouth of a canyon. On the second day the pursuing party came so close upon the Indians in the lower end of Tintic Valley that they took fright and left the stock behind ex- 104 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS iiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiii iiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii cept a few saddle horses ; and the expedition return- ed with the stock. Bishop Nephi Packard, to whom we are indebted for some of this information says — "While at the fort, the citizens brought in the bodies of Moran and Carson, frozen stiff. Their bodies had been mutila- ted, and when they were thawed out with warm water for the purpose of dressing them, it created a stench which together with the sight of their mutilated bodies, made him sick. They were buried there.*' PROM TULLIDGE'S HISTORY, VOL. 3, PAGE 157. By John Banks. John Banks of Spanish Fork, one of the found- ers of that place communicated the following addi- tional details confirming the Tintic War, which was supplied in Tullidge's History, Vol. 3, p. 157. In February 1856, T. S. Johnson, a U. S. Deputy Marshal, came to Palmyra in pursuit of Indians who had been committing depredations on the whites, expecting that he would find some of them with Peteetneet 's band, but failed. He then received word by express that the Indians had killed two of the Hunsaker's herds-men, on the west side of Utah lake, and that a herd-boy was missing who was sup- posed to be killed also, for the Indians had taken the whole herd of cattle. Peteetneet, the chief of the Indians on the Spanish Fork, being friendly dis- posed was consulted. Peteetneet was grieved at the hostilities of Tintic and his band, and remarked that Tintic had ears that were no good and of no use to him. He had good council given him, but he would not hear it, and (Peteetneet) wanted Peanitch, the INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 105 •Illilllllllllllll Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltlllllllllllltllllllllllll llltlll • Indian guide, and three others, when they would find Tintic, to cut off his ears, as they were of no good. This talk took place just before the Marshal, with about seventy-five men left Palmyra for the west mountains. ' * This was a very exciting time, ' ' writes John Banks. "We camped the first night on the north end of the so-called west mountain, where we experienced an extremely cold night, without any bedding except our saddle blankets, and were not allowed to have any fire after sundown. When day dawned we learned that several of our men had frozen feet, and consequently had to return home. Among those with frozen feet was William Fair- banks of Payson, but he would not return home. Early in the morning we saddled our horses, and the order, "mount, forward march," was gvien. Fairbanks would continue the march, nothwithstand- ing he suffered much during the expedition. We had not gone far before we struck the trail of an Indian, which track we followed on the ice across the Utah Lake, till we came to the dugout where Hunsaker's two herdsmen had been killed in the cedars. The blood was lickered in the sand, the sight of which caused quite a sensation. Orders were given to scout. Scouters returned with an ox, which was soon killed, and a time of general sharpening of sticks to roast beef for dinner took place. Meanwhile, the officers consulted each others as to the best course to pursue, and decided that the men be divi- ded into tens to examine the most likely places for Indians or to ascertain which way they had gone. This was soon found out, and when the signal was given that the trail had been discovered, the whole company marched up the canyon, leading to what is 106 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS • I Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll now called Tintic Valley. The name of the place originated with this expedition, said valley being until that time unexplored by white men. We learn- ed that the Indians had taken a southwesterly di- rection and as we journeyed on we had to encounter deep snow and exceedingly cold weather. Frequent- ly we saw cattle standing up, braced in the snow, frozen quite stiff. In this locality we expected to get our supply of food on our return provided we did not overtake the Indians. We pushed forward as fast as we could, and as we came on their camping places we could learn how fast we were gaining ground on them. We made three of their days travel in one day. The third day we saw their camp fire smoke, but we did not like the location, as it seemed like we were marching right into the fortification of the savages. Passing a heavy body of cedars, we found ourselves on the edge of the great desert, where we were pleased to discover some stock and we picked out the best beef from seventy-five head, having had nothing to eat that morning. Our Indian guide informing us that it was about six miles to the Sevier River, orders were given to march thither to water our stock. There was no trail to follow — the Indians having scattered in every direction. Our horses had been without water since we left the Utah Lake. We camped on Sevier river that night. Early next morning we found thirty head of horses, but no In- dians. We then traveled up the river in a northeast- erly direction and came out at Nephi. The inhabi- tants rallied to a point on the north side of the herd to save the cattle. There being a raise of land in- tervening between us, the one party could not see the other for a little while. The next time thev saw us INDIAN DEPREDATIONS the supposed Indians were making for the settle- ment, and would take the town ere any of the citizens could get back. It was a time of general rejoice- ing with the Nephites when they found the supposed Lamanites were their friends; and, on the other hand, we rejoiced on being well treated, and having plenty of good food to eat, having had nothing to eat for seven days previous except fresh beef, with- out salt. — weary and tired, we appreciated the com- fortable beds and happy rest afforded us that night. Next morning we, with grateful hearts, shook hands with our Nephi friends, started for home, and great was our mutual joy. Deseret News of March 5th, 1856, published the following : ' ' Tintic, head chief of the disaffected band, and who was wounded in the skirmish near the south fort in Cedar Valley, is reported dead. ' ' FOUR PERSONS MASSACRED IN SALT CREEK CANYON. June 4th. — Jens Jorgensen and wife, Jens Ter- klesen and Christian E. Kjerluf were massacred by Indians in Salt Creek Canyon, June 4th, 1858 while traveling unarmed on their way to Sanpete Valley. They had camped at the head waters in the canyon. After traveling about a mile after dinner, and having reached a point about a mile and a half from the head of the canyon, some Indians came from their hiding place and attacked them; two of the men, were killed in the wagon, and burned with it. One man was killed about fifty yards from the wagon, and the woman was found dead close by the wagon, INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS imimiiimii making four killed. John Ericksen, the only one who escaped, made his way to Ephraim where he ar- rived about dark. An ox hitched onto a hand-cart, and driven by one of the men, got frightened, and ran back to Nephi. The bodies were brought to Ephraim for burial. These people were on their way to Ephraim where they intended to settle. (Most of this information was obtained from N. 0. Anderson of Glenwood Utah.) THE BODIES OF JOSIAH CALL AND SAMUEL BROWN FOUND MURDERED AT CHICKEN CREEK, JUAB COUNTY. On October 15th, 1858. — The remains of Josiah Call and Samuel Brown, of Fillmore, Millard County, were found in a state of decomposition near Chicken Creek bridge, Juab County. They had been mur- dered by Indians on October 7th. The following details of the murder are culled from the Deseret News of Nov. 3, 1858 : On Friday last some fifteen men started again to renew the search, they met Brother Shepherd at Cedar Springs, who had just come in from the north. He told them that he saw a dead body about two miles south of Chicken Creek ; accordingly they pro- ceeded forthwith to the place and found both bodies within about two hundred yards of each other. Brother Brown was shot through the heart, scalped, and his throat cut. Birds had eaten the flesh from Brother Call's bones, with the exception of the left leg below the knee and his left arm; but it was evident he had been shot three times ; once through INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS 109 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiMimiiiiiiiiiiiiii "in iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiii the right breast, the ball lodging in the back bone; once through the left ankle and once through the head, the ball entering the back part of the skull near the seam and coming out at the left side of the nose. It is supposed his throat was also cut, as the blood had run from where his neck lay and his right arm was entirely gone and was not be found. They were both stripped of all their clothing except their un- der clothes, shoes and stockings. The remains were this day interred in the cemetery of this place, the occasion being one the most solemn I ever witnes- sed. MURDER OF A PEACEABLE INDIAN BY OFFICERS FROM CAMP FLOYD. Fillmore City, Apr. 10th, 1860. From Deseret News : Yesterday I heard of the most outragous mur- der that has come to my knowledge for some time. When the company returned from the Colorado they brought an Indian with them who has been living at Cedar Springs with David Savage ever since. Some few days since, an Officer by the name of Kirk, in company with one Johnston, came to the Springs — with a writ for the Indian, whose name was John The officer served the writ by arresting the Indian, and then started with him immediately for Camp Floyd. Shortly afterwards a rumor reached our City to the effect that the Indian had been murdered on the Sevier near the bridge, and thrown into the river. Bishop Brunson and some others saddled their horses and rode to the place designated to ascertain the truth of the report; they made search and found the body in the river, a short distance 110 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS below the place described. On taking the body from the water, they found it had been pierced with four bullets, two passing through near the heart. The savage custom of scalping had also been performed upon the Indian. Such laurels are easier won than worn. March 22nd, I860.— The Overland Mail Coach with four passengers was attacked by Indians near Eight Mile Station, Tooele County. Henry Harper, the driver, was killed and one passenger wounded. Judge Mott, Delegate to Congress from Nevada, who was in the coach took the reins, drove for his life and escaped. MAIL STATION AT DEEP CREEK AT- TACKED, ONE MAN SHOT. May 28th, 1860 — The Indians attacked the mail station at Deep Creek, Tooele County, shot a man juid stole several horses. ATTACK ON SMITHFIELD. JOHN REED AND IRA MERRILL KILLED. July 22nd Smithfield, Cache County, was attack- ed by Indians. A fight ensued : John Reed and Ira Merrill and two Indians were killed and several others wounded on both sides. The Indians sought to liberate one of their number who had been captured while stealing horses, but in the melee the guilty In dian and another were killed. Previous to this time, the Indians made a similar attempt of rescuing another at Logan, Cache Valley, Utah, but the whites rallied quickly, and in force, defeated the at- tempt. INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS 111 COLONEL CONNOR'S COMMAND START TO BEAR RIVER. On the 19th of January, 1863, a miner named William Bevins made affidavit before Chief Jus- tice John F. Kinney in Salt Lake City to the effect that about ten days previous, he and party number- ing eight men, who were on their way to the Grass- hopper Gold Mines in Dakota were attacked in Cache Valley by Indians and one of their number killed. He also reported that another party of ten miners enroute to Salt Lake City had been assaulted and murdered by the same Indians, in the same locality. Upon this information warrants for the arrest of three of the chiefs were issued and placed in the hands of the United States Marshal Isaac L. Gibbs, who, realizing that resistance would be of- fered, laid the matter before Colonel Connor. Three days later a company of Infantry with two how- itzers started for the camp of the hostiles, and on Sunday evening the 25th, four companies of cavalry, under command of Colonel Connor himself followed. Marshal Gibbs accompanied the expedition, though with what purpose is not clear, as the mission and intent of the troops was to summarily punish, and not merely to arrest the savages for the various crimes and depredations of which they were ac- cused. The Colonel in his report said he informed the Marshal that all arrangements for the expedi- tion were already made, and that the civil process had little to do with it is evident from the Colonel's further remarks : being satisfied that they (the In- dians) were part of the same band who had been murdering emigrants on the overland mail route 112 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS for the past fifteen years, and the principal actors and leaders in the horrid massacre of the previous summer. I determined although the weather was unfavorable to an expedition to chastise them, if possible. Tuesday night the 27th, the cavalry force overtook the infantry at Mendon, Cache County ; but the infantry at once resumed the march and were again overtaken during the following night at Frank- lin, twelve miles from the Indian encampment. COLONEL CONNOR'S BATTLE AT BEAR RIVER. At 3 o'clock, on the morning of Jan. 29th, the infantry was in motion and an hour later the cavalry set out, overtaking and passing their plodding com- rades about four miles south of the river. The battle began at 6 o'clock. The Indians having detected the efforts of the mounted troops to surround them, and defeating it by at once engaging them. The posi- tion of the savages was one of great natural strength, and they had improved it with considerable ingen- uity. A narrow dry ravine with steep rocky sides sheltered them from the fire of the soldiers, who, advancing along the level table land through which the gorge ran, were exposed to the murderous vol- leys of the concealed foe. Steps cut in the bank en- abled the Indians to ascend and descend as necessity required, and artificial copses of willows served as additional defenses where the ravine's course left an exposed point. The battle opened inauspiciously for the troops who quickly saw the disadvantage at which they were placed. Several fell killed and wounded at first fire. The Indians gleefully not- INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 113 ing the fact, and defying the survivors to "come on." Meantime the infantry, whose advance had been checked by the swift icy waters of the Bear River until horses furnished by the cavalry had assisted them over the stream, had joined in the engagement; and a successful flanking movement soon afterwards enabled the troops to pour an infilading fire into the enemy's camp. This was the beginning of the end; for though the savages fought with fury they were now at a disadvantage and were met by a line of sol- diers at either end of the ravine, as they moved to- wards the lower end. The colonel ordered his troops thither, disposing of the calavry so as to cut off escape. One company stood at the mouth of the gorge and visited terrible execution upon the enemy ; at a single spot forty-eight corpses were afterwards counted. By ten o'clock the savages were complete- ly routed and the slaughter was ended. Two hun- dred and twenty-four warriors, it is claimed, where found dead upon the field — but this number may have been exaggerated. Among them were the chiefs Bear Hunter, Sagwitch and Lehi. The first it is said falling into the fire at which he was moulding bullets, and being literally roasted. Sanpitch one of the chiefs named in Judge Kinney's warrant made his escape, as did also Pocatello, and probably fifty braves. The fighting strength of the Indians were estimated to be over three hundred. One hundred and sixty squaws and children fell into the hands of the victors, and one hundred and seventy-five ponies were captured in the camp; seventy lodges were burned; and a large quantity of grain, imple- ments and other property believed to have been stolen from emigrants. That which was not neces- 114 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS IMIMIIMIIIII sary for the captives was either destroyed or carried to Camp Douglas and sold. On his side Colonel Connor lost fourteen men and forty-nine were wound- ed during the engagement. Eight died within ten days. The force in the outset numbered three hun- dred men. But not more than two hundred were in the fight; the remainder were either teamsters or men incapacitated by frozen feet. The hardships of the journey were extreme. The snow being deep and the cold intense. The casualties of this latter class were seventy-nine, and the commanding officer in his report expressed the fear that many of the vic- tims would be crippled for life. Colonel Connor em- ployed as his guide on this expedition the experien- ced Mountaineer Orrin P. Rockwell, who rendered the command very efficient service; without which it is believed many more of the soldiers would have perished by being frozen. This fact accounts for the friendly feeling that Connor always entertained towards Rockwell. The dead and wounded arrived at Camp Doug- las on the night of the 2nd of February and on Wed- nesday the 4th, the survivors were again at their quarters. Next day, the 5th, fifteen of the dead were buried with military honors. Theirs being the con- secrating dust of the beautiful little cemetery at the fort. On the 6th, Lieutenant Darwin Chase who died of his wounds on the night of the 4th, at Farm- ington was buried with Masonic and martial honors ; he had once been a Mormon Elder. At dress parade on Sunday, the 8th, the colonel's complimentary or- der was read, and that same day the two who were the last to die of their wounds were placed by the side of their deceased comrades. If the battle in its INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 115 latest stage had possessed less of the elements of a massacre Colonel Conner and his command would have been more generally praised by the people ; but perhaps it would not then have proved a lesson so well to be remembered by the savages. As it was, it completely broke the power of the Indians there and conveyed to them a warning that it has never been necessary to repeat. In a letter to General Wright commanding the department of the Pacific, General in Chief Halleck wrote from Washington under the date of March 29th, highly praising the courage and discretion of the colonel and his brave Calif ornians. And in a dispatch of the same date to Colonel Connor, he and his command were congratu- lated on their heroic and brilliant victory. And the commander was notified that he was that day ap- pointed a brigadier general. ATTACK ON A PLATOON OF SOLDIERS AT PLEASANT GROVE. April 12th. William H. Seegmiller of Rich- field, Sevier County, Utah, gives the following ac- count of a fight between a small party of soldiers from Camp Douglas and a band of Indians under chief Little Soldier at Pleasant Grove, Utah County. Returning from San Pedro (Cal.) with Wood- mansee Bros. ' freight train, Sam Serine, captain, on the evening of April 12, 1863, we camped at Pleas- ant Grove, Utah County. We had been camped but a short time when a band of Indians, probably fifty, under the leadership of Little Soldier came to our camp and inquired if we were Americats. We nas- wered no, and he then asked if we knew where the 116 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Americats were camped, we told them that we did not know. They then said: 'we find them.' They passed on down the street towards the center of town. Some of Brigadier General Connor's command from Fort Douglas were in town, we saw two or three wa- gons with heavy canvas covers on and some mules ; also teamsters and a few soldiers. Soon we heard a loud report, and learned that Connor's men had found out that the Indians were coming for them, and had shot a " Howitzer" a small cannon, at them as they were turning to go south to where the sol- diere were located. We were informed that the sol- diers went to Samuel Green's house on the east side of the road and asked the people to leave, which, they did in a hurry. The soldiers then went into the house, pulled their cannon in with them, pulled up some of the floor and got under it leaving their wagons in the road and their mules and horses were in a corral on the west side of the street. The In- dians dared not follow the troops into the house, but shot into it through the door and window, pepper- ing the back wall with bullets. When the Indians saw they could not successfully rout the soldiers or kill them, they turned their attention to booty. But when the soldiers saw they were going to lose their horses they fired a charge of grape shot from their cannon into the corral at their animals, prefering to kill them to letting the Indians get them, they killed and maimed some, the Indians got those not hurt and loaded them with blankets and supplies, and struck for the mountains very much pleased with their success as manifested by their chatter and antics. INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 117 When the first shot was fired from the cannon it was not aimed at the Indians but over t! em to scare and stop them, it was loaded with a bomb which v»ent over the Indians and corral and struck and ex- ploded in William H. Adam's field west of town about where the railroad track now is. Rome of this information is given by Wm. H. Adams, Jr., an eye witness. When the Indians left, some of the men of town went to the house where the soldiers were to learn from them what should be done, and were in- formed that a company of soldiers were follow- ing them. These men went in the night soon after dark and found this company camped at the Warm Springs at the point of the mountain in the south end of Salt Lake Valley, and reported. They im- mediately broke camp and proceeded to Pleasant Grove. W. H. Seegmiller continues: The following morning I went down town and found Brigadier General Connor and quite a num- ber of his cavalry. Orrin Porter Rockwell was also with them. They had arrived during the previous night. On the day before the attack by Little Soldier and his warriors we learned at Spanish Fork that some of General Connor's soldiers, on the bench above Spanish Fork met an Indian, Pintutch, going to his wickiup from town and killed him on the edge of a ditch in the southwest corner of town, by beat- ing him over the head with their muskets. That no doubt was the cause of Little Soldier and his band attacking General Connor's outfit at Pleasant Grove. I will ever remember the appearance of Little Sold- ier and his Indians. None of them wore much clothing, a breech clout and mocassins were their 118 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS uniform; their faces were painted black, all seemed to have guns and pistols, and some had bows and quivers of arrows. On April 13th, we arrived in Salt Lake City. Having been invited by President Brigham Young before starting to California to call on him on my return. I did so on the evening of my return. While I was conversing with the President, Orrin Porter Rockwell called and gave President Young an account of the affair with the Indians at Pleasant Grove. I listened very attentively to his recital of the matter, and he freely told the above as I understood it. 0. Porter Rockwell while at Pleasant Grove was taken to be slightly intoxicated. He was active in moving among the crowd at the soldiers ' camp ; this all seems very distinct even now, I thought him al- most silly with drink and had little respect for him, until this interview with President Young. On that occasion he was well dressed in a black broadcloth suit, wore neatly polished shoes and a black silk hat ; his language was free and grammatical. I con- cluded then that Rockwell lived a double live in the interest of his friends and God's cause on the earth. I will ever remember him with esteem. ' ' INDIAN OUTRAGE IN BOXELDER COUNTY, WM. THORP KILLED. Copied from Desert News, Vol. 12, page 364. On the afternoon of Friday last, May 18th, as reported by Mr. Burt, of Brigham City, six or eight Indians of Sagwitch's band, as supposed, made their appearance in Box Elder Canyon, or in the Little Valley, about four miles from Brigham INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS 119 in inn City at a herd house, and made inquiry of a boy who was there alone relative to the whereabouts of the soldiers. The boy replied that he did not know, but supposed they were in Salt Lake City, for he had not heard that any portion of General Connor's command was moving northward. The savages told the boy he was a liar, and designated the place where the soldiers camped the night before. They then took the lad's hat and two horses that were near by and went to the herd some distance away, where they got eight or nine more, which they succeeded in driv- ing off, making ten or eleven in all. They made a strenuous effort to drive away the entire herd of cattle grazing in the canyon, but were prevented by eight or ten Danishmen, who were making a farm in the valley not far from the herd. These men were unarmed, but on seeng the movements of the free- booters, they immediately took measures to defeat their object, which, after a severe struggle with the red men, they succeeded in accomplishing. — On being convinced that they could not get the cattle, the In- dians fled with the horses, and in their flight came upon a man by the name of William Thorp who was burning coal in the side canyon, whom they killed with arrows, the party having no guns. The body of the murdered man was found the following day considerably mutilated. STAGE ATTACKED IN CEDAR VALLEY, TWO MEN KILLED. June 10th. The Stage Coach was attacked by mounted Indians between Fort Critenden and the Jordan River, Utah County. The driver, Wood 120 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS Reynolds and another man was killed and their bodies fearfully mutilated by the savages. TREATY AT BRIGHAM CITY, WITH SHOSHONE INDIANS. July 30. Governor Doty and General Connor made a treaty of peace with the Sho shone Indians at Brigham City. In August, the troops under command of Cap- tain Smith killed twelve Indians near Shell Creek Station, Utah. STATEMENT BY N. 0. ANDERSON OF EPHRAIM. On June 1st, 1863, I was in company with Ras- mus Hansen Kleurke and James P. Larsen. We were driving a band of horses south along a steep wash known as Willow Creek Wash, we saw three Indians, who were on the west side of the wash, while we were on the east side. When we came to them I recognized one of them as Jake Arrapeen, the old chief's son with whom I was well acquainted. I was about two rods from him when he pointed his gun at me. I looked at his gun, saw that the hammer was back and that his finger was on the trigger. Speaking to James Larsen, he said "Let us run a race." Larsen answered in the negative, which did not suit him, so he pointed his gun at James. Rasmus seeing the Indian pointing his gun asked, "Is he pointing at you, boys." We answered that he was. Rasmus who was one hundred and fifty yards distant, said, "Tell him to go to H ." At that the Indian raised his gun and shot at Rasmus, the ball passing close by Jim and me as we were in INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 121 line.. It passed in front of Rasmus, just over the horn of his saddle. We then all rode up to Jake an