1BANCROFT LIBRARY
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MUru .tttiu Pr|i;irtinnit ottiu J
PETER GOTTFREDSON
The Compiler
HISTORY
OF
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
IN UTAH
ILLUSTRATED
COMPILED AND EDITED
by
PETER GOTTFREDSON
Copyright 1919
by
Peter Gottfredson
SKELTON PUBLISHING Co.
Salt £ak* (City
Bancroft Library
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 inf ormatioii
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
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.
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 thefm. ' ' 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 summer 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 my
companions at the Indian camps. I had a companion
by the name Conderset Eowe 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 011 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}1- Burned by
Indians 82
1854— The Allred Settlement, (Spring City) Burned
CONTENTS 9
MMliimiiimmiimimii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiini iiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiii i lllllllllimiiliiiimilllilliiiiin
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
I860 — 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, Wm. Thorp
Killed 118
Stage Attacked in Cedar Valley, Two Men Killed 119
Treaty at Brigham City, with Shoshone Indians 120
Statement by N. 0. 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
10 CONTENTS
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. O. 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 KiUed 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 11
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. R. 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 Hamsburg 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 Wounded 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
lite 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
KimbalPs 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 DEPKEDATIONS
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
" Mormon " Church and died a faithful Latter-day
Saint. That winter several pappooses were pur-
chased under similar circcumstances.
John E. Young referring to the same incident
relates the following :
Elder John E. 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 V 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 Grates.
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
18 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
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 Toy H. H. Jens on.
1849. FEB. 28th, FIRST BATTLE WITH INDIANS IN
UTAH, AT BATTLE CEEEK.
Copied from records in the L. D. 8. 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 the 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 19
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 DEPKEDATIONS
EXTRACT 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. Huntington, 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 cotton wood 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 this 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 twq 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 Pahgar (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 (SticJc-in-the-Head).
There was also Old Elk, (Par ey arts), 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.
Eufus 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
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 Eiver,
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 DEPEEDATIONS 25
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 Eoman 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'e herd
in Utah Valley, and several cattle stolen from Ezra
T. Benson's herd in Tooele. Battle Creek derived its
26 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
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.
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 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.
28 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
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 ill 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
Fortunately, there was a government officer
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.
' i I 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 Prove
Eiver. Such a march was deemed necessary in order
30 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
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. Huntingdon, 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 DEPBEDATIONS 31
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 delivering 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 proceded 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 DEPKEDATIONS
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 infantry.
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 the nose.
The services of a surgeon was now in demand.
Seeing that something was wrong, Captain Grant
requested Hiram B. Clawson, General Wells' aide,
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P ^ A :»
"5 -' re
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Jfifcij
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The Indians who claimed that part of 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 outside 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 BRIGHAM YOUNG
First Governor of Utah.
It is cheaper to feed them than to fisrht them."
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 33
who had accompanied the expedition, to ride to the
house and ascertain what was needed. He did so,
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 Kiniball 's men, a circumstance whicL
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 mom ing,
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
Rock 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
skirpnish. 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 Eock 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 DEPBEDATIONS 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
36 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 retunied 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 i l 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 ' ' Deseret News ' ' 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
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 37
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
" 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. H, 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
38 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
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 Bichville, (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 coining 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,
cdrmnonly known as Porter Rockwell, was sent from
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 39
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.
Rockwell 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
from Salt Lake City with forty men, were joined by
ten more from Toooie City, and ^ith 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
were killed. 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
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. Tne
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 of Clifton now 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 DEPKEDATIONS
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 :
' ' 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
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 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-
tain ville (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 : ' l 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 ' l Walker War, ' '
having been a resident of Springville at the time, and
being well acquainted with James Ivie, who was the
principal actor in 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 chilol 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 cabin, 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 tBe Indian a hard blow on
the head with the barrel of the gun. The Indian fell
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 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 Springvllle, came
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
46 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
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 Goshen 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 DEPBEDATIONS 47
Hobble Creek canyon to Springville a short time
after, saying that the war was over.
A short time after CaldwelPs 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 the 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, where 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 DEPBEDATIONS 49
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 DEPEEDATIONS
gether and a board fort put up around them — a
rather flimsy fort to stop bullets. We camped with
them that night, 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 wras 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 DEPREDATIONS 51
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 they had not killed and eaten.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 53
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 reinforcement. 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 DEPKEDATIONS
cavalry, under Colonel Conover and Lieutenant
Markham, 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
Pay son.
Meantime, simultaneous attacks had been made
by Indians at various points.
At Springville, in a second assault upon that set-
tleiment, 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
first fire, broke and fled, leaving six or seven of
their number dead upon the field. Nowlin's com-
pany sustained no loss.
Colonel Conover 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 pro-mpt
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 DEPEEDATIONS
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 CEEEK, (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 Duf fin 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 PARE, 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
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
i 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-
ling 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
I stock in various section of the Territory. Governor
Young, on the 19th of August, issued a proclama-
jtion 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
I reported that the southern settlements generally
I 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 thdm.
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 the
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 feet
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, was to be about nino
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 DEPKEDATIONS 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 savnges —
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 wae>
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
Eiver, and a hundred feet from the east side oP 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
toric and tragic — it is the burial place of a small
party of employees of the United States, where,
over forty years ago, Captain Gunnison 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, t>
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
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 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-
ately 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 DEPKEDATIONS
Illlllllllllllllllllllllll
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.
' l 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
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 Eiver,
camped a little to the northwest of the site of the
present residence of David Crafts at Ingersol, and
64 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
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
E. M. Morris, had been exploring for a railroad route
through the Rocky 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
at Gravelly Ford, June llth, 1866.
\
I
COL. JOHN R. WINDER
GENERAL ERASTUS
SNOW
ELDER ORSON HYDE, Apostle
Spring City, Sanpete Countv.
cor,.
HEBER P. KIMBALL
COL. (JEO. A. SMITH
\
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 65
mum iiiitiiimiiiim
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 B. 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 f awl which fairly swarin-
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 ndrth 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
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 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
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
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 69
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIItlllllllllllllllllllllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllMli
man quickly lowered his gun on the savage and fired.
The Indian dropped, and the soldier rode away be-
lieving he had killed Mm. (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
fro.m 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 bit-
70 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
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
"Jirri-my 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 DEPBEDATIONS 71
MIMIIIIIIIIMMIIIIIIIIIIIMIHIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIM
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 George
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 DEPKEDATIONS
massacre and the arrival of the burial party. The
coyotes had so mutilated the dead that nothing ze-
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
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 fearless 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 palli ated
by reflecting that his nature — like that of all other
74 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
Indians — was the result of generations of trasmis-
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 slowly
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
sacks which they had taken away with them.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 75
SKIRMISH AT NEPHI, JUAB COUNTY.
EIGHT INDIANS KILLED.
The company went oh 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
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
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 to
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 beuics
a short distance from the mill. The cattle had albo
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.
78 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
Another serious trouble came of which I will
joaake 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. TINDRELL 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 DEPKEDATIONS 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 DEPREDATIONS
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
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.
Eobert 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 DEPKBDATIONS
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) Utaji 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
KANOSH.
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 DEPEEDATIONS
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 DEPEEDATIONS 85
Torty-one men were called, namely Alfred N. Bill-
ngs, Robert Brown, John Clark, Oliver B. Hunt-
ngton, James Ivie, John Lehi, Levi G. Metcalf , John
McEwan, Joseph L. Eawlins, Moses Draper, Alma
Fairchild, Wm. Freeman, Wm. R. Holden, James
W. Hunt, Lot E. Huntington, Charles A. Huntington,
Steven R. Moore, Byron Pace, Ethen Pettit, Christo-
pher C. Perkins, Wm. W. Sterrit, Wm. P. Jones,
]phraim 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,
"Richard 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 River on the
evening on June llth. On the 12th they crossed tho
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
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 lois 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 DEPREDATIONS 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
£8 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
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
<jare 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
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 Biver, 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 Surges,
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 E. Belknap; Ogden, Utah;
Joseph Parry, Ogden, Utah; Nathaniel Leavitt,
Ogden, Utah ; Pleasant Green Taylor, Ogden, Utah ;
Charles McGeary, Ogden, Utah; John Gallagher*
90 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
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'1 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 Ross7 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
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
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. Robin-
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 DEPBEDATIONS
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.
David 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
llllllllllllllllllllllltlMMIIIMIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIl
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 Robinson, 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 Tsas too
deep and they found it impractical to cross the moun-
tains.
96 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
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
our " comrades whom fortune ha* favored. Now prominent mine owner and
capitalist. What 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
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 SALMON 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
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, O. 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.
Kaight 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^
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
ambushed us in Bannock Canyon about thirty miles
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 Utes,
again beeaone 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
Lake. The Indians killed two herdsmen, — Henry
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
Floyd. 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
102 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
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,
1 1 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 foUowed
the trail of the Indians who left during the ni&l-t,
and found them camped on the side of a mountain
in the cedars on the east side of Bush Valley. 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 DEPEEDATIONS
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."
FROM 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 DEPBEDATIONS 105
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. i ' 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
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 they saw us
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 107
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,
108 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
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 DEPREDATIONS 109
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
a scertain the truth of the report ; they made search
and found the body in the river, a short distance
110 INDIAN (DEPREDATIONS
minium minimi
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 CEEEK AT-
TACKED, ONE MAN SHOT.
May 28th, 1860— The Indians attacked the mail
station at Deep Creek, Tooele County, shot a man
and 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 DEPREDATIONS 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-
IISTDIAN 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 Kiver
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 DEPKEDATIONS
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
Californians. 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.
Eeturning 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 aas-
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 DEPKEDATIONS 117
When the first shot was fired from the cannon
it was not aimed at the Indians but over them to
ecare 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. Some 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 DEPBEDATIONS
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 Eockwell 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 Eockwell 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 DEPREDATIONS 119
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 CEDAE 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 DEPBEDATIONS
Beynolds and another man was killed and their
bodies fearfully mutilated by the savages.
TREATY AT BRIGHAM CITY, WITH
SH03HONE INDIANS.
July 30. Governor Doty and General Connor
made a treaty of peace with the Shoshone 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. Easmus seeing the Indian pointing his gun
asked, "Is he pointing at you, boys." We answered
that he was. Easmus 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 Easmus,
the ball passing close by Jim and me as we were in
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 121
line.. It passed in front of Rasmus, just over the
horn of his saddle. We then all rode up to Jake an<l
Rasmus said, "If I had my pistol here, I would
shoot you, you son of a B — . ' ' While Jake was load-
ing his gun as fast as he could, we put spurs to our
horses and rode to James Sanford Allred and told
him what Jake Arrapeen had done. Brother Allred
told us Jake was mad and would kill some one. The
Indians went up the canyon, we could see their dust,
and that was the last time that I ever saw Jake
Arrapeen.
My object in writing a sketch of this kind is to
show that while there was not really a war on, at
that time, it was plain that the Indians could not be
depended upon.
HERDSMAN C. C. ROWE IN THISTLE VALLEY.
By Conderset Rowe and Peter Gottfredson.
In Thistle Valley.
From the close of the Tintic War in 1856, the
Indians were comparatively peaceable till 1863. Then
they became dissatisfied, thinking that the Whites
were encroaching upon their rights by crowding them
off their lands and hunting grounds. They would
often say. "White man's horses, cows and sheep eat
Indian's grass. White man burn Indian's wood,
shoot Indian's buckskins, rabbits, etc." And they
frequently wanted horses, cattle or sheep in payment
for it. Often they would bring an order from the
Bishop, or some one for a beef or a mutton, and in
such cases they always wanted the best. In the
summer of 1863, the Mount Pleasant dry stock and
sheep were taken into Thistle Valley, at the head
122 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
of the South Fork of Spanish Fork Canyon to be
herded. Caratat Rowe, his son (Conderset Rowe)
and a hired boy (Peter Gottfredson) were caring
for horned stock. Nathan Staker and his sons, Aaron
and Joseph were herding the sheep. One day. about
dusk, in the fore part of October, 1863, an Indian
came to our camp while we were out milking. He
rode a fine cream colored horse, bare backed, having
as he said, left his saddle and gun down near the
wagon road. He was dressed in a new military
officer's uniform with gilt epaulets on the shoulders,
and said his name was Godfrey. We did not learn
to what tribe he belonged. He asked for something
to eat and we told him that as soon as we were
through milking, we would have supper. He ate sup-
with us. After eating, he asked if he could stay all
night, saying he had no blankets. We told him he
could. As Rowe and Staker had gone to Mount
Pleasant after supplies, we four boys constituted the
whole personel of the camp. The Indian told us
that the Snake Indians had killed eight men in Provo
Canyon, and said that may be at daylight they would
come and kill us and steal our cattle. He seemed
to be very uneasy and would listen attentively at
every little noise and say, * ' maybe Snakes. ' ' He ask-
ed to see our guns, Aaron Staker got the guns, a
rifle and a shotgun, both muzzle loaders. Then he
wanted to see our ammunition, but I had hidden it
under the bedding where Staker could not find it.
The Indian next wanted to know how much powder
we had. I showed on my hand that we had about
five inches in the powder-horn. We had only four
or five charges for our guns. Every little while
the Indian would listen and say Snakes, as I thought
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 123
to try to scare us Howe had a wagon which he
had made himself, the wheels being cut off the big
end of a large red pine log. he worked oxen on this
primitive wagon and we could hear the wagon squeak
miles away. As Brother Rowe was coming with sup-
plies late in the night, the Indian heard the wagon
squeek again said Snakes. Conderset replied "na
nini-montz-pege ' ' my father is coming. This was
about ten or eleven o'clock in the night. As Rowe
drove up, the Indian took Condersets hat and put on
his own head and stood astradle of the fire. We did
not understand why. Rowe looked at the Indian and
said. "boys, he is here for no good." Conderset
told his father what the Indian said about the In-
dians killing eight men in Provo Canyon. Rowe
began asking the Indian questions about it. The
Indian said that it was eight sleep ya-tes, eight
days since, holding up eight fingers. Rowe said,
"You are mistaken, for if it was so, the papers would
talk about it. ' ' The Indian became uneasy and want-
ed to go to his saddle. Rowe said, "I will go with
you." The Indian seemed willing that he should
do so till he got his horse, when he said his horse's
back was sore, which was very common with Indian
horses. Rowe told the Indian that he would walk
for he was anxious to keep the Indian with us all
night. He also told the Indian that there would be
ten men there by morning, and ten more later, word
having reached Mount Pleasant, that the Indians
intended making a raid on Thistle Valley. Upon hear-
ing this the Indian became more eager to go than
ever, he jumped on his horse and was gone, and we
saw no more of him. Mr. Rowe remarked that trou-
ble was brewing, and that we would have to shift
124 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
for ourselves as best we could. About midnight,
after we had conversed about what we would do in
case we were attacked, we heard a yell down in the
valley in the direction of the road. Eowe said:
" there comes the boys." We boys fearing that it
it might be Indians, planned what to do if such
should be the case. It proved to be four boys from
Mt. Pleasant, namely R. N. Bennet, Don C. Seely,
Peter Miller and James Hansen. They told us that
as they were coming up from the road, they saw a
small fire up Indian Hollow, and started towards it,
when they got onto a ridge and saw our fire, and
came to it. We got supper for them. We looked
for more men in the morning, but they did not come.
We gathered the stock and sheep and drove to Mt.
Pleasant. At Fairview we got supper at Gammet's.
There was no further trouble with Indians that fall,
but we always believed that if we had not received
timely help we might have been murdered.
HERDSMEN JENS GOTTFREDSON AND OLE
JENSEN IN THISTLE VALLEY.
P. Gottfredson.
My father, Jens Gottfredson, had taken the
Mount Pleasant dry stock to herd in Thistle Valley,
and also stock from Moroni and Fairview, as well
as a part of the Mt. Pleasant sheep. An old gentle-
man named Ole Jensen had charge of the remainder
of the sheep. Six or seven families from Fairview
had settled in the Valley, about six miles from the
herd house that we occupied. All went well till along
in August, 1864, when the Indians became hateful to
the families down the valley and demanded a lot of
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 125
lllllllllillllllllllllllMIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIII I II II
horses and cattle for the land, or they wanted them
to move off, and they made some threats. The peo-
ple consequently moved back to Fairview. A few
days later fifty or more Indians came up to where
we were, about a half mile south west of the pres-
en site of Indianola. The old gentleman Jensen was
northeast of the herd house, about one quarter of a
mile, taking out his sheep. An Indian rode up to
him and asked for his dinner, which he had wrapped
up in his coat. Brother Jensen refused, whereupon
the Indian grabbed his coat and dinner and jerked it
away from him, laying it across his saddle in front
of him. The old man caught the horse by the bridle
with one hand and his coat with the other, and with a
quick pull got the coat away from the Indian, nearly
pulling him off his horse. Jensen followed his sheep,
and after getting away about 75 yards, the Indian
fired at him; the bullet grazed his face and killed
two sheep in the herd.
My brother and I were a short distance west of
the herdhouse when another Indian who had seven
or eight dogs with him, came after us and made for
our sheep. We had a large brindle dog which had
been brought in with Gen7! Johnston's Army. We
sicked him after the Indian dogs and he threw them
right and left ; this stopped their rush for the sheep.
The Indian then came towards me. He had, besides
a gun and bow and arrows, a large painted wagon
spoke, with a string through the small end, hung on
his wrist. I suppose he used to whip his horse with.
As he rode up to me, acting as if he wanted to hit
me with it, I kept backing away from him, but could
not move fast enough to keep out of his reach. I
asked him what he wanted, and what was the matter
126 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
with him, but he would not talk. When I saw I could
not back fast enough to keep out of his way I
squatted down, cocked my gun and with my finger on
the trigger pointed it at his face. He jerked his
horse back so quick having what we called a jaw-
breaker bit, that the horse fell back on his haunches
but the Indian stayed with the horse. He then be-
gan to talk. He asked what the people said who
moved up from below. I said "nothing." He said,
"you lie." I told him that they said the Indians
wanted more horses and cattle for the land than it
was worth. He said, "all right" and rode to the
herdhouse where all the Indians had gathered by
this time. They broke open the door and went in
and took and carried away all our bedding, provis-
ions and cooking utensils, and other things, and
started towards Fairview. When near the divide,
they met Lyman Peters, coming to Thistle Valley,
and when they saw his head over the ridge, they
pulled their guns out of their cases. Peters saw it,
got off his horse, turned it between him and the In-
dians, laid his gun across the saddle, pointing it
towards them, and asked what they wanted. They
answered "navish" nothing, placed their guns back
in the cases and came on. As they passed Peters,
one of them made a grab for Peters' gun, but as
Peters struck at the Indian with his gun, the Indian
dodged and hit his own horse on the shoulder, lam-
ing him.
Peters then came down to where we were and we
told him what the Indians had done. Just then one
lone Indian, who had been hunting, came down
through the brush on foot. When he was off about
three hundred yards, Peters rested his gun on a
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 127
knob on the corner of the house, cocking it and said,
"Now see me make that Indian jump ten feet in the
air." I told him not to shoot as that would cause
trouble. He answered, * ' No one will ever know it. ' '
Believing that he intended to shoot I pushed the gun
off the knob.
Before the Indian came up, Peters had set his
gun against the house ; it was a large new rifle. The
Indian took hold of the gun to look at it, but Peters
took the gun from the Indian saying, "You let that
be. ' ' The Indian answered * i You mad. ' ' Peters said,
"Yes, I am mad." The Indian said: "Hombo (what)
make you mad." and shoved his finger around on
his body, saying "You bullets no pass." Lyman
Peters took a handful of large bullets from his pock-
et and, showing them to the Indian, said, "Don't you
think they will pass." The Indian started off, look-
ing back over his shoulder till he got a long way off.
A week or two before this happened, a small
band of Indians came to my brother and I, and said
they wanted a beef. We told them the animals were
not ours, and they would have to get an order from
Bishop Seely. A large five year old steer belonging
to Chris Wintergreen was near, and an Indian raised
his gun to shoot it. My brother pulled the gun down.
Another Indian struck him in the face with a lariat,
making it bleed, and said ' ' Can't you cry ? ' ' Then the
Indian with the gun shot the steer ; they skinned the
hind parts and cut out what meat they wanted,
leaving the hide and balance of meat. The Indian
who struck my brother seemed to be making love to
a young squaw who was riding another horse. The
same Indians killed some cattle in the immediate
vicinity of Fairview. In order to avoid further
128 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
trouble we had to move the stock and sheep out of
Thistle Valley. They also took a herd of sheep from
some herd boys, drove them off quite a distance,
killed one sheep and turned the balance loose. James
M. Allred happened on them just as they were roast-
ing the mutton on the fire. He said that they drew
their guns on him. Just at that time Jehu and Elias
Cox, fathers of the boys from whom the Indians had
taken the sheep, rode up; they shot at the Indians
who went off in a hurry.
BJ| •
IP
111
CHAPTER II.
THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
TREATY AT MANTI.
THE JOHN LOWRY AFFAIR.
Several stories are told as to how the Black
Hawk war started, and these stories conflict in sev-
eral essentials. It is well known that many of the
Indians, were dissatisfied and unfriendly, and that
during the years 1863 and 1864 they had committed
several acts unfriendly towards the white people;
thus they had stolen some horses and killed a num-
ber of cattle, at different places, and it needed but a
pretext to open hostilities.
During the winter of 1864-65, a small band of
Indians were camped near Gunnison, Sanpete Co.
It is said that they had contracted small-pox, and
that many of them died.
The Indians seemed to think that the white
people were to blame in some way for this and were
threatening to kill the whites and steal their horses
and cattle. Arrangements were consequently made
for a meeting between the Indians and the whites
at Manti on the 9th of April, 1865, to talk over mat-
ters.
On that date a number of prominent Utes came
to Manti. They met at Jerome Kemp ton's place, and
it appeared that an understanding would be arrived
at, but a young chief (Yene-wood) also known as
Jake Arropeen could not be pacified ; he kept talking-
130 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
and making demonstrations, trying to persuade
the other Indians against making peace. John Lowry
and Archibald W. Buchanan were interpreters and
leading spokesmen on the peoples ' side.
John Lowry, who was said to be under the influ-
ence of liquor, demanded of Chief Yene- woods (Jake
Arropeen) that he should keep quit and let him
(Lowry) finish talking, when some one spoke, saying,
"Look out, he is getting his arrows." Whereupon
Lowry stepped up, caught hold of the Indian and
pulled him off his horse, and he was about to abuse
him in some way, when some of the by-standers in-
terferred. Indian Joe mounted his horse and rode
out to an Indian camp at Shumway Springs, where
he reported what had happened. This caused a big
excitement among the Indians who sent out their
runners to distant Indian camps with the informa-
tion. In consequence the Indians generally broke
camp and moved into the mountains. Those at Rich-
field went to Salina to join those from Sanpete.
P. LUDVIGSON, BARNEY WARD AND
J. P. ANDERSON KILLED.
^
It was reported that the Indians were going to
steal stock. Consequently, early in the morning of
the 10th, a small party of men from Manti went out
to the Indian Farm at Twelve Mile Creek to gather
the stock, which was turned out there, to bring them
home. On the way they were attacked by a number
of Indians, who killed Peter Ludvigsen and put the
others to flight. A. W. Buchanan says that he
and Fred Cox went out to the Indian camp at
Shumway Springs to have a talk with Chief "White
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 131
Eye." On their arrival there they handed their
bridle reins to a young Indian to hold, while they
went into the chief's tent. The chief at first seem-
ed sullen and would not talk. Buchanan told him
what they had come for, and finally the chief called
for his pipe. Buchanan now knew that he would get
a hearing, and finally the chief said that only one
Indian and one white man were mad, and that if he
and Cox would go with him he would get back the
stock which the Indians had taken.
The brethern named reported at Manti, but
the people were not willing that they should go, be-
lieving that the Indians were treacherous and were
likely to kill them ; hence the venture was not made.
After the Indians had taken the stock and killed
Ludvigsen, they went to Salina canyon where they
were joined by Indians from Richfield, and they
quickly gathered up most of the Salina cattle and
drove them up Salina canyon to Soldier Fork, where
they came onto Barney Ward and James P. Ander-
sen who, not knowing that the Indians were mad,
fell an easy prey to them.
It appeared that the Indians had held these two
men prisoners for a time before killing them; they
were both shot with many bullets and arrows and the
condition in which their bodies were found suggested
that they had been tortured. They were scalped
and most of their clothing taken. Their bodies were
not recovered until the next day. During the follow-
ing night many white men arrived at Salina, from
in the Sanpete settlement.
The Indian Agent in Sanpete at the time was
Fred J. Keisel, since mayor of Ogden — whose pru-
dence in withholding the supply of powder and lead
132 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
from the savages and giving it to the settlers, help-
ed the prospect somewhat, but the situation was
very strained, and the witness to the indignity of-
fered the Chief at Manti as already noted felt the
affront had furnished the spark to kindle the In-
dians ' vengeance into full fury. Learning later in
the evening that a raid was contemplated upon the
cattle of the settlement, a small body of horsemen
started for the feeding grounds.
Early next day they encountered the Indians who
opened fire, killing a young man named Peter Lud-
vigsen. and put his comrades to flight, mutilated
his body, and then made off with a herd of stock.
Hostilities now being formally opened, the vic-
torious bands broke for the mountains to the south-
east.
Near Salina, Sevier County, on the same day
they killed and scalped two men, one being the vete-
ran Barney Ward, and the other a Mr. Lamson,
(James P. Andersen) and drove off a large number
of stock into the adjoining canyon.
COL. ALLRED WITH 84 MEN DEFEATED
IN SALINA CANYON.
A company of cavalry was quickly mustered into
service under Colonel Reddick N. Allred and started
in pursuit, but having chased the savages ten miles
into the mountains, they were compelled April 12th
to retire before the deadly fire of the ambushed foe,
with the loss of two men killed, Jens Sorensen and
William Kearns, and two wounded.
Reinforcements having been received, another
advance was ordered two or three days later, when
INDIAN DBPBEDATIONS 133
the bodies of the two militia-men were recovered
and the Indians were pursued into the rugged coun-
try between Fish Lake and' the Grand River. A
spirited engagement took place and the Indians
repulsed with heavy loss.
From a write-up by Joshua W. Sylvester (form-
erly Bishop of Elsinore, Sevier County) we obtain
the following:
"It was in the spring of 1865, when we were
busy plowing and planting, that the news came to
Gunnison, where we lived, that the Indians had
killed a man at Twelve Mile Creek, that they had
gone up Salina Canyon and killed Barney Ward and
another man, and driven off all the Salina stock.
The next morning a company of us started with
Bishop Kearns to look for a band of horses. While
we were out of town word came from Manti to raise
men and ammunition, and to proceed to Salina as
soon as possible. Not finding the horses, (as the
Indians had taken them), we were returning home,
when, about half way between Gunnison and Salina,
we met the Gunnison boys, (the sons of Bishop
Kearns with them), who said they had my bedding
with them, expecting me to go with the expedition.
I told them it was no use for me to go, as I had only
one bullet for my gun; but William Kearns said,
"Come on, you'll get some bullets. " Consequently
Andrew Anderson and I went on while the Bishop
and others returned home. We found men gathered
at Salina from all parts of Sanpete. I began inquir-
ing for bullets, when I was informed that Barney
Ward had been seen moulding some for his pistol
which were the size I wanted, and as he did not
have his pistol with him when he was killed, it was
134 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
thought the bullets were in his trunk. Some one
went with me to get them; it was dark and we had
no light. And as Ward's corpse was laid out on the
trunk, or chest, we had to raise him up, while I
searched for the bullets, until I found them.
Firing off the bullet I had in my gun the next
morning, and reloading with a good charge of pow-
der, I started with the posse up the canyon, in order
to overtake the Indians and recover the stock, as
they had driven off all the stock at Salina. We follow-
ed the trail through narrow places, above precipices
and under cliffs, till we came to a place where they
had killed a beef. There we put on an advance
guard and proceeded till we passed a very narrow
place on the trail, when an Indian fired a signal gun,
and immediately they all fired on us from the rocks
above on the steep mountain side. We found that
we were trapped. Colonel Allred then gave orders
for a retreat to a ridge, in order to flank the Indians,
and where we made a stand. Bullets were passing
over our heads like hail, and had the Indians known
how their guns were carrying they could have shot
us down fast. In being shot down hill a bullet will
raise, so they over-shot. However, their trap was
well laid, for they had arranged to close in on the
trail behind us; but an unexpected move on our
part frustrated their plan. The officers found
that they were getting a cross fire, and as they had
worked down on the mountain, called for another
retreat to the next ridge, in order to flank.
Some of our men, not understanding the order
from the commanding officer, went too far, which
hindered the Indians from closing the trail, but
they had got so far down the mountain that they
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 135
could get good shots at us while we could not see one
of them. William Kearns was shot from his horse
and killed while riding beside his brother Austin,
who had to leave him where he fell, in order to save
his own life.
The following statement is from Austin Kearns
himself :
"When we made our second stand, after we
had been fired upon by the Indians, I noticed one par-
ticular Indian behind a big rock. He had loaded and
fired his gun three or four times, and I asked com-
rade Anderson, my companion, who stood near me to
hold my horse while I went up the hill-side to take a
shot at the Indians. I laid down, resting my gun on a
root. While I lay there a ball struck near me, causing
the dirt to fly in my face. When I looked up I saw
my comrades were making a quick retreat down the
canyon. I then returned to Anderson who handed
me my reins and I mounted and followed the com-
pany. But instead of my horse following the trail,
he turned in the opposite direction, jumped into a
patch of oak brush, and tried to force his way
through. By doing so he got fast and was unable
to get out. I had matcher es (heavy leather covers)
on my saddle; they spread out, holding me fast.
While trying to get out the Indians were coming
closer; they cross-fired in quick succession on me
from three directions, and perhaps fifty or more
shots were aimed at me while in that condition.
At last the string in front of the horn of the saddle
broke and I raised up letting the matcheres with
my wool blankets slide off, freeing the horse.
All my companions had gone, leaving me alone with
the howling Indians who thought sure they would
136 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
have my scalp. I escaped without a scratch, al-
though bullets had been flying around me like hail,
cutting the oaks all around me. It surely was an
exciting time."
Mr. Sylvester continues his narrative as follows :
"William Kearn's horse worked along the trail
with the crowd. Therefore, when the second retreat
was ordered there was no chance to flank ; we were
not acquainted with Indian warfare then, but this
experience made us look out ever after. Had there
not been a providential move at this point, there
could have been a massacre equal to that of General
Ouster's of a later date for bullets flew everywhere
and we could not see where they came from.
We saw four Indians run across the canyon to
get a cross-fire on us. One of them, quite a distance
up the canyon, was swinging his hands to the others
on the mountain, motioning to them to work down.
Some of us fired at him and he fell from his horse.
This incident was followed by a lull in the firing
for a few moments of which we made good use.
The Indians afterwards reported that the Indian we
had shot soon got well, but was afterwards killed by
another Indian.
I will here relate an incident that occurred dur-
ing the second retreat which was called, when we
reached the top of the ridge. I was cinching my sad-
dle when a man came up the trail, holding to the tail
of another man's horse ; he was nearly exhausted. A
mule was seen near by that had thrown a man who
was afterwards killed by the Indians. This man was
Jens Sorenson of Ephraim. The animal worked its
way down the trail, but stood entangled in the reins.
The man on the horse called out "Get that mule."
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 137
The exhausted fellow reached the animal, but had
no knife. I took my knife from my belt and ran to
him, leaving it with him. I returned to my horse.
The cinch of my saddle was so long that the rings met
and I had a heavy pack on behind, so, when I endea-
vored to mount, the saddle turned with me. I wanted
my knife then, but the man had gone and so had every
body else. I then had to undo a long strap, but about
that time the bullets were coming toward me thick
and fast. I threw the whole business down, jumped
on my horse bareback and soon overtook the others.
I saw the man to whom I had loaned my knife, and
asked him what he had done with it. Taking it from
his pocket he said, " Are you the man who let me take
this knife I It saved my life. ' ' That man was Frank
H. Hyde.
We marched on feeling pretty blue, and at the
mouth of the canyon we met Bishop Kearns. The
reader may imagine the feelings of the father and
son thinking of the other son and brother who was
left a corpse on the trail ; it was indeed a sad scene
to those who witnessed the same.
The bodies of Kearns and Sorensen laid in the
canyon two days before they were rescued, then a
friendly Indian (Sanpitch) went up and got them.
When the Indians found that Kearns was an old
friend with whom they had frequently played and
hunted, they placed the body against a rock and
wove willows around it to keep off the wolves ; while
the man who fell near him was horribly mutilated.
An Indian (the chief Sanpitch) came in the night
to Bishop Kearns and reported that it was safe for
the men to go after the body of his son as the Indians
had gone.
138 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
STATEMENT OF GOTLIEB ENZ.
Gotlieb Enz of Richfield makes the following
statement :
"I came to Richfield in November, 1864, with a
few head of cattle, having lost a yoke of oxen be-
tween Gunnison and Salina. Early in April, 1865, a
band of Indians were camped at Richfield by the
big spring, and a man by the name of Sutton came
from Provo to trade with them. He exchanged a
quantity of ammunition for buckskins. About the
8th of April, 1865, I went out to hunt for my oxen,
expecting to find them in the Gunnison field. Being
on foot, and failing to find them there, I, surmising
that they might have strayed up Salina Canyon,
left Gunnison and came to Salina. I called on Ellas
Crane, who was living in a dugout. The Indians
had left Richfield and were camped near the mouth
of Salina Canyon, southeast of town, on the bench.
I told the Crane family that I was going up the can-
yon to look for the oxen. Mrs. Crane asked me if
I was not afraid of the Indians, to which I replied
that I was not, as I was acquainted with them.
I left my blankets there and went up the canyon about
three miles into Soldier Fork. There I found one of
the oxen. Having walked all day, I sat down on a
rock to rest. An impression came to me that I
should not stop there; the same impression came to
me three different times. Consequently I got up
and looked around, but saw nothing unusual. I then
started down the canyon, leaving my ox there feed-
ing on good grass ; I intended to go after him the next
day and drive him home. As I went down the can-
yon, I met two men going up to look for stock; I
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 139
passed the time of day with them, and went on. Soon
afterwards I met the Indians going up the canyon,
most of them on the main road. I saw six or eight
up on the south side of the canyon, driving up some
stock. I passed the Indians unmolested and had no
idea that they were angry. I stayed that night at
Elias Cranes '. After singing and prayers we retired.
About midnight a man carrying an express came
from Gunnison with the information, that the Indians
were on the war-path, and that the people must pre-
pare to defend themselves. He further reported that
the Indians had killed a man near Manti. All the
people gathered at the little rock meeting house.
While there a lady said, "My husband went up the
canyon last evening to look for some stock, and has
not returned. I wonder what can have become of
him." This was Mrs. Ward. Then a young lady
also said, "My brother went up also and has not
come home. ' ' Towards morning we heard the report
of some guns, seemingly a long ways off. Thinking
something might be wrong. I, together with six or
eight other men, went up the canyon. When we ar-
rived at the place where I left my ox the previous
day, we found the two men killed and scalped, and
most of their clothing removed from their bodies.
There were a lot of arrows sticking in them, and it
appeared that the Indians had taken them captive,
and tortured them for some time before killing them.
We left the bodies and went down to the settlement
and reported. A number of men went up with a team
and brought the bodies down. When preparing the
remains for burial, we examined them closely. The
two men had been shot with a number of bullets, and
many arrows. Some of the latter we were unable
140 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
to get out, owing to the beards on the spikes. During
the day a lot of men arrived at Salina from the set-
tlements in Sanpete and elsewhere/'
WALTER JONES OF MONROE SERIOUSLY
WOUNDED.
On April 15th, 1865, Walter Jones with some
others were on their way to Marysvale with teams to
bring out a few families who had located there.
When on the ridge (before getting into the valley),
Jones reached down into the wagon to get his din-
ner. He accidentally pulled the gun, when something
caught the hammer and discharged it, the load pass-
ing through Brother Jones ' feet. The accident com-
pelled him to use crutches for four years.
JENS LARSEN A SHEEP HERDER KILLED
NEAR FAIRVIEW.
In the evening of May 25, 1865, while gathering
his sheep, Jens Larsen was shot and killed about
four miles north of Fairview, Sanpete County. His
daughter Pauline subsequently became the wife of
Jacob Dastrup of Sigurd, Sevier County.
JOHN GIVEN, WIFE AND FOUR CHILDREN
MURDERED IN THISTLE VALLEY.
Between daylight and sunrise on the morning
of May 26, 1865, the same murderous band attacked
John Given and family who had moved up Spanish
Fork Canyon into Thistle Valley and intended locat-
ing there for the summer. Besides Given and his
wife, the party consisted of his son John, aged nine-
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 141
iimmmiiiMiiimiiiiimi'.Mimiiii iiiiiniiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiitiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiintiiiiiiiiiiii
teen, his daughters Mary, Annie and Martha, aged
respectively nine, five and three years, and two men
named Leah and Brown. All were sleeping in a hut
constructed of willows, Leah and Brown being in a
wagon box at one end. The former was awakened by
hearing the cattle running wildly down the canyon,
and shortly afterwards the firing of the Indians
through the brush of the hut, apprised him of the
cause of the alarm. To their concealed position in
the wagon box the two men owe their escape. The
other occupants of the hut were speedily killed, the
blood thirsty Indians completing with arrows and
tomahawks the work which their first volley had
begun. Quickly gathering up the flour, axes and
guns of their victims, they surrounded a herd of
stock, and after killing the calves, drove off between
one and two hundred head of horses and cattle into
the mountains.
The following details were given by Charles
Brown, survivor of those who were attacked in
Thistle Valley when John Given and family were
massacred :
Charles Brown and Charles Wager Leah had
gone into Thistle Valley from their former home,
together with John Given and family and located in
the meadow land north of Thistle Creek bridge, in-
tending to make it their home. They were engaged
in plowing and planting crops, and had several head
of cattle and milk cows with calves.
At daylight on the morning of the 26th of May,
1865, Leah awoke on hearing stock moving past the
willow shanty in which the people were all sleeping,
the two young men, Leah and Browne being in a
142 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
IIH li
wagon box at one end of the shanty. When the In-
dians came to the shanty they poked their guns
through the willow wall and fired, shooting Mr.
Given in the region of the heart and Mrs. Given in
the right cheek. Their son, John, aged nineteen,
jumped up, saying, "You d— d sons of B — s." when
an Indian shot him down before he could reach
the door. These three were shot before the two
young men left the cabin. Leah, without dressing,
grabbed his gun and ran out, hiding in the willows,
and Brown, who slipped on his clothing, ran
out at the same time. An Indian fired at them, the
ball passing between them, striking the ground about
two rods ahead of them. Browne ran to the creek
and waded down it, the water being up to his arm-
pits and very cold. When down the creek some dis-
tance he got out and went down the side hill about
six miles to where Dr. Joseph S. Wing and five other
families from Fairview had located and reported
what had happened. They all left and went to Fair-
view. When they came to the Given cabin they
found T.he three grown persons lying dead on the
floor of the hut with the feathers of the feather bed
scattered over them, and also the three young girls,
Mary, aged nine, Annie, five, and Martha, three
years old, in the wagon box killed. Oscar Barton,
one of the rescuers from Mount Pleasant, says : ' ' On
the morning of the killing, between daylight and
sunrise, Andrew Larson of Mount Pleasant who had
camped during the night with the Wing family
passed the Given place on the road, and as he passed
he lieard calves bawling in the corral. Thinking
that the people had not yet arisen, he passed on,
but when he reached the herd house, about where In-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 143
it tin nun 11111:11 ii nit iiniitii in ut iiiiiiiiiiimiu.
dianola railroad station is now located, he saw horse-
men about half way up the valley, driving stock east-
ward toward the mountains. His first impression
was to unhitch one of his horses and ride up to them,
but he finally concluded to travel on in the direction
he was going.
Brother Barton further reports that one of the
men who escaped ran to North Bend (Fairview), and
reported what had happened. An express was im-
mediately sent from Fairview to Mt. Pleasant.
Twenty armed men were soon in their saddles and
on their way to Thistle Valley. A few more men
joined this Mt. Pleasant company at North Bend, and
they all arrived at the Given cabin in Thistle Valley
before noon. Here they found Mrs. Given outside of
the cabin stripped and lying on her back with her
head towards the shanty, and John Given Jr. lying
on the floor on his back with his feet toward the door,
where he had fallen, being shot in the breast. The
three girls lay in the wagon box, each with a deep
tomahawk gash in the left side of the head. They were
all stripped, with the exception of a small waist
which the savages had left on each. The bedding
had all been taken away, together with much of the
house furnishings, guns, etc. The murdered people
were taken to Fairview for burial and Charles Brown
and Charles W. Leah, after attending the funeral,
went back to Spanish Fork by way of Salt Creek
Canyon and remained there.
Ten or twelve of the young calves which had
been left in the corral on the Given premises were
found by the brethern tomahawked across the loins
and were dragging their hind parts. The supposi-
144 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
tion was that the Indians, fearing that the calves
would be a hindrance in driving off the stock into
the mountains, had thus crippled the poor animals
to prevent them from following their mothers.
The massacre of the Given family in Thistle
Valley represents one of the most horrible deeds
committed by the Indians during the Black Hawk
war.
DAVID H. JONES KILLED NEAR FAIBVIEW
On Friday, May 29, 1865, three days after the
massacre of the Given family in Thistle Valley,
David H. Jones, a member of the Mormon Battalion
and a resident of Fairview, was killed by Indians
about three miles northwest of Fairview. This kill-
ing was supposed to be done by the same band of
Indians that had murdered the Given family.
Comrade James M. Allred says that ten persons
killed by Indians are buried in the Fairview ceme-
tery, namely, John Given, wife and four children,
Thomas Jones, David H. Jones, Jens Larsen and
Nathan Stewart.
INDIANS KILLED AT CIRCLEVILLE
Although the Indian depredations were raging
in all directions and many murders had been com-
mitted by Black Hawk and his band the year before,
the Piute Indians still remained in Circle Valley
professing friendship, although they were mis-
trusted by many of the settlers. Some of their
actions were so suggestive that the whites felt
themselves in danger every moment, not knowing
when a break would be made by these savages on
the settlement. On Monday, April 21, 1866, an ex-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 145
press reached Circleville with the news that two of
the pretended friendly Prates had shot and killed a
white man who belonged to a party of militia sta-
tioned some distance up the Sevier River at Fort
Sanford. This fort, which had been built that
spring by the militia under Silas Sanford Smith and
his men was about half way between Circleville and
Panguitch. Word was immediately sent to the
people of Circleville to protect themselves against
the Indians who were camped in their valley. On
receiving this admonition, the men of Circleville set-
tlement were called together for consultation, and
after considerable deliberation it was concluded as
the best policy to place the Indians encamped near
their settlement under arrest. Consequently, all the
able-bodied men of Circleville were mustered into
service, some on horseback and some on foot. Thus
organized they proceeded to the Indian camp, which
they surrounded after dark. They had no trouble or
occasion, however, to use force as James T. S. and
Jackson Allred went into the Indian camp and per-
suaded the savages to come to the meeting house in
Circleville to hear a letter read, which had just been
received. All the Indians complied willingly with
this request, with the exception of one young Indian
warrior who not only refused to go but commenced
to shoot at the posse, who returned the fire and killed
him; the rest of the Indians were guarded in the
meeting house that night. The letter brought in by
express was then read to the Indians who were told
that they would be retained as prisoners, awaiting
further particulars of the killing of the white man at
Fort Sanford. The Indians showed resistance, but
their bows, arrows and knives were taken from them,
146 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
and thus secured the boys took turns in guarding
them through the night.
Toward evening of the next day (April 22nd),
while the Indians were still being guarded in the
meeting house, some of them succeeded in getting
loose and immediately commenced an attack upon the
guards, knocking two of the men down. There was
every reason to fear a general break on the part of
the Indians, and it was decided that the settlement of
Circleville would be in great danger if the Indians
were allowed to escape. In the general melee and ex-
citement which followed the Indians were killed, with
the exception of a number of children, who were
taken care of by the settlers.
After this sad affair there were no more at-
tacks on Circleville on the part of the savages, but
companies of militia arrived in the valley from other
parts of the Territory to assist the settlers in defend-
ing themselves, and a strong guard was kept around
the town after that. As there was constant danger
from attacks by the Indians, the settlers had built
their houses in fort style around the meeting house, a
short distance east of where Bishop Peterson lives
at this writing. The settlers from Marysvale moved
into Circleville that summer, but as the danger from
attack by Indians became greater than ever, instruc-
tions were finally given by the authorities of the
Church and the men in charge of the militia of the
Territory, that Circleville, as well as the other places
on the Upper Sevier, should be vacated and the
people moved to older and stronger settlements for
safety. About forty families were at that time
living at Circleville. The evacuation of the settle-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 147
ment took place June 20, 1866, most of them going
north to Sevier and Sanpete Counties, while a few
crossed the mountains on the west to Beaver and
other places, leaving their fields of promising grain
behind unharvested, about 700 acres of land was un-
der cultivation at the time. About fifteen families
constituted the population at Marysvale, but it is not
known how much land they had under cultivation
when they left their settlement, first to seek refuge in
Circleville and afterwards to vacate that place again
for other parts. The fields thus left with growing
wheat and vegetables were afterwards harvested
by people from Beaver who came over the mountains
for that purpose. Circleville and Marysvale were
the only two settlements in Piute Co. at that time.
ABOUT 150 HEAD OF STOCK STOLEN FROM
RICHFIELD.
The following is from the pen of the author,
Peter Gottfredson:
In 1865, the Richfield Canal was completed and
the water turned into it and the people had got some
grain planted. It was customary to driva the stock
down on the river bottom to feed. One Saturday
evening about one hundred and fifty head were
driven down to the sand knolls, about a mile north
of the Glenwood Ford. Together with two other
boys I was down there all day (Sunday) watching
them and fishing, and when we left after sundown
the stock was all right. On Monday morning, about
daylight, I went down after some oxen belonging
to myself and my father to finisn putting in grain.
When I reached the place I could not find any of
148 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
itmimiiiiimn
the cattle, but by looking around I soon discovered
that the tracks led to a cattle ford, about a half a mile
north of the wagon ford, and that the stock had cross-
ed the river. The water in the river being high, I
stripped, and carried my clothing, gun and pistol
above my head, the water reaching to my arm-pits.
When safely across I dressed and followed the
tracks. I thought at first that the cattle had been
driven east by way of Glenwood but I discovered that
they had turned south up the river bottoms between
the river and the Black Ridge, about two miles to tftb
place where Annabella now is located, then they
had turned up east through a wide dry wash passing
Saul's meadow, and up the Glenwood mountain.
Judging from footprints in the sand (in the wash)
I concluded that only five Indians had been driving
the cattle and I thought I could take them away from
five Indians. I ran from one bend of the dry wash
to another, carefully going up the points of ridges
and looking ahead to see if I could discover them.
I followed in that way up the Glenwood Mountain
about four miles till I struck the trail that leads
from Glenwood to Grass Valley. There I met two
oxen that had broken away from the Indians ; they
had both been shot several times mostly through the
neck. One a black Texas ox belonging to me had
two arrows sticking in its side, nearly in half their
length. I had not heard the shooting and concluded
that it was no use to follow any farther, and in fact
I began to feel somewhat timid. Surmising that the
Indians must have taken the stock in the evening,
soon after we left tliem.
I drove the two oxen down by way of SauPs
Meadow, through a gulch, to the Glenwood field;
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 149
there I drove them into a corral and pulled out the
arrows, after which I drove them to Richfield. When
I arrived home I learned that a lot of men were out
hunting for me and the stock, fearing that I had been
killed somewhere in the brush. Some of the men fol-
lowed the tracks of the stock the way I had gone;
others were hunting for me in the river bends. Most
of them stayed out all day and came home hungry
and tired. When they learned that I had been home
since before noon they were cross and thought that
I should be punished for not coming home to report
the stock gone, instead of following them. Major
Higgins notified me to appear in the evening before
what was called a court martial. I did so and told
my story. I remember that some of the men sug-
gested that I should stand some extra guard as a
penalty for my foolishness. Major Glaus Peter An-
dersen said, I motion we let him go ; I have done such
foolish tricks myself. They let me go unpunished.
During the summer a company of about twelve teams
went to Andersen's Canyon, south of Monroe, after
timber, in care of Major Andersen; this man had
been a major in General Johnston's Army, which
was sent to Utah in 1857 and he had also belonged to
a company of rangers in Texas previous to joining
the army.
In the evening, at the campfire, I asked Major
Andersen to tell us one of his fool tricks to which
he consented by relating the following : On a certain
occasion while I was doing military service in Texas,
some Indians took five of the rangers prisoners and
carried them away with them. It was in the after-
noon, too late for the company to follow, but I and
another man volunteered to follow the Indians. We
150 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
obtained information as to the direction the Indians
had taken before dark. We traveled in that direction
till about midnight, when we came to a creek. Here
we saw the Indian fires about a mile up the creek.
We left our horses and waded up creek to the camp.
The creek bank being about four feet high. Our
belts were hung with Colts revolvers. We laid the
pistols on the bank. We saw our comrades stripped,
tied hand and foot and lying near a fire, while some
of the savages danced around them and were amus-
ing themselves by sticking brands of fire on their
naked bodies. After being eye-witnesses to this re-
volting scenes I and my companion opened fire with
a revolver in each hand, and as soon as two revolvers
were empty we picked up two others and repeated
the process. The Indians ran for the timber, without
having time to get their guns, leaving their prisoners.
My companion and I unbound the men, secured some
clothing, guns and horses, and got back with our
comrades the next day. It is needless to say that we
were highly interested in Major Andersen's story.
— Peter Gottfredson.
GOVERNMENT AID REFUSED. THE MILITIA
ORDERED OUT.
Colonel 0. H. Irish, superintendent of Indian
affairs for Utah, had previously to this called on
Governor Doty, asking the military authorities at
Fort Douglas for assistance in repelling these In-
dian attacks and protecting the settlements ; Lut he
was naively informed by the commander at the Fort
that the settlers must take care of themselves —
stating that the California Volunteers had no other
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 151
duty to perform than to protect the overland Mail
Eoute. Steps were accordingly taken to muster a
few companies of cavalry in the southern counties.
TREATY BY COL. 0. H. IRISH AT SPANISH
FORK RESERVATION.
And Superintendent Irish promptly proceeded
to conclude a treaty with such of the Indian Chiefs
as appeared friendly.
The personal influence of President Young con-
tributed materially to his success in this direction;
and at a meeting held at the Spanish Fork reserva-
tion farm on the 8th of June, at which speeches were
made by Colonel Irish, President Young and others
of the whites, and by Kanosh, Sowiette, Sanpitch and
Tabby in behalf of the Indians, the treaty was ac-
cepted and the Chiefs announced their willingness to
sign it. Next day another meeting was held, more
speeches were made and fifteen chiefs attached their
signatures to the treaty ; Sanpitch, a brother of Wal-
ker and Arropeen, of earlier notoriety, alone refus-
ing to sign. He relented, however, a few days later,
probably being urged thereto by the generous pre-
sents distributed among his associates.
By the terms of this treaty the Indians promised
to move to [Tintah Valley within one year from the
ratification of the agreement, giving up their title to
the lands they were then occupying. They were re-
quired to be peaceful and not go to war with other
tribes except in self-defense nor to steal from nor
molest the whites. They were to assist in cultivat-
ing the reservation lands and to send their children
to the schools established for their benefit. On its
152 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
part the United States government promised to ex-
tend its protection to them ; farms were to be laid out,
grist and lumber mills built, schools established,
houses furnished and annuities paid to the principal
chiefs ; and the tribes $25,000 for the first ten years,
$20,000 annually for the next twenty years, and $15,
000 annually for thirty years thereafter were to be
distributed.
The Indians were also to hunt, dig roots and
gather berries on all unoccupied lands, to fish in their
accustomed places, and erect houses for the purpose
of curing their fish. On the 18th of September of the
same year Colonel Irish successfully negotiated a
similar treaty with Piede Indians at Pinto, Wash-
ington County.
Meanwhile the hostiles were not inactive, and
notwithstanding the vigilance of the settlers and
the militia, frequent raids and occasional murders
were still perpetrated. Some of the smaller settle-
ments were entirely deserted, and herds of stock
which had formerly ranged freely over the moun-
tain's grassy sides were collected in the valleys near
the larger villages where they could be closely watch-
ed. Lurking in the adjacent fastnesses the Indians
would swoop down in the night time or at an unex-
pected moment, and almost before the startled set-
tlers were aware, or before the local home guard
cauld be collected to repel the sally, the bold marau-
ders would be safe from pursuit in the rugged coun-
try through whose passes and defiles they success-
fully drove their stolen cattle. The season's work
yielded them as plunder two thousand head of cat-
tle and horses, in obtaining which they had killed
either by massacre or in fight, between the thirty and
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 153
'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-IIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
forty whites, including women and children. Black
Hawk's own numbers in the beginning had not ez-
ceeded two or three score warriors ; but his success
gave prestige to his name and strength to his follow-
ing, so that although he lost about forty of his braves
during the campaign, his force at the end of the year
exceeded a hundred men, and when he retired for the
winter toward the Colorado River he had beef and
horses for all who wished to join him. Other raids
during the year 1865, besides those mentioned were
made near Salina, Sevier County.
On Wednesday, June 7th, 1865, President Brig-
ham Young and party accompanied Col. 0. H. Irish
to the Indian Farm where a treaty was made with
the Indians. Dimick B. Huntington and George W.
Bean were interpreters. Col. Irish referred to some
good acts performed by a few of them and bestowed
presents upon them. He then read an abstract of a
treaty which is quite liberal in its provisions, and
talked to them. He recalled his council and advice to
them. Kanosh led off on the part of the Indians.
He was a boy, but Sau-e-ett was an old man and
could speak; he couldn't, yet he kept trying and
made quite a speech before he got through. Col.
Irish talked with one tongue but others had talked
with two ; they had lied to the Indians ; would Col.
Irish always talk one way? Brigham Young had
always talked with one tongue, they knew him, and
he had never lied to them but had always spoken the
truth and been their friend. What did he say about
it? They did not want to sell their land and go
away ; they wanted to live around the graves of their
fathers. Sanpitch followed him, and spoke rather
bitterly, manifesting a strong desire to exert his in-
154 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
fluence against the treaty. President Young then
talked to them. He recalled his council and advise to
them in the past, and assured them he was still their
friend, and advised them to sign the treaty and ac-
cept the provisions guaranteed in it for their bene-
fit. The effect of his advice manifested itself in a
few moments, most of the chiefs being strongly in-
clined to act upon it at the time, but Tabby counsel-
ed waiting a little to calm their minds, so that they
might act without any excitement of feeling. The
Pow-wow was consequently adjourned till the next
morning.
MEETING WITH THE INDIANS.
Wednesday morning a little before ten the Pres-
ident and Company drove down to the farm, where
under a temporary bowery the Indians were to meet
Commissioner Irish, to have the treaty talked over.
There were present, besides Col. Irish, representing
the United States Government, President Young,
Elders John Taylor, W. Woodruff, Geo. A. Emith,
F. D. Richards, Bishop Hunter, Mayor Smoot, Col's
J. C. Little, R. T. Burton and D. J. Ross, Capt. Win-
der, Marshal Gibbs and a number of other gentle-
men from G. S. L. City, Bp. Harrington from Ameri-
can Fork, Bp. Miller and Col. Pace from Provo, Bp.
A. Johnson from Springville, Br. G. W. Wilkins pre-
siding in Sp. Fork, Bp. Fairbanks from Payson,
Bishop A. Moffat and Col. W. S. Snow from Manti,
with a considerable number of citizens from neigh-
boring settlements ; on the part of the Indians, Sau-
e-ett, Kanosh, Tabby, To-quo-ne, Sanpitch, and ele-
ven other chiefs of lesser note, with a large crowd
of Indians.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 155
On Thursday, 8th, the President and party, in-
cluding Elder George Q. Cannon, left Payson about
half past nine in the morning for the farm.
INDIAN ETIQUETTE.
As the company approached the farm, a
small part of Indians stationed on a rising ground,
notified the main body of the fact, and in a few
minutes after the party arrived the Indians came
gently sauntering down on horseback, seemingly en-
deavoring to keep up an appearance of dignity. All
the chiefs were present except Sanpitch, who had
taken suddenly indisposed to attend the meeting
or be a participant in signing the treaty.
After a few brief and pertinent remarks by
Col. Irish, the chiefs manifested their willingness to
sign, and attach their marks to the documents. Old
Sau-e-ett as the oldest chief leading; Kanosh, by
his manner, seemed to think that simply putting his
mark to the paper was rather small business. I
afterwards learned that he prided himself somewhat
on his ability to write his name, — a very laudable
source of pride, for, as is well known, Indians gen-
erally are in much the same condition of ignorance
with regard to caligraphy, that the mailed knights
of Christendom mostly were who bore the banner of
the cross against the Saracens to rescue Palestine
from their infidel hands.
THE TALE AFTERWARDS.
Col. Irish pointed out to them that if they lived
up to the conditions of the treaty, they might date
the commencement of a career of prosperity from
156 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
that day, encouraging them to do so.
President Young advised them to remember
good advice given them, to learn to read and write
and increase in intelligence, stating in connection,
that Col. Irish had done all he possibly could for
them, and that he was their friend and blessed them.
Kanosh, Tabby and Sow-ok-soo-bet indulged in
a short talk each, expressive of their good feeling;
after which the President strongly advised them not
to punish the innocent for misdeeds of the guilty,
and if any of their own or other bands should com-
mit depredations, to catch the guilty ones and deliver
them up to the authorities of the whites for trial. A
large amount of presents were distributed among the
Indians.
PRES. YOUNG- AND PARTY LEFT G. S. L.
CITY FOR SANPETE.
July 7th. — President B. Young, and several of
the twelve and others left G. S. L. City on a mission-
ary trip to Sanpete County, from which they return-
ed on the 19th, having traveled about three hun-
dred miles and held eighteen meetings.
R. GILLISPIE AND A. ROBINSON KILLED
SOUTH OF SAUNA.
In July, 1865, Anthony Robinson of Monroe,
Sevier County, went to mill at Manti. He stopped
at Gunnison on the night of July 12th, with Joshua
Sylvester ; the night of the 13th he camped near the
Willow Bend on the west side of the Sevier River;
some men from Monroe were camping a short dis-
tance below ; he left his wagon and stayed with them
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 157
that night. He had a large brindle dog, which growl-
ed several times during the night, as if something
was prowling around. Next morning (July 14th)
he started for home. He soon reached a point im-
mediately west of the Gravely Ford, where two
washes come together, the road crossing just below
them. The Indians had made some small brush piles
on the low ridge between where the two washes came
together. There they lay with their gun-barrels
through the brush piles pointing towards the road
on the brink of the wash, where they could not be
observed. When Brother Robinson got within about
thirty feet of them, they fired, and he fell back on
his flour dead. One of the oxen was also killed,
while the other ox broke the yoke in the
middle and got away; he was found about
two weeks afterwards in a larke willow patch,
carrying half of the yoke. The Indians also
killed the dog. The people of Monroe were waiting
for Robinson 's return as the town was out of flour.
When his remains were found it was discovered that
the Indians had scalped him, that they had taken
what flour they could carry away and then turned
the balance out of the sacks over his body. They had
taken the sacks and all his other things, gun, pistol,
bedding, etc., away with them. The evening previous
Jake Harris of Glenwood and Robert Gillispie of
Mount Pleasant were hunting some horses south of
Salina. As they were crossing a dry hollow, about
one half a mile north of Lost Creek, Indians fired
on them from ambush, shooting Gillispie in the back.
Harris who was walking, beside him, leading his
horse, ran to the river close by; he claimed that he
ran so close by some Indians that he could have
158 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
touched them, jumped into the river. He crossed
over and hid in the willows on the west side till
night; bare headed and with feet bleeding he then
made his way to Gunnison about 16 miles distant.
A conference had been appointed at Manti,
President Young and some of the twelve were ex-
pected to be there. On the 14th of July a company
of men from Monroe (then called Alma) and some
from Eichfield, were on their way to Manti on horse
back enroute to Conference. Near the Gravely Ford
where a trail left the road making a cut-off to the
ford, they took this trail. In doing so they saw Rob-
inson's wagon up on the road, but thought it was
some one camping. After crossing the Ford they
saw, near a large bunch of brush, a man's hat.
Lorentz Dastrup picked up the hat and handed it to
Wm. Morrison, after which they rode on, crossing
Lost Creek and the large wash. There they saw,
out in an open grassy place, a horse with the saddle
on feeding, and thought they saw a man lying
down supposedly resting. They stopped at Salina.
Some men from Glenwood returning from Sanpete,
carried the sad news of the killing of Anthony
Eobinson to Glenwood and then to Richfield and
Alma, whose people turned out and brought his ef-
fects and the body of Robinson home. Joseph Mil-
lett coming from Manti reported at Glenwood and
A. W. Buchanan and Geo. Pectol took the news to
Salina. An express party under August Nielsen of
Richfield also carried the word to Salina, overtak-
ing Judge Morrison and party, who took the sad
news to the Manti Conference where Presiden Young
and party from Salt Lake City were in attendance.
A number of men were sent back from Salina, and
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 159
before reaching Lost Creek went out to where the
saddled horse had been seen feeding, and found Gil-
lispie lying on his back dead. As they went on,
they could see the tracks of Gillispie's horse from
the hollow where the man was shot; the horse had
been going fast to where the hat was found, about
three miles distant and it proved to be Gillispie's
hat. It appeared also that he had turned and gone
east toward Glenn's Twist, where a road passed
through to Glenwood and that when he had reached
this road he had gone back and crossed the hol-
low where he was shot ; thence he rode out to where
the body was found. Here he is supposed to have
dismounted and died there. He was taken to Mount
Pleasant for burial.
GEN. W. S. SNOW TOOK COMMAND OF
SANPETE MILITIA.
The news of this double murder aroused the
martial spirit in Sanpete, and Gen'l Warren S. SEOW
with about one hundred men was soon on the march
endeavoring to head off the hostiles in the mountains
towards Fish Lake. Gen. Snow took command of
the Sanpete militia July 15th.
GEN. SNOW STARTS AFTER THE INDIANS. THE
SQUAW FIGHT IN GRASS VALLEY, MARINE YORK
WOUNDED.
After arriving at Glenwood they stayed there
all day on the 17th, and at dusk started over the
mountain for Grass Valley over a rough trail, Joshua
W. Sylvester says — "At daylight, on the morn-
ing of the 18th, we had a good view of the whole
160 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
valley. Descending the mountain, we reached a
creek, and un-saddled, resting just opposite a large
cedar grove near the present site of Burrville. The
picket guard was sent out and returned in a very
short time. We were aroused and told that the cedars
were full of Indians. The horses were soon saddled
and we surrounded the grove. The first shot was
fired by an Indian who lay behind a fallen log, the
shot entering the breast of Marine York of Rich-
field. Captain Beach ordered his men to dismount
and enter the cedars which was done and the In-
dians were soon routed. It was part of the band that
had killed Eobinson, as we found some of his things
with them ; the main gang had gone on ahead. E. C.
Petersen (Chris Feuting) says that there were six
Indian tents below the hill and that Colonel Ivie's
company were on the outskirts of the grove and did
not see many Indians; that after the fight some of
his boys wanted to go back and look for dead In-
dians and guns, but the Colonel said: "No, let the
squaws go and hunt up their pappooses. Then Ivie's
company drew off. While some of the others
searched the grounds. It was reported soon after
the fight that only one Indian got away and a doz-
en or more had been killed, including some squaws
and pappooses; the militia had fired into a large
bushy cedar where a lot of them were concealed. It
was also said that Louis Thompson of Ephraim and
a man from Casper 's Company came onto a bunch
of squaws and pappooses, and that they were left
there to guard them. One of the squaws tried to
get away, and when prevented by Thompson, she
picked up a stick of wood and struck him with it ; he
then shot her. This excited the others and they were
XTKLS O. ANDERSON
Prominent Indian War Veteran; Ephraiin, Utah
SCOUT
JOHX HUBSiAllI) NOAKES
II KL STEWART
EL IE;, s>. CURTIS ORSON MORONI MANWILL
IN "A RACE FOR LIFE"
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 161
soon dispatched. This event has been dubbed "the
squaw fight." Mr. Sylvester continues: We re-
turned through the head of Grass Valley, down Sa-
lina Canyon to Salina, where we stayed a couple of
days jerking beef and getting provisions ready for
a trip into the mountains.
SEN. SNOW AND COMMAND START FO
GREEN RIVER.
On the evening of the 20th we started
out again, and when about half a mile from
town a sad accident happened; as we stopped
by a large boulder to gird our saddles, Jack Harper
set his gun (a Joslin) down against a rock and in
some way discharged it, the ball passing through the
cheek of the horse which James Mortensen
was riding and lodged under Mortensen 's col-
lar bone; he still (1917) carries that ball and another
with which he was shot later. The company stopped
there while some of the boys took him back to Salina.
After dark the company traveled to Twelve Mile
Creek (now Mayfield) and camped for the night.
The next day we went up Twelve Mile Canyon, cros-
sed the mountain south of the "Nipple" and came out
at the head of Salina Canyon where we camped the
next night. Next day we traveled up Convulution
Canyon and kept going till late at night ; it was moon-
light, but the sky was full of floating clouds. A
short distance down the canyon was a pond of water,
and when the moon shone out on the water it look-
ed like fires being replenished at intervals with
brush. The country being very rough. The men
thinking it was an Indian camp stood and held their
162 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
horses all night, intending to surround the camp and
make an attack at daybreak; but in the morning we
found out our mistake and traveled down the val-
ley where we struck the Indians' trail; they were
driving a herd of cattle toward Green River. We fol-
lowed, traveling day and night un'..l we reached
Price River where we met Colonel Reddick N. All-
red's command. Colonel Allred says in his journal:
1 1 1 crossed the mountains with eighty men. We found
three or four lodges of Tabby's Indians returning
from a hunt, and the boys wanted to kill them, but
I restrained them because they had their families
with them. We formed a junction with General
Snow's men on Price River and went to Green River
without seeing the marauders. Returning we tra-
veled by way of Cottonwood Creek and Huntmgton
Creek and crossed the mountains on the rocky trail
to Manti."
Mr. Sylvester continues his narrative as follows :
After meeting Colonel Allred 's Command it was de-
cided to follow the trail farther. We took an inven-
tory of our provisions and found that there was a
pint of cracker crumbs to each man for three days.
Two days travel brought us to Green River where
we remained one day. Some of the boys swam the
river and found tracks which looked as fresh as if
they had been made that morning. Most of the boys
wanted to follow the trail (tracks) but the officers
decided that on account of jaded horses and being out
of supplies we had better give up the chase, which,
from what we learned afterwards, was a lucky thing
for us. Thomas Caldwell, one of the company, who
in after years talked with Chief Jake Arropeen,
was told by that chief that he saw him (Cald-
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 163
well) come to the river to get water, and could have
shot him. Caldwell asked: " Why didn't you." The
chief answered that he did not want to ; he also
said that the Indians could have shot the men who
swam the river. ' ' Why didn 't you shoot them, ' ' ask-
ed Caldwell. Arropeen replied that they wanted all
the men to get into the river first, then the water
would have been red. He said the Indians were am-
bushed, and as soon as the white men had got into
the stream they were going to open fire. We started
back the next morning, traveling two days and night
without food. On the third day we were so nearly
starved that the men wanted to kill a horse. The
officers told them that if they did not meet supplies
that day we might kill an animal.
But that evening we met the men with the packs
of supplies at the mouth of Eock Canyon; we tore
the sacks open and filled our pockets and shirt bos-
oms with biscuits and started up the trail ; we could
only go single file till we reached the top of the ridge
or mountain.
The next day we all took our different routes for
our homes from the top of the mountain. Our boys
reached Grunnison at one o 'clock in the morning sing-
ing, "We will rally round the flag, boys."
ATTACK ON GLENWOOD, MERRITT
STALY WOUNDED.
At daybreak, on July 26, 1865, Merritt Staley, a
blacksmith at Glen wood, went out after coal to start
a fire in his shop. As he raised up with a basket
of coal he was fired upon by Indians who lay con-
cealed under the creek bank ; one bullet went through
164 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
his right breast, one seared his lip under his nose, and
still another grazed his forehead. He placed his hat
over his breast where he was shot and shouted "Help
murder, ' ' and partly fell down the steps into the dug-
out where he and his family lived. Glenwood ha<J
only been settled the previous year and only a very
few houses had as yet been built. Staley's wife got
out of bed and ran down to the house of Peter Allen,
who lived across the block, and gave the alarm, say-
ing that her husband had been shot, and that her two
little girls were in bed and would surely be killed.
Isaac Allen, a mere boy, grabbed a gun and ran up
through the lot into the dugout. He seized the two
little girls, one in each arm, and ran with them, the
bullets flying all around him.
At the first shot, Solomon Case, who lived just
across the road cried out "Indians," he got his gun
from above the door, and opened the door to look out,
when Thomas Goff, his step-son, fourteen years old,
went outside in time to see Staley fall, as he sup-
posed, into the cellar, and also to see his wife run
down to Aliens. An Indian called out, "Sol Case,
shoot him" when a volley from the Indians on the hill
was fired at the boy Goff, bullets hitting all around
him. The boy ran back into the house, opened the
back or west door which had no hinges, but was held
in place with pegs, laid it down on the floor, ran out
and down to main street, where he met some men,
who saw an Indian on the hill squat down and shoot
at some one. Mrs. Case was in bed with a baby girl
two days old, and the nurse (Mrs. Charlotte Beal)
picked up the baby and ran down through a patch of
corn. Mrs. Case said to her husband "If you don't
take me down town I will get up and run." Mr.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 165
Case wrapped a quilt round her, and with the cor-
ners over his shoulders carried her on his back down
to the main part of the town.
The Indians kept up a constant fire from the
rocks on the hill and some of the brethren went up
near the hill and took shelter behind a house.
Bishop Wareham who had a Sharp's rifle, re-
marked : ' * there sits a beggar on a rock, ' ' and hand-
ed his gun to George Pectol, who crawled out to
a wagon box, took rest and fired ; at the crack of the
gun the Indian fell backwards off the rock. Another
Indian said later that the shot fired by Pectol took
the Indian's jaw off.
The people at Glenwood started a man with an
express for Salina, but he was headed off a short dis-
tance north of town. Then Samuel Short was sent to
Richfield and got through. When returning a com-
pany of men went with him to Glenwood.
In Eichfield the drum beat about nine o'clock
a. m. Those out on picket duty came in, and as they
had their guns, they were ordered to get horses as
quickly as possible and go to Salina, as the Indians
wrere moving in that direction. Peter Gottfredson,
one of them writes : There were ten of us and we
were ordered to get through, if we had to fight our
way. When at Cedar Ridge some Indians were seen
on the east side of the river moving north, and when
nearing the Willow Bend, Indians were seen passing
a bunch of brush going toward the river ; the road at
this place passed along the river bank on the west
side. No doubt, if we had followed the road, we
would have been shot at but we circled up toward the
west mountains, out of gun reach and came back into
the road about a half mile north of the bend. There
166 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
Illl Illllllll Illlllllll
a consultation was held, in which it was decided that
it was not safe for us to cross the river at the regu-
lar ford. Consequently a cattle ford was chosen.
When we got to town, we learned that most of the
men had gone to Manti to mill, but was expected
home the next day.
We all stood guard that night. The next day
about ten o'clock the Salina men came home; they
had camped at Willow Creek, distant about eight
miles, during the night. Soon after, five of us start-
ed home. When within about three miles of Rich-
field we scattered out hunting rabbits. Some one
outside of town saw us and reported that the Indians
were coming; he knew that it was Indians, for one
had on a red blanket. I had on a big red flannel
shirt which I wore instead of a coat. The drum beat
and all the people gathered at the meeting house.
When we got to town and saw no one, we wondered
what was wrong, but when we got to the public square
we saw the people at the meeting house, and when
things were explained it was learned that we were
the Indians that had been seen. Many of the men
with the best guns were out in pursuit of real Indians
who had driven away a lot of stock.
MINUTE COMPANIES ORDERED AWAY
FROM HOME.
About this time it was decided to send the min-
ute companies away from their homes to guard the
trails and mountain passes. About the 28th of July,
Captain Niels L. Christensen with a company of men
from Richfield and Captain Isaac M. Allred with a
company from Spring City were stationed at Fort
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 167
llllllllllllllllllllllltlllllllllllllMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIMIIIIIIIII
Gunnison to guard the trails between Salina and
Twelve Mile Creek ; they were ordered out for sixty
days. While there, nothing of special importance
happened, but one evening the cowherders came in
without the herd and reported that the Indians were
over the Sevier river gathering up the stock. We
were soon in the saddle and over the river. The
night being dark, we hunted for some time but final-
ly found the herd lying down in a bend of the river
and brought the animals to town.
The Gunnison boys were stationed up the Sevier
river, in the neighborhood of Glenwood. At the end
of fifty days we were all allowed to go home.
BATTLE AT RED LAKE, SNOW, TAYLOR
AND FRANSEN WOUNDED.
Nearly two months had passed since there had
been any serious outbreak. But Indians were prowl-
ing round Circleville, and it was reported that they
had a rendezvous somewhere near Fish Lake, east of
Sevier Valley.
General Warren S. Snow with 103 men went up
the Eiver as far as Circleville ; he had with him Col-
onel John Ivie's company of cavalry from Mount
Pleasant, and Captain N. S. Beache 's company from
Manti, with some recruits from other companies;
they went to investigate the condition of affairs and
arrived in Circleville September 18, 1865. On the 19
they marched up the east fork of the Sevier to Clover
Flat, where they encamped for the night. There they
got onto the Indian's trail, which they follwed over
the plateau between Grass and Eabbit Valleys. Night
overtook them before reaching the latter valley; it
168 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
was raining and very dark; they made camp in the
head of a very rough canyon. Early next morning
(September 21st) Ezra Shoemaker and another man
went out to reconnoiter; they found the track of a
pony which had come within half a mile of camp and
turned back ; they reported what they had seen. The
company then worked their way down the canyon.
When they reached the flat country, at a small lake
or pond called Bed Lake, near Thousand Lake Moun-
tain, they made a halt. General Snow and Col. Ivie
went up a black, rock ridge to ge t a view of the coun-
try and its surroundings. When near the top, Col.
Ivie saw a ramrod wiggling behind a brush only a few
paces away, and exclaimed " There they are," when
a volley was fired from ambush, one bullet hitting
and seriously wounding General Snow in the
shoulder.
The men retreated to the company, when a gen-
eral battle ensued; the Indians firing from ambush
on top of the hill. The Indians over-shot— the bil-
lets singing over the heads of the soldiers, striking in
the water, fairly making it boil. Orson Taylor of
Richfield received a serious gun-shot wound in the
side. George Frandsen of Mount Pleasant, while
concealed in a gully, trying to get a shot at an In-
dian he had seen, received a bullet high in the fore-
head, the missle plowing through his hair and fill-
ing his eyes arid face with blood, but it caused no fur-
ther injury. A short retreat was ordered for the pur-
pose of getting flanking movements on the savages,
when it was noticed that one o.f the pack animals had
been left behind. Ezra Shoemaker of Manti and an-
other man went back, and in the midst of a shower of
bullets from the enemy recovered the animal with
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 169
the pack. The fighting continued till night and sev-
eral Indians were killed. The militia crossed back
over the mountain in the night to Grass Valley and
made camp. Next day they marched down King's
Meadow Canyon to Glendwood, where they separated
and returned to their respective homes.
ATTACK ON EPHRAIM, SEVEN SETTLERS
KILLED, TWO WOUNDED.
Contributed by N. 0. Anderson.
On the 17th of October, 1865, early in the morn-
ing, Peter Larsen came to me and asked me to go with
him into the canyon, saying that it would be safe be-
cause a number of men had gone up ; so we went up
together. We had proceeded up the canyon a dis-
tance of about five miles to the forks ot the three
roads, above the long bridge, when we saw a man
coming down the road on the run; it was Henry
Green, who told us to turn back, that the Indians
were up above in the canyon and from their ambush
had killed some of the boys belonging to a company
of six. Benjamin Black, Peter Graves, Thomas Wol-
sey, Wm. T. Hite and two others constituted the com-
pany. The place where they stopped to get their
loads was one fourth of a mile east of the lake on
Lake Hill. Peter Graves in running west came
on to an Indian in the brush who had fired his gun
and had not had time to re-load. Graves passed the
Indian and ran down Maple creek, followed by two
other Indians nearly all day. He had a dog with him
and when hiding in the brush had to hold the dog's
mouth to keep him from barking and revealing his
whereabouts. He ran across Birch Creek and onto
170 INDIAN DEPBBDATIONS
the bald mountain where the Indian fired at him and
then turned back. He got home after dark. Wolsey
ran east and warned Louis Larsen and Rasmus
Jensen who then ran north and down the north side
of the canyon, being in sight of the Indians all the
time. Wm. T. Hite also ran down the canyon and
got on the dugway; he was killed on the so-called
Wire Grass Flat.
Down on the same road where the men were
killed known as the Black Stump Road, some men
were at work getting out timber, namely, Peter Isaac-
sen, James C. Jensen and Ole C. Jensen; they ran
north and joined Louis Larsen and Thomas Wol-
sey; they all reached home safely. Among the men
killed was Soren N. Jespersen, 50 years old. It ap-
peared that he had been fearfully tortured while yet
alive. Being quite deaf, he did not hear the boys
when they called to him. The Indians came upon
him unawares and got between him and his wagon
where he had left his gun. Thus he was at their
mercy. When Peter Larsen and I met Henry Green,
we turned back and went down about a fourth of a
mile to the Black Spring; had we arrived there one
minute later we would have been cut off. The In-
dians came into the road a few rods behind us, but
we dodged behind a hill and went down the creek
road. The Indians went down the dugway and tried
to head us off, but they came in behind us and did not
see us. They went up the way we came down, expect-
ing to meet us. We had then ran about two miles and
continued on to the grist mill where my partners
stopped. I continued on into town and gave the
alarm. Arming myself with a gun I went back to
the mill. The Indians were then out of the canyon,
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 171
making for the fields ; a few of us got together and
started down also. We saw some teams coming on
the road from Manti and Indians directing their
course towards them. With these teams was my
brother-in-law Andrew H. Whitlock, who was driv-
ng a carriage slowly toward Ephraim. He had in
the rig an old doctor-Lady, Mrs. Snow of Manti
and L. C. Larsen. Mrs. Snow, on noticing the ap-
proach of the Indians, said, "The Indians are going
to hurt you. ' ' Whitlock replied that he thought the
Indians had made peace and therefore he did not in-
crease his speed. Some Indians crossed the road
about seventy-five yards in front of them and
stopped. Whitlock now whipped up the horses, but
the Indians fired as they passed, one bullet from
their volley hitting one of the horses in the flank;
it ranged forward, but the horse kept up his speed
till he got into Charles Whitlock 's yard in the center
of town, where he fell dead.
While running, L. C. Larsen got down on the
double-trees and lay low, while Whitlock stayed in
the seat. Chief Yenewoods who was well known by
the white people, rode along beside the carriage
shooting at the people till he emptied his revolver,
but did not hit any of them. With his bow, however,
he shot an arrow into Whitlock 's back and then left.
Larsen got up from the wagon tongue and pulled the
arrow out of Whitlock 's back. Brother Whitlock
suffered all the rest of his life from that wound.
The Indians then rode into the field west of
the town and killed Martin P. Kuhre, about 28 years
old, and wife, Hansine Kristine, 28 years old, and
Elizabeth Petersen, a grown girl, 17 years old.
172 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
Soren A. Sorensen was near by when Kuhre
fell. The Indian chief Black-Hawk rode towards
him. Sorensen states that when he met Black-Hawk
he walked up to him and rested his hand on the horn
of the Chief's saddle. Black-Hawk told Sorensen
that he was going to get some cattle. While in con-
versation with the chief other Indians killed Kuhre
within thirty feet of them, and his wife not more
than fifty yards distant. Kuhre fell with his t\vo
year old son in his arms; the little boy made his
way to his dead mother where he was picked up by
Morten Benson and carried to town by John F. F.
Dorius. N. 0. Anderson, who has given most of this
information, asked Sorensen how he could account
for the kindness of the Indian chief towards him.
Sorensen answered ' ' I cannot say why, unless it was
owing to the fact that when I was home with my par-
ents, my mother took a liking to the young Indian
Black Hawk; and when he came to our house, she
would frequently invite him to eat with us, and
would give him almost anything he asked for. The In-
dians did not take Sorensen 's team, but gathered up
what stock they wanted, about two hundred head,
and went back the way they came. They left some of
their number stationed all the way from where they
started with the cattle and up the canypn. When
the Indians crossed the county road with the stock,
Louis Larsen and William Thorp came along and
asked me to go with them. We followed along
behind, while other citizens were scattered along
the road toward the mill, a distance of about a mile.
When we got up above the guard knoll known as the
Big Rocks, the Indians made a stand, and we had a
battle with them which lasted several hours. Wil-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 173
liam Thorp was killed and Louis Larsen was wound-
ed in the leg. This ended that day's tragedy; seven
persons had been killed and about two hundred head
of stock driven off.
I have written this according to the best of my
recollection, I have also consulted those living who
were in the most dangerous places and took part
in the affairs."
The following was reported by Charles Whit-
lock and corrected by Ezra Shoemaker :
On Saturday, Oct. 18th, a small body of men
from Manti and Ephraim went up the canyon after
the bodies of those who had been killed by Indians
the day previous. They brought he body of Ben-
jamin Black down to where Soren Jespersen lay.
The remains of the latter were found about a rod
from his wagon ; his hands and feet were chopped off
and also the upper part of his head. The rescuing
party placed the bodies of the two men on a two-
wheeled logging cart. They all went down the can-
yon, pulling the cart by hand. When they got down
some distance, they saw some horse-men and think-
ing they were Indians it caused some excitement.
The parties seen proved to be men from Ephraim
who had come up to assist in bringing the bodies
down. The two parties met on the Wire-Grass Flat
where they picked up the body of Wm. T. Hite and
brought the three bodies down to town.
The seven persons killed were buried in the old
cemetery north of Ephraim.
The following statement of L. C. Larson of May-
field was written to Niels 0. Anderson of Ephraim,
Utah, about 1916.
174 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
Illlllllll I iiiiimiinmn. i. in mum imiiiiiu mum ilium umiiimii lllllllllllllllll
I was on my way from Circleville, Piute County,
Utah, loaded with grain and headed for Salt Lake
City to purchase fire-arms and ammunition. At
Manti I met Andrew Whitlock who was there from
Ephraim for a doctor lady, Maria Snow. As I had
not been at Ephraim for about two years and had
not met our comrade Mr. Whitlock before during
this period, he asked me to ride with him from Manti
to Ephraim and have Louis Thompson drive my
team, to which I consented.
On stepping into Whitlock 's rig, I informed
Thompson that there was a gun and pistol placed
under the quilt in the wagon. These I carried with
me because several people had been killed by In-
dians during the summer, south and north.
We first saw the Indians when we were approxi-
mately two and a half miles south of Ephraim ; they
were first seen by us east of the road, south of the
so-called guard knoll. At first sight we mistook them
for some of the boys out scouting, but all at once they
made a dash towards us at full speed. Upon reach-
ing the old Willow Creek Ditch they leaped it with-
out checking, where-upon I made the remark : l ' They
are Indians and are riding very recklessly/' Whit-
lock, (familiarly known as Cap,) answered, that he
thought perhaps it was the Chief Sanpitch bringing
the Indians down to make peace, as that had been
talked of. Lady Snow speaking in the Danish lang-
uage remarked that they were going to hurt us, but
Whitlock replied : ' ' If we try to run, they will head
us off. ' ' The Indians crossed the road about seven-
ty-five yards ahead of us and about thirteen of them
formed a quarter circle about thirty yards from the
road on the west. As we were passing them they
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 175
leveled their guns on us and fired. They wounded
one of the horses which died as soon as we stopped at
Chas. Whitlock's place at Ephraim. As soon as
they leveled their guns on us, Lady Snow placed
her head in her lap, which position she held until
we reached town. Our team was a pair of trained
racing horses, and as soon as the Indians raised their
guns on us the teams was on full speed. Chief Yene-
woods was the only one who overtook us, he was
on the left (West) side of the road and leveled his
pistol on me within three feet or less, where upon I
leaped over the dash-board onto the tongue where
I sat for a distance of a mile or more, during which
he emptied his pistol at us and also shot several ar-
rows at us, none of which took effect, until we reach-
ed a swale with a ditch in the bottom where the team
slacked speed. Then an arrow took effect under
Whitlock's left shoulder on a slant toward the back,
six inches deep. On hearing him groan, I jumped
back into the seat and took the lines and whip saying,
"You are hit with an arrow; shall I pull it out."
He answered, "Yes, if you can." I did so, when
we had reached a point where Soren Sorensen now
lives at Ephraim. The swale referred to is the one
in Peter Graves 's land, where the old county road
used to be. On account of the excitement I can not
remember if the arrow was hard to pull out of his
shoulder. However, I got it out, but Brother Whit-
lock still feels the effect of the wound, so he informed
me the last time I saw him.
The Indians followed us to the center of the
block north of Niels Thompson's present home,
where they turned west into the field and killed
Morten Pedersen Kuhre, his wife and sister in law,
176 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
leaving a small boy, less than three years old. This
child was found crawling on his dead mother. Leav-
ing this place the Indians went still farther west in-
to the field, driving off the Ephraim cow-herd and
several horses, after which they made their way back
to the hills south of town.
RAID ON CIRCLEVILLE, FOUR PERSONS
KILLED.
Indians made a raid on Circleville, Piute County
November 26, 1865, killing four persons and drove
off most of the stock belonging to Circleville.
Mrs. Mads Nielsen of Spring City wrote the fol-
lowing graphic account of this raid and of what be-
fell her and her husband. "On the morning
of the 26th of November 1865, my husband, Mads
Nielsen and I left Marysvale for Circleville our
home, returning from a visit to Salt Lake City. When
within ten miles of home we passed another team
which was driven by my Brother-in-Law, James
Monsen. Being so near home we thought there would
be no danger of Indians. When we reached a point
about three miles from town and was driving around
a hill, we saw a herd of cattle being driven toward
the mouth of the canyon. I became very much
frightened, believing it was Indians, and I begged
my husband to turn back. But as he thought the
Indians had already seen us, he suggested that by
driving fast we might reach a company of men who
were in pursuit of the Indians. In a few minutes the
Indians left the stock and with a yell started towards
us. Our horses were very tired, but we urged them
on, thinking we might reach a swamp about three-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 177
fourths of a mile ahead, but in this we did not suc-
ceed. The Indians rode up to us, and one of them
was in the act of shooting my husband, who, however,
frightened him away some distance by pointing an
old revolver at him. I suppose I am now safe in tell-
ing that the revolver was an old broken one, but of
course, we did not tell the Indian so. Mr. Redskin
now turned and shot our best horse, which of course
stopped the team. At the request of my husband, I
with my two year old brother in my arms, jumped
from the wagon, while the Indian was reloading his
gun. Willows were growing along the road, but as
they were low they did not afford much protection.
The Indian again mounted his horse and rode around
trying to get a chance to shoot my husband. At
this juncture I jumped into a slough that was near,
in which the water reached up to my neck, but I pre-
ferred drowning to being captured by the Indians.
My husband again pointed the revolver at the In-
dian who again turned back. My husband then took
my little brother whom I was holding up out of the
water and I climbed out of the slough. We walked a
short distance and tried to cross the swamp at an-
other point, but were headed off by ten Indians.
Hence we got into the water again. The little boy
began to cry because the water was so cold, and we
left the slough once more. I sat down behind a
bunch of willows taking the little boy in my lap, and
my husband stood over us to give what protection
he could. The Indians did not follow us into the
the willows, but turned their attention to the wagon
and its belongings. They cut the harness from the
wounded horse, leaving the collar, and took the
wagon cover off. They emptied the flour on the
178 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
ground, cut the feather bed tick and scattered all the
feathers, threw all the dishes out of the wagon,
breaking all but one plate which I still have. They
also took all of our clothing. While they were de-
stroying the contents of the wagon, an old man
named Froid, who had traveled in our company,
arrived at the top of the hill and saw the Indians. He
might have escaped all right if he had gone back him-
self at once, but he ran around his steers to drive
them back. The Indians saw him, and followed him
into the hills about a mile and killed him.
Just before my sister and her husband reached
the ridge they were met by two men who had been
sent out to guard the cattle. These men said that
while they were sitting in a bunch of willows eating
their dinner the Indians came out of the canyon and
held a council close to them. One of the men had a
dog with him, and he sat and held its mouth to pre-
vent him from making a noise, and thus they escaped
being discovered. These men informed my brother-
in-law that the Indians had made a raid on the set-
tlement. As they traveled on through the hills, my
sister and her husband found the body of the old
gentleman Froid, whom the Indians had killed.
When they reached the top of the hill they could
see our wagon, and the wounded horse lying by it;
they thought we had been killed. We being hid in the
willows could not hear my sister crying. My husband
crawled out to a point where he could see them. And
as he saw four persons he thought the two men were
Indians and we dared not go to them. It was now
getting dark and we had remained in the willows
since two o'clock in the afternoon. We got out of
the willows and started for the settlement without
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 179
illlMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllf'llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
following the wagon road. We reached our home
about an hour after my sister and her husband ar-
rived.
It was late in the evening; we were both bare-
headed and my clothes were frozen stiff on my body.
My little brother had gone to sleep.
When we entered the house it was full of peo-
ple who had gathered because it had been reported
that we had been killed.
It is needless to say that our meeting was a
happy one.
Mads Nielsen died in Spring City, March 9th
1899." -Ellen A. Nielsen
Sent to P. Gottfredson, April 15th, 1907.
At the time when the Indians took the stock at
Circleville they killed Hans Christian Hansen, who
was about a mile or more east of town with the stock,
and Orson Barney and Ole Heilersen, two boys thir-
teen years old, who were out searching for cows.
DR. J. M. WHITMORE AND R. McINTYRE KILLED
AT PIPE SPRINGS. BODIES OF WHITMORE
AND McINTYRE FOUND.
SEVEN INDIANS KILLED.
According to a statement of David Chidester
of Venice, Utah:
Early in the year 1866 the Navajo Indians who
were on the Arizona side of the Colorado River, be-
ing more numerous and superior than the Shevete
Indians who inhabited the Utah side of the river,
would often cross over and compel the less powerful
tribe to do their bidding. Frequently they also
oaptured and made slaves of some of them. On this
180 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
IIIIIIIMIIII
certain occasion some of them crossed over and com-
pelled the Shevete's who were camped in the neigh-
borhood to assist in killing Dr. J. M. Whitmore and
his hired man, Robert Mclntyre, and drive away
their sheep-herd and some cattle. This took place
in the beginning of a big snow storm. When Dr.
Whitmore and his hired man left the herd-house
Whitmore had on his overcoat and carried in his
pocket two twenty dollar gold pieces. The Shevete
Indians secured the men's clothing, but not knowing
the value of money, the gold pieces were later re-
covered. The Navajoes took the sheep and cattle
over the river and they were never recovered. About
the 20th of January, 1866, a company of armed men
from St. George went in search of the murdered men.
They came across two young Indians and compelled
them to assist in the hunt. They acknowledged hav-
ing seen the killing, but claimed they had no hand in
it. There was about eighteen inches of crusted snow
on the ground and the bodies were covered up. The
men rode forward and back, four abreast and fin-
ally Colonel Pierce 's horse stepped over the body of
Dr. Whitmore and uncovered one hand which was
raised above the body. When the whites informed
the Indians that one of the murdered men had been
found, one asked if it was the man with whiskers.
When answered in the affirmative, he said : the other
is over this way, they followed the Indian and then
found Mclntyre 's body. There was a camp of In-
dians not far distant and Captain Pierce, with some
of his men, went there and found the murdered
men's clothing. The Indians refused to be taken
prisoners and put up a fight, which resulted in seven
of them being killed.
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 181
GENERAL SNOW ARRESTS A GAMP OF
INDIANS AT NEPHI.
On Monday, March 12th, 1866, General Warren
S. Snow of Manti arrested some Indians at a camp
a couple of miles northeast of Nephi, in Juab County.
One Indian who tried to escape, was shot down;
four others were tried in court and by order of the
chief was taken out of town and shot for complicity
in several raids. Eight others, including Chief San-
pitch, were taken to Manti and placed in jail. Early
in April the ecclesiastical and military authorities
of some of the settlements of southern Utah asked
for assistance from neighboring counties. One of
the first to respond was Iron County, which sent
twenty-four men with teams to help build a fort on
the Sevier Eiver for the protection of the set Hers.
General Daniel H. Wells recognized in the move-
ments of the hostiles the indications of a disastrous
war and at once ordered all the available men of the
three counties, Sanpete, Sevier and Piute to be mus-
tered into service as cavalry and infantry and or-
ganized for defense. But no vigilance was equal to
the task of defeating the designs of the sleepless foe,
the strength of whose forces was now increased to
over three hundred warriors, and the celerity of
whose movements defied every precaution.
KILLING OF JOSEPH AND ROBERT BERRY
AND WIFE AS STATED BY
J. S. ADAMS AND WIFE.
Joseph and Robert Berry and the latter 's wife
Isabella were on their way from Spanish Fork, Utah
182 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
Miitiuiiiiiiliiiiiiimiiiiiiliiimiiiii IIIIIIIIIIHI ilium i minium iiiiiiiiiimiiiiitui
County, their former home, to Long Valley, April 2,
1866. When at Ezra Strong's place, called the
Troughs, in Kane County, they were asked to stay
a few days, while the ranch people gathered up their
stock, getting ready to leave they would go with the
Berrys to Long Valley, but as they were in a hurry
they did not stop.
Arriving at Short Creek, William Maxwell and
family who lived there, advised them to stop, as they
were also gathering their effects, and they would all
go in together. The Berry's declined and went on,
their team consisting of a good pair of horses and a
light wagon. They also had a plow and a few farm
implements with them, and such supplies as they
would need at their new home. When at the Cedar
Ridge, two or three miles from Short Creek, they
were attacked by Indians from the cedars and killed.
When the bodies were subsequently found it appear-
ed that Joseph Berry had been wounded in the leg, as
a towel was wrapped around it. the travelers had un-
doubtedly turned and driven back towards Short
Creek, and had gone as far as the Big Sand Wash,
where they were again attacked. It also appeared
that one of the horses had been shot in the shoulder
with an arrow, as the collar was found with an arrow
point sticking through it about an inch and a half,
which crippled the horse so that he was unable to
pull; the other horse had cramped the wagon and
there they had all been killed and their horses taken
by the savages.
When found, Robert Berry was tied to the front
wheel of the wagon with his face out, and was shot
full of holes ; Joseph was found a short distance from
the wagon. Robert Berry's wife lay across the
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 183
wagon tongue face up and stripped; she had been
outraged and horribly mutilated. The people from
the troughs and Short Creek passed with their
sheep, cattle and effects, without seeing them or their
wagon, as they were some distance from the wagon
road. When they arrived at Long Valley, they in-
quired as to when the Berry's got there, and were
informed that they were not there. The two brothers
with some others from Long Valley then went in
search of them; when they found the wagon and
place where they had been killed, the bodies were
not there. They were murdered below Maxwell's
ranch and Berryville. Each had two pistols. They
also had a double barrel shot-gun. Some men who
had been hunting stock had found them and taken
them to Graf ton and buried them there ; consequent-
ly the brothers did not get to see them.
About two weeks later a number of men from
St. George and vicinity under Colonel J. D. L. Pierce
went to Long Valley to assist in moving the people
out. When they moved there were from one to three
families to each wagon. One Indian was found dead
near the place where the Berry s had been killed ; it
appeared to be an old Indian judging from the long
gray hair shown to the people as they passed.
REMOVAL FROM LONG VALLEY, REPORT
BY MRS. J. D. L. PIERCE.
In the spring of 1866, Brother Erastus Snow
called a council of his officers and men, to arrange
for calling the outside people in, as the Navajoes had
become very troublesome. Brother Snow said to
Brother Pierce, "Brother John, if you will select a
184 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
man to take command, you may stay at home this
trip and put in your crops, as you have had such a
strenuous winter. ' ' Brother Branch was chosen for
the position and he selected Elroy Barney, Tom
Pierce, Jesse Crosby and several others to go with
him. I think about twelve men altogether — the best
young men in the country. They were to start from
the public square in St. George. Father went down
to see them off. Brother Snow of course was there
to see that all was to his liking ; he did not seem satis-
fied and said to father, ' l Brother John, this is going
to be a very critical trip and you have to move the
people out of Long Valley; I had much rather you
would go, and I want you to bring the women and
children, whether the men come or not. ' ' Father, an-
swering, said: "All right, but I have no horse."
Brother Branch got off his horse and turned it over
to father who wrote a note to me, saying ' ' I must go
and do my duty, you do the best you can, and God
bless you." With this he was gone. He had no
trouble, however, in getting the men out of Long
Valley as they were glad to have help. There were
about twenty wagons, and some cattle and horses.
They had a very serious trip, however, one small boy
was run over and killed, and they had to stop and
bury him ; one babe was born on the journey. They
traveled at night to avoid the Indians. In coining
down a long, hard canyon, father stationed a part of
them at the back of the outfit, himself and the rest
in advance, always on the alert. Father's keen ear
heard the chirrup of a bird. He suspicioned Indians
and shouted for him to come out of the brush, or he
would shoot. Mr. Indian came out with a piece of
paper, saying, it was a letter. Father told him to call
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 185
Illlllllllllllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllt
to Ms friends and tell them to go away, or he would
shoot him without any further talk; one other In-
dian came out. They seized both of them, tied their
hands behind them and marched them in front of
the company until morning, when they had reached
a good road in an open country. They then bound
the Indians over to keep the peace and turned them
loose. These Indians were two of the meanest sav-
ages in that country at the time ; the rest of the trip
was uneventful.
On receiving the report of the trip Brother Snow
he was pretty well acquainted with Indian history,
but that move out of Long Valley was the best plann-
ed, and showed the best generalship of any he had
heard of. ".
RAID ON SALINA, THREE TEAMS ATTACKED,
COW HERD TAKEN, HERDER
KILLED.
Black Hawk with thirty mounted iollowers in-
tercepted three teams from Glenwood Sevier Coun-
ty, April 13, 1866, about a mile north of Salina, on
their way to the States after emigrants. They were
Seth Wareham, Joseph Herring and John Wasden ;
The teamsters escaped and got to Salina, but their
teams, consisting of nine yoke of oxen, were taken by
the Indians and the things in their wagons either
carried away or demolished.
A sheep herder from Fairview, Sanpece County
named Johnson was killed in the foot hills northeast
of Salina town. Emil Nielsen of Salina says, "I was
helping to herd the Salina cow-herd while the men
were employed building a fort. We were on the west
186 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
side of the Sevier Eiver northwest of town distant
about two miles, near the old wagon Ford. My bro-
ther, older than I, was with me. We had been talking
about Indians and he said that if the Indians came
after him he would run and jump into the river. We
saw the Indians on the east side of the river, but did
not know they were Indians ; they had attacked the
three teams from Glenwood just before Xe saw
them. They came over the river after the cow-herd.
When we saw the Indians coming, Chris, my brother,
ran to the river and was evidently killed there in the
river as he was never found, but one foot with the
shoe on was found down the river during the sum-
mer. An Indian came after me and shot at me with
arrows; the first arrow hit my right arm, and the
next went into my left side. I was running and fell.
The Indian then took off my hat and shot an arrow
into my head and pulled it out three times. I thought
if I could make the Indians think I was dead, he
might leave me, and as I did not flinch when he shot
me in the head, he evidently left me for dead. I lay
there from about ten o 'clock in the morning till near
sundown. I dared not get up, fearing that the In-
dians might be near and see me and come and finish
me. When I got up, I went to look for my brother,
but could not find him. I then waded the river, the
water being above my waist, and I started for home.
On the way I met a man by the name of Hans en, and
when I reached the edge of town, I met my father,
who picked me up and carried me home. I carried
the arrow spike in my side for two weeks before it
could be taken out. The old doctor lady, Maria Snow,
of Manti, put poultices on the wounds and it drew out
the spike. I was eleven years old.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 187
The Indians on that occasion got away with two
hundred head of stock.
Emil Nielsen was a respected citizen of Salina
Utah, till December 1917, when he died at Salina.
INDIANS AT MANTI BROKE JAIL, THREE
INDIANS KILLED, FIVE ESCAPE.
Chief Sanpitch, who had been so reluctant to
sign the treaty drawn up and presented to his fellow
chieftains at Spanish Fork on June 8th of the pre-
vious year, 1865, was quick to violate his pledge
when opportunity offered and when Black Hawk's
successes proved sufficient to seduce him from his al-
legiance, he joined in some of the depredations plan-
ned by the renegade chiefs, though not with the
latter 's good fortune for he was one of those taken
prisoner at Nephi on April 12th. Sanpitch and the
other Indian prisoners at Manti broke jail, April
14, 1866. From Wm. A. Cox of Manti we learn the
following: The Indians broke out of the jail late in
the evening, and five of them got away. Andrew
Van Buren and an Indian by the name of Aukewakets
ran over a pile of rocks and leaped over a fence. As
they ran over the rock pile each stooped and picked
up a good sized rock raised up ready to strike. Van-
Buren being a little the quickest brought the Indian
to his knees, and then took an old jack knife with a
broken backspring from his pocket, after which he
and the Indian clutched each other by the throat.
Van Buren succeeded in opening the knife with one
hand and his teeth and cut the Indian's throat.
When W. A. Cox in the darkness of the night
passed the end of a pile of fence posts, he thought
188 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
he saw something move under the end of the posts ; he
kicked under and an Indian jumpem up with a loud
"wah." Cox stepped back and with his revolver
shot the Indian in the bowels. The Indian coming at
him he fired again and shot the savage in the breast.
When Warren Snow passed a shed that night an
Indian came out after him. Brother Snow heard him,
but it was so dark he could not see him; he struck
the Indian with his gun, breaking the stock, but kill-
ed the redskin.
CHIEF SANPITCH KILLED NEAR MORONI,
SANPETE COUNTY.
Five Indians, including Sanpitch, got away and
made for the west mountain ; a posse went in pursuit
and on the 18th of the month Chief Sanpitch was
found hiding in Birch Canyon, between Moroni and
Fountain Green and was killed. The other four
were tracked into the mountains between Fountain
Green and Nephi, south of Salt Creek Canyon. On
the 19th, Amasa and George Tucker and Dolph Ben-
nett struck their tracks on the side of the mountain,
where some men from Moroni joined them, and they
followed the trail nearly to the top of the moun-
tain where they overtook and killed three of them.
They followed the track of the other one, whose
name was Tackwitch, over the mountain and down
some distance. Bennett stopped and sat down while
the others followed the tracks. The Indian doub-
led on his tracks and came back to a point near
where Bennett was seated and crawled into a
patch of oak brush where he covered him-self up with
leaves. Bennett saw him, and when the men missed
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 189
bis tracks they came back. Bennett motioned to his
comrades pointing out where the Indian was hidden.
At once they surrounded the place and one of the
men shot and wounded the Indian who jumped up
and came at Bennett with a large butcher knife.
Bennett emptied his revolver at him without bring-
ing him down or stopping him. When within a few
feet Bennett threw his pistol hitting the Indian on
the temple and knocking him down. The Indian had
no more than struck the ground when Bennett was
on top of him, wrenched the knife from his hand and
cut his throat. This finished the jailbreakers.
TOWN OF SALINA VACATED AFTER LOSING
MOST OF THEIR STOCK.
On account of the exposed condition of the town
of Salina, and the people having lost practically all
their stock that place was abandoned by its inhabi-
tants April 21, 1866 ; most of them going into San-
pete County.
From Whitney's History of Utah we glean the
the following: Two men who had been engaged in
strengthening Fort Sanford on the Sevier in Piute
County, had an engagement with two Indians be-
longing to Black Hawk's band, April 22, 1866. One
of the latter was wounded and the other killed.
Hakes received a severe gunshot wound in the
shoulder. Immediately afterwards, a number of
Piedes who were camped near the Fort gave up their
arms and approached the settlers with overtures of
peace. This offer being accepted, the settlers at
another point, thinking the movement genuine and
general, visited a neighboring Indian camp to induce
190 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
a cessation of hostilities, only to receive a volley of
arrows, slightly wounding several of their number;
they returned the fire with their muskets killing
two and capturing two of the Indians and putting
the rest to flight.
ORGANIZATION OF THE PANGUITCH MILITIA.
SKIRMISH AT FORT SANFORD.
JOHN BUTLER WOUNDED.
Written by John Louder, of Parowan,
Iron County, Utah.
An election was held March 21st, 1865. Colonel
George A. Smith was present. My name was pro-
posed for Captain and I was elected. This position
I held until Panguitch was vacated. Previous to
this, I had raised an independent company of twen-
ty-five men, called Minute Men of which I was cap-
tain. A stockade was built about six miles below
Panguitch, on the east side of the Sevier River
called "Fort Sanford," opposite to what is — and
was known as Louder 's Springs. I had gone up to
the stockade on a visit, April 22nd, 1866, and while
there we noticed two Indians coming up on the west
side of the river. They fired at some ducks. We
had orders to take in all the straggling Indians in
the vicinity; and our doing so was the cause which
led up to the shooting of William M. West. Mr.
West took my horse while Collins E. Hakes took
another, and both rode across the river to inter-
cept the Indians and bring them to the stockade.
The Indians objected, and said they were on an ex-
press from Black Hawk and they wanted to see Lou-
der; the men told them that Louder was over at the
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 191
stockade. They undertook to pass the men, when
West rode in front of them, and as he did so, one of
the Indians caught West's horse by the bit and held
it, and the other Indian fired at West, hitting him
in the shoulder. Then a skirmish ensued between
Hakes and one of the Indians, but their guns failed
to respond and no damage resulted ; Hakes ' gun was
a cartridge-make, and the Indians a muzzle-loader.
Later in the contest, Hakes got the advantage of
Lis opponent and made a good Indian of him. By
this time I procured another horse, and made my
way across the country to the scene of the trouble,
shooting at the other Indian, and wounding him in
the shoulder ; in this condition he escaped from me.
I followed him about four miles and left him in some
large boulders. Here dusk came on, and as my horse
was a broncho, I decided to tie him up and
continue on foot. I finally came back, got my horse
and went to the fort.
The next day my father and two or three other
men trailed the same Indian to a place where some
other Indians had found him and helped him away.
Here, however, they found his gun; the evidence
showed that he had snapped as many as fifty caps
at me. Noticing this, the men thought there must
be some defect in the gun; one of them tested it
and to their astonishment it went off alright.
The Indian killed at Louder 's Spring was call-
ed Santick; name of the other Sanford Indian was
Shegump. Both were on express from Black Hawk's
band.
The next day after the fracus at Louder 's Spring
Major Silas S. Smith ordered me to go up to the In-
dian camp above Panguitch and take the Indians
192 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
camped there prisoners, bring them to Panguitch
and hold them until I received further orders. The
order was issued by General George A. Smith. Ac-
cordingly I, with six men who were sent to
me, and seven or eight others, marched to Pan-
guitch. On approaching the Indian camp we
thought it best to divide the party, so as not to ex-
cite the Indians. We did so, coming in at intervals.
Old Doctor Bill, one of the occupants of the camp,
became very excited when I asked for their guns,
and began looking around for his gun, which was
found sticking in some brush, in the back end of the
wigwam. At this juncture another Indian came in
with his gun in his hand. Coming up to me, he pre-
tended to hand it to me, but in doing so, held the gun
in such a manner that he turned the muzzle towards
me. I caught the gun in my left hand and hurried
off on my horse. By this time James Butler, one
of my men, had been shot by Doctor Bill with an ar-
row in the side. The other men began firing at
old Bill, severing three fingers from his hand with
which he was drawing another arrow. When But-
ler saw me and the Red Lake Indian scuffling he
came to me with the arrow sticking in his side, and
with his double barrel gun shot and killed him. I
then son! John L. Butler down t"> Panguitcla after a
vehicle to take James Butler, the wounded man, to
town where he could have his wounds dressed. Dur-
ing the absence of the Butlers, the rest of the men
guarded the prisoners. We kept them for a consi-
derable length of time, until we received orders from
Colonel Dame to liberate them, and they were con-
sequently turned loose. The following day after
Ih e trouble at the camp where we arrested the In-
PRESIDENT ANTHON H. LUND
First Telegraph Operator at Mt. Pleasant, Utah
Lieutenant, Capt. Frederick Neilsen's Infantry
Company.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 193
dians, we buried those that had been killed.
Written at Parowan April 24th, 1914, by Cap-
tain John Louder of Parowan, Iron County, Utah,
on his 79th birthday.
Copied by Peter Gottfredson.
AMBUSCADE AT MARYSVALE, A. LEWIS AND
C. CHEISTENSEN KILLED.
On the night of April 21, 1866, Walter Barney
and Sidney Wilson were on guard at the public cor-
ral at Monroe, where most of their stock was en-
closed. When on their usual rounds about midnight
they saw a dark object lying by the fence. T! link-
ing it was an animal that had been left out they
went to put it in the corral ; but when within two rods
of the object seen, two Indians jumped up and ran
away. The guard shot at them with their revolvers.
The Indians had been trying to dig out some pick-
ets with their butcher knives in order to make an
opening to let out the stock. Leaving the town going
in a south-westerly direction they stopped at An-
drew Rasmussen's corral and commenced shooting
his cows, oxen, pigs and sheep with arrows; they
carried away one sheep and dressed it at the head
of the ditch where they left a butcher knife. Early
the next morning messengers were sent to Richfield
and Glenwood with the report. A company was im-
mediately formed of men from Glenwood, Richfield
and Monroe, with Dr. Elias Pierson of Glenwood in
command. The company numbering twenty-one
men left Monroe about midnight. The moon was
shining brightly and they could see the tracks of
the Indians in the road where they had dragged their
194 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
lariats, as was their custom. When the company got
down to the Sevier River they saw a lot of cattle in
the bottoms, and the appearances were to the effect
that they had been gathered together by the Indians,
convenient to be driven off. Having reached this
place John Wilkenson said to Chris. Christensen,
with whom he was riding, "If I were in command I
would stop right here among the cattle, and hold our
horses till morning ; it will only be an hour or two ;
and if the Indians come after the stock, we would be
prepared for them." Shortly before getting to the
ford of the river Captain Pier son called a halt and
instructed the boys to keep together and not talk
loud, nor make any noise, and when in the river let
their horses drink and proceed quietly up to the
fort, which was about a mile distant.
When they had gone about twenty-five yards
from the fort they came to a stake and rider fence
with large rabbit brush along by it, where the In-
dians were concealed, no doubt intending to make a
break on the little fort early in the morning. They
permitted the boys to pass but opened fire in their
back, hitting and killing Albert Lewis instantly; he
fell off his horse exclaiming, ' ' Oh my God. ' ' Chris-
tian Christensen who was riding beside Wilkensen
was mortally wounded ; the ball fired by the Indian
struck the handle of his pistol, driving part of it and
the bullet into his bowels. He exclaimed, "Oh, I am
shot." Wilkinson asked if he was wounded badly.
He answered, "Yes, feel." Christensen wanted to
get off his horse, but Wilkenson said "Let us re-
treat back in the brush." The Indians fired up the
line, wounding James Mortensen and John Peter-
sen. The company rode up to the Fort, leaving
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 195
iiiiiimiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Wilkenson with the dead and wounded men. Shortly
Major Allred and Peter Christensen ( Christensen 's
brother-in-law) returned and Wilkinson and Allred
then formed a chair by crossing their hands (one
man holding the wrist of the other) and carried
the wounded man up to the fort while Peter led the
horses. Lewis was left where he fell till morning,
which was not long. The Indians took the cattle
and drove them up the Valley southward. The com-
pany followed and when up five or six miles they
saw the Indians driving the stock up what they
called Bock Canyon across the valley eastward. It
was probably the east fork of the Sevier river.
There, on a ridge, they met about forty men from
Circleville. Next a council was held to decide whe-
ther the men should follow the Indians into the
mountains and try to recover the stock, or turn back.
They decided on the latter course, the Circleville
people going home and the others returning to the
the Vale (Marys vale). Obtaining a light wagon of
James Monson, they wrapper Lewis's body in a
quilt and brought it home.
Next day Major Claus Peter Andersen with
three or four men secured a pair of large mules and
a light wagon from John Eeidhead and went after
the wounded men. Christian Christensen lived 21
days. He was married to his betrothed, Nicoline
Bertelsen on his death-bed.
The killed and wounded were all residents of
Richfield. Both Lewis and Christensen were buried
in the old Richfield cemetery.
On May 1st, 1866, President Brigham Young
issued orders for the people in the outlying settle-
ments to move together in companies of not less than
196 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
one hundred and fifty in each as a means of safety
and protection.
THOMAS JONES KILLED AND WM. AVERY
WOUNDED AT FAIRVIEW.
PRESIDENT YOUNG ADVISES THE PEOPLE TO
MOVE TOGETHER.
While on picket guard near Fairview, Sanpete
County, a Thomas Jones was killed and William
Avery wounded, April 29, 1866. Hyrum Wilson was
with them, sitting down engaged in reading, while
the others were exercising themselves by jumping.
Wilson got Avery on a horse and took him to where
he thought him safe and there let him down where-
upon he rode to town and reported. .
Elias Cox, Wm. Zahriskie and some others went
in pursuit of the Indians; they saw the murderers
but did not overtake them.
Colonel Eeddick Allred records the following
in his journal: "The people in Sanpete had a Co-op
herd of stock in Thistle Valley in charge of Noah
T. Guyman who camped there in the valley together
with his family. The Indians made a raid on Fair-
view killing one man and wounding another. Fear-
ing for the safety of the herd and family with it, I
went into the valley with a company in the night, it
being so dark that we could not see the man next
to us in line. Thomas Coates of Mount Pleasant pi-
loted us safely through; we found the family and
stock safe and moved all into the settlement next
day and delivered them to President J. A. Allred.
The following day (May 1st) President Brigham
Young issued instructions to the people in Sanpete,
Sevier and Piute Counties to move together, in bod-
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 197
ies of not less than one hundred and fifty men, arm
themselves well, and protect themselves and their
stock. The people in the small settlements in Piute
County moved to Circle ville, those at Monroe and
Glenwood in Sevier County to Eichfied, those at
Fayette, Sanpete County to Gunnison, those at
Fairview, Sanpete to Mount Pleasant and those at
Fountain Green and Wales to Moroni in Sanpete
County.
DODGE SENDS WORD TO CALL
OUT THE MILITIA.
On May 2nd, 1866, General Dodge sent a com-
munication to Colonel Potter, Superintendent of In-
dian affairs to the effect that he would have to de-
pend for the present on the militia to compell the
Indians to behave. Before the message had been
comunicated to him, Colonel Heath, in company with
Governor Durkee had paid a visit to the Indians at
Corn Creek, Millard County, and succeeded in ob-
taining from them renewed assurance of peace. He
also visited the Uintah reservation, to which some
of the Indians had by this time removed. His ar-
rival appears to have been very timely, for Tabby
and his braves were about to join the notorious Black
Hawk in his raids upon the southern settlements.
The visit also resulted in holding the reservation
Indians to their neutrality.
Franklin H. Heath of Wisconsin had succeeded
Colonel Irish as Indian Superintendent. He had
acted for some time as private secretary to Gover-
nor Durkee, and was confirmed as Superintendent
of Indian affairs in March, 1866. Like his predeces-
sor, Colonel Heath was an energetic official.
198 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
The spring of 1866 found the military spirit at
its highest pitch. Division, brigade and regimental
musters and elections were held in almost every
county in Utah and reorganization of the entire
militia in Utah was effected. Among the promo-
tions and changes occurring about this time may
be mentioned the election of Brigadier-General Brig-
ham Young, Jr. of Salt Lake County, Brigadier-
General Lot Smith of Davis County, Major-General
Aaron Johnson, and Brigadier-General Wm. B.
Pace and Albert K. Thurber of Utah County. The
interest manifested on these occasions explains the
readiness with which the people responded to the
call to arms and the efficiency of the service ren-
dered in the Indian campaign of 1866.
The earliest calls upon the northern counties had
not been for armed assistance to chastise the rene-
gades and wreck vengence upon them, but for men
to aid the settlers in pro tecting themselves and their
stock until they could reach places of safety; but
the increasing boldness of the marauders rendered
decisive action necessary. The entire abandonment
of the southern counties, to be followed by a general
Indian war, seemed to be the only alternative. Steps
were accordingly taken to place the settlements south
and east of Salt Lake City in a state of defense, and
troops were ordered to the scene of hostilities. By
the 1st of May, 1866, several companies from Davis,
Salt Lake and Utah counties were on the march, and
on arriving in Sanpete county they reported to Bri-
gadier-General Warren S. Snow. A company of
cavalry from Salt Lake City under Colonel Heber
P. Kimball and Major John Clark, reached Manti
on the 5th of May, and was ordered to march up the
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 199
Sevier river and assist the settlers in moving into
Sanpete Valley. These men displayed great energy
and succeeded in delivering the exposed settlers,
after which for a short time they were stationed at
Fountain Green.
KIMBALL'S AND CONOVER'S COMMANDS
ARRIVE AT MANTI.
Kimball's and Conover's Companies arrived
at Manti, May 6th, 1866 and about the 10th
a company of cavalry (A. G. Conover, captain)
reached the scene of hostilities (from Utah county)
and were ordered to occupy a picket post on the Se-
vi er river near the abandoned town of Salina, un-
der command of Brigadier-General William B. Pace.
CHRISTIAN LARSEN, A HERDER KILLED
ON SPANISH FORK BENCH.
On the 16th of May a party of ten Indians swoop-
ed do\vn from the mountains near Spanish Fork and
killed Christian Larsen who was herding cows on
the bench ; they also made off with nearly two hun-
dred head of horses from the vicinity. Earlier in the
month a raid was made upon the horse herd of
friendly Indians at Corn Creek, Millard County.
The thieves were pursued for several days by Kan-
osh and some members of his band, but were not
overtaken.
Iron, Kane and Millard and all the counties
south had their own troubles, yet eavu of them sont
aid ino Sanpete anl Sevier counties. The most north-
erly point to send such assistance was Davis Coun-
ty, where early in July Brigadier-General Lot Smith
200 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
mustered a company of cavalry under Captain Big-
ler for ninety days service; and as late as October
Captain Eobert W. GDavis and company from Kays-
ville started for the Sevier. About the end of July
Major-General Burton organized another company
of seventy-five officers and men in Salt Lake Coun-
ty and hurried them southward under command of
Major Andrew Burt, with William L. N. Allen as
captain. These were Colonel John Sharp 's regiment
and were among the last to return home, reaching
Salt Lake City early in November. Utah County
sent its second company of cavalry in June under
Captain Joseph Cluff of Provo, and two more com-
panies in August under Captain Alva Green of
American Fork and Caleb W. Haws of Provo.
Of the various companies and commanders do-
ing duty in their own counties it is perhaps not nec-
essary to speak in detail, though they aquitted them-
selves with much credit. As far south as Washing-
ton County where, under instructions of Brigadier-
General Erastus Snow, a company under Captain
James Andrus had taken the field and had lost in
one expedition private Eliajh Everett Jr., slain by
the savages ; and as far north as Cache County there
were the same alert and unceasing watchfulness
against hostile inroads or outbreaks, and at one time
during the year as many as twenty five hundred
men were under arms. The number killed during
the season's campaign was of whites about twenty
and of Indians between forty and fifty. The set-
tlers stock herds were reduced nearly two thousand,
and rarely were any of the animals recovered.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 201
OLD FATHER J. R. IVIE AND HENRY
WRIGHT KILLED AT SCIPIO.
On the morning of June 10, 1866, a large band
of Indians under Chief Black Hawk made a raid on
the stock in Bound Valley, Millard County. They
killed old father James R. Ivie, father of Colonel
J. L. Ivie, J. Ivie, and others, and mortally wounded
Henry Wright, who were out looking for stock, and
drove off about 500 head of cattle and horses. As it
was known that they would come towards Salina, a
messenger was dispatched to Fort Gunnison, where
it was known that General Wm. B. Pace with a com-
pany of thirty men were stationed. But when word
of the trouble at Scipio reached the camp, General
Pace and a few others were on the way to Manti.
A messenger was dispatched post haste, and caught
up with the party at Twelve Mile Creek, just below
the presnt site of Mayfield. The company returned
to Gunnison through a heavy thunder storm. Sal-
ina which had been vacated in April, was reached by
daylight, and here it was decided to take a few hours
rest. Accordingly, the pickets were sent out, and the
men began to prepare for a rest, but had not pro-
ceeded very far when one of the guards discharged
his gun, which was the signal agreed upon that the
enemy had been sighted.
GEN. PACE'S BATTLE AT GRAVELLY FORD.
WM. TUNBRIDGE WOUNDED.
Looking to the southwest, and just opposite the
Gravelly Ford could be seen a band of Indians driv-
ing a bunch of cattle. They were evidently trying to
make the ford, which if reached in time would give
202 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
imiiiiiiimimiiM tin
them the passes to the mountains on the east, and
insure them a clean getaway with the stock. General
Pace ordered an advance, and the distance of eight
miles to the Gravelly Ford was covered under whip.
The advance guard was about two hundred yards in
the lead when the point of the mountain was reached
and they were permitted to pass, but when the com-
pany reached that place they were fired upon by
the Indians from ambush at the close range of sixty
paces.
The whites were commanded to cross-fire, and
the Indians were routed, but about this time the In-
dians were reinforced from the band driving the cat-
tle on the west. A guard of Indians was left over
the cattle on the west side of the river, while Indians
to the number of sevnty-five or eighty engaged in
fighting on the east side.
The whites retreated to higher ground and made
the crest of a hill serve as breast-works for them.
While making this retreat, William Tunbridge was
wounded in the leg just as he was mounting his
mule, but when assisted in his saddle, he continued
to fight.
After reaching the higher ground, the Indians
surrounded the whites and began to close in on them
until by command the militia began to fire by plat-
toons ; this manner of fighting proved very effective,
for at every fire an Indian or his horse would drop.
Then the Indians began to circle around, and when
a point of advantage was gained, they fired on the
whites. There was one particular point from which
most of the shooting was done. A wash led in the
direction of the point, and James E. Snow determin-
ed to put a stop to the practice of firing from it.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 203
He followed the wash nearly to the mouth, and then
dropped behind a large sage-brush, which he used for
a rest to shoot from. He soon got range on an In-
dian who was trying to put one of his wounded on a
horse. The horse being between Snow and the In-
dian, he could not see the body of the Indian, but
judging from the position of his feet and legs, he
decided that by shooting the horses through the
body in the region of the heart the same shot would
get the red man. The aim proved true, for at the
report of the rifle the horse fell and the Indian was
wounded. He was picked up by two of his braves
and spirited away.
The wounded Indian was none other than the
famous Black Hawk, though at the time it was n->t
known. Mr. Snow had a narrow escape in this af-
fair, for he was fully 600 yards from the rest of the
whites and was closely pursued by three of the en-
emy. While getting away from them, Snow caught
his saber between his legs and fell. Four men were
dispatched to resue him and thus he was saved from
the torture of the red men.
When the tide of the battle seemed turned in favor
the whites, though their ammunition was by this
time exhausted, a cloud of dust from the direction
of Bound Valley suggested to the militia that more
Indian were coming ; a retreat was therefore ordered.
Black Hawk's good fortune again befriended him;
the approaching horsemen were a company of Fill-
more cavalry, seventy strong under Captain Owens.
Before they effected a junction with General Pace
the slippery foe were safe in their mountain fast-
nesses.
204 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
A RACE FOR LIFE.
On the evening of June 10th, four soldiers, J.
H. Noakes, Uel Stewart, Eliel Curtis of Springville
and Moroni Manwill of Pay son, were carrying dis-
patches from Gunnison to Glenwood, it rained on
them nearly all the way and traveling was bad, con-
sequently it was late when they arrived at Glen-
wood, where they found but one person, namely Art
temus Millet. They stayed with him over night,
as their horses were jaded; leaving the dispatches
with Millett they started back to their company, and
arrived at the ridge that runs down to the river at
Rocky Ford, about half a mile south of the Gravelly
Ford. When they got onto the ridge, they saw the
Indians in the act of driving the stock across the
river at the Gravelly Ford, but could not see the com-
pany of militia under Pace. Noakes said, "this is
no place for us ; if we go on, the Indians will get us."
As they turned to go back to Glenwood, the Indians
saw them, and about sixteen of them gave chase.
Three of the men were mounted on good horses, but
Curtis was riding a small mustang that they called
Tom Thumb. The boys put spurs to their horses and
made the best time possible, while the savages stead-
ily gained on the mustang. Seeing this, the boys
told Curtis to spur forward, and they would drop
behind and check the reds. The boys turned in their
saddles several times and fired a volley which check-
ed the pursuers. Then they again overtook their
comrade and stayed with him until their copper-col-
ored warriors came close. Then the three again
halted and checked the enemy until their friend was
a sufficient distance in advance when they again
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 205
minium i ii in n iiiiiiimmmimi lllllllllllllilii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinii
swept forward. This maneuver was made several
times and the ride made in safety. During the five-
irile race Noakes shot one Indian off his horse and
Stewart shot a horse. In the meantime news of the
light was received by General Snow at Manti. Col-
onel Kimball with his cavalry, then stationed at
Fountain Green, was ordered to report at once at
headquarters. In thirty minutes the command was
in the saddle, and before daylight next morning was
at Manti, where it remained most of the day under
waiting orders until reinforcements should arrive
from Mount Pleasant. That night a short march
was made, and the combined forces now under per-
sonal command of General Snow went into camp.
The impatience of the men who wanted to overtake
the Indians by forced march and engage them could
hardly be restrained by the cautious commander,
who, taught by experience had no relish for rushing
recklessly into a possible ambuscade. The march
was resumed the next morning, and at noon the
troops came upon the previous night's camping
ground of the Indians in a canyon at the western
edge of Castle Valley. A council of war was called,
and though the young officers and the majority of
the men were in favor of an advance at the best pos-
sible speed, the General decided that without heavy
reinforcements it would be imprudent to continue
the case.
GEN. WELLS AND MILITIA LEAVE GREAT SALT
LAKE CITY FOR SANPETE.
GEN. WELLS TAKES COMMAND OF THE MILITIA
IN SANPETE.
In the meantime Lieutenant-General Wells
(leaving Salt Lake on the llth), reached Gun-
206 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
nison, accompanied by a body of cavalry under Col-
onel John R. Winder, followed by a company of in-
fantry from the regiment of Col. Samuel W. Rich-
ards under command of Major William W. Cas-
per and Peter Sinclair, battalion adjutant, with
Jesse West as captain and Alexander Burt, Byron
Groo and others as lieutenants. The cavalry force
was assigned to patrol duty along the Sevier River,
and the infantry detailed to the settlements of San-
pete.
Colonel Winder was immediately assigned to
duty as assistant adjutant to General Wells ; the lat-
ter gave orders that the pursuit of Black Hawk
should be at once resumed and another effort made
to recover the stock; the trail of the savages was
again struck and after passing the point where the
pursuit had been abandoned, the troops found that
they had been at the time within twelve miles of the
enemy and the stolen cattle.
A longer march confronted them now, and one
beset with many difficulties. The trail was follow
ed over rocky ridges, up and down almost impassa-
ble gorges, across occasional streams of alkali water
and into the most forbidding and desolate deserts.
At the conclusion of the first day's march the men
He followed the wash nearly to the mouth, and then
and animals were well-nigh exhausted from the trials
of the journey, all having suffered intensely from
thirst. (During two days more and the larger part of
the two nights the toilsome march continued; and
when futility of further pursuit was recognized and
the condition of the troops was seen to be perilious,
a retreat was again ordered, and it was none too
soon; the command was scarcely able to get out of
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 207
the desert, owing to weakness of both horses and
men ; of the latter there were several whose mouths
and tongues were so sore, that they could scarcely
CAPTAIN A. P. DEWEY WAS ORDERED
TO ESTABLISH A POST IN THISTLE VALLEY.
A lew days later, Jun:> the 21st, Captain Al-
boi t P. iJewey of Colonel Kimoall'^ eomm&rd was
ordered to establish a post in Thistle Valley in the
north end of Sanpete county — a point that was con-
sidered the key to any probable attack from that di-
rection. His command consisted of twenty-two cav-
alry and thirty-five infantry, the latter under Cap-
tain Jesse West, who started from Moroni on the
21st of June.
On the evening of the 23rd of June the In-
dians gave indications of their presence in the vic-
inity of the camp in Thistle Valley, and extra pre-
cautions were taken to guard against a surprise.
Hyrum Murphy of Captain Dewey's company
states that when the company first went to Thistle
Valley, they were camped by the wagon road, near
the Warm Springs ; but feed being better and more
convenient elsewhere, the camp was moved up east
about a mile and a half to a more exposed location ;
and during the night of the 23rd of June an object
resembling in the dark, a small bear crawling round
camp, occasionally howling like a coyote, came close
by a bed in which slept two boys. The guard saw and
shot at it, when it ran away. It was afterwards be-
lieved to be an Indian trying to locate the horses, and
ascertain the condition of the camp.
208 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
BATTLE IN THISTLE VALLEY.
On Sunday morning, the 24th of June about
nine o'clock, most of the horses were driven to feed
in a cove about half a mile south east of camp. With-
out the knowledge of the militia, Indians were scat-
tered through the cedars and ravines east and south
of camp at that time. Charles Brown of Draper,
Salt Lake County, and a companion were in the
cedars near the horses picking gum, when they saw
Indians. They ran for camp, and when out in the
flat, Brown was shot through the back. When he
fell some Indians shot him with arrows. The boys
in camp seeing what had happened ran out to his
assistance, and brought him into camp, where he
expired. The Indians made a rush for the horses,
stampeded them and ran down between the hills
and camp, about half a mile west, when the Indians
turned them south into the so-called Indian Hol-
lows, where they caught some of them and rode them
back to fight the troops.
They soon made a charge, but were turned back
by a volley from camp. All the breast-works the
troops had were four wagons on the south side of
camp ; two of these were loaded with wood. The In-
dians surrounded the camp, and closed in upon it
keeping behind trees and brush. Some of them ap-
proached in a wash that ran north of camp. They
shot into the camp wounding Thomas Snarr of Salt
Lake.
Captain Dewey had sent out two companies of
scouts, four men in each company, one company go-
ing north and the other south-west. Two of these
going north were at the Warm Springs. John Ham-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 209
liton and Homer Roberts who were farther north,
saw the Indians take the horses and came back to
camp. They were immediately sent to Mount Plea-
sant to report. The others were chased by the In-
dians but got into camp safely. The Indians who
did not know that an express had been sent kept
the direction to the settlements south closely guard-
ed. The fo? lowing account was obtained from Eskild
O. Petersen, one of Colonel Ivie's men:
When the express arrived at Mount Pleasant,
Col. John L. Ivie with his company of cavalry hap-
pened to be up Pleasant Creek Canyon and through
the hills scouting, the cow-herd being in the foot-
hills below them. About two p. m. they heard three
shots down the canyon, and they gathered at the
herd and was ordered to help gather the stock. Pre-
sently they heard five more shots, farther down the
canyon, and they knew that to be a signal, upon which
they left the stock and rode down to the mouth of
the canyon, when they were informed that the Salt
Lake boys were being attacked in Thistle Valley and
needed help. They were ordered to get there as
quickly as their horses could take them. The distance
to town was about four miles and when they got
there they received their orders and started for the
north. When they reached Fairview, six or eight
men were ready to accompany them; and they ar-
rived in Thistle Valley about an hour before sun-
down. The Indians by this time had the camp sur-
rounded, and the boys were keeping the enemy back
the best they could without exposing themselves to
the fire of the savages. Their ammunition, how-
ever, was nearly exhausted and the Indians had all
their horses except six, and these were all wounded.
210 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
When Ivie 7s company reached the valley the sav-
ages intercepted them, one Indian who seemed most
daring rode out in the open. The Colonel dismount-
ed and with his Henry rifle took a shot at him ; the
redskin lopped over on the side of his horse. Some
of the other Indians rode out and drove the horse
with its limp rider back into the cedars. Another
Indian had left his horse and was sneaking in the
wash, when Orange Seeley and R. N. Bennett rushed
up and got the horse with saddle, bridle, a long lasso
and a buckskin jacket. Seely kept the horse as a
trophy of war. At that time it was not known what
the conditions were at camp, so the troops made
haste to get there. After an exchange of a few shots
the besiegers drew off with their booty.
About dusk Colonel Ivie's men hitched their
horses onto the company wagons and moved them
down to the wagon road more in the middle of the
Valley, where they would be less exposed, in case of
a night attack. The Indians had fought the boys
all day and if they had not received help there is
no doubt but that the Indians would have taken the
camp, as the savages were receiving reinforcements
during the day, Brown's body was taken to Mount
Pleasant. The writer and three others arrived at
the camp the following day with provisions from
Mt. Pleasant and militia men arrived there during
the day from all parts of Sanpete county. Colonel
Kimball and his command arrived early in the morn-
ing and about the same time Major Casper came upon
the scene from Moroni with General Snow of Manti
in command; the pursuit of the retreating savages
was hotly begun by the combined force of militia,
the trail of the Indians being plainly marked by
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 211
the blood from their dead and wounded, whom, in
accordance with their custom, they bore away with
them. The chase lasted until Soldier Summit, at
the head of Spanish Fork River, was reached. Here
the Indians, resorted to their old tactics of separat-
ing and scattering in all directions and further chase
had to be abandoned. This was the last military
event of importance in Sanpete County that sea-
son, and a few weeks afterwards the larger part of
the troops from the northern counties (most of them
having been in the service from sixty to ninety days)
returned and were mustered out. They had conduct-
ed themselves with much patience and bravery, and
had rendered invaluable service to the settlers in
the threatened counties. General Wells and his of-
ficers showed good judgment in their disposition of
the troops and inspired confidence throughout the
entire district. It was felt that against leaders of
less watchfulness and prudence the crafty Black
Hawk and his braves would have been able to cause
far greater losses in life and property. But
with the withdrawal of the outside militia, the efforts
of the local militia organizations were not relaxed.
The men rendered uncomplaining service on picket
guard and in occasional reconnoisances into the
mountains, and the officers were vigilant and full
of energy.
Their scanty crops had to be harvested, and win-
ter's supply of fuel gathered, protection furnished
their remaining flocks and herds, and winter's for-
age provided. All this work had to be performed by
men under arms or attended by an armed escort.
And it is remembered that the sleepless foe ranged
over and ravaged a district three hundred miles in ex
212 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
tent, burning saw-mills, ranges and isolated ranches,
and causing the abandonment of a number of flou-
rishing villages. The heroism of the settlers in re-
sisting by night and day the terrifying attacks of
the marauders is worthy of the warmest praise. In
nearly every part of the Territory regular guard
duty was ordered. Even in Salt Lake County, the
Lieutenant-General issued orders as early as May,
1866, to Major-General Robert T. Burton to have
patrols out for the protection of stock and to ob-
serve the movements and temper of the Indians.
In the settlements on the west side of the Jor-
dan river, Salt Lake county there was much regular
work of this character under the organization of
increased military companies during the early sum-
mer. Utah County, populous and well prepared as
it was, did not entirely escape the ravages of the
Indians.
REPORTED BY JOEL ANDREW JOHNSON
ONE OF MAJOR CLUFF'S MEN.
Major Joseph Cluff 's cavalry company consis-
ting of twenty cavalrymen and two baggagemen left
Provo, for Sanpete and Sevier counties June 13,
1866 ; they went through Salt Creek Canyon and on
to Twelve Mile Creek (now MayfieldS going as an
escort to General Wells as far as Circleville, in con-
nection with others. When General Wells returned,
an escort of six of Major Cluff 's command escorted
him to the Prickly Pear Ridge between Marysvale
and Monroe. The escort returned to Circlevalle and
stayed there while the inhabitants prepared to va-
cate the town. Some of the people went to Beaver
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 213
and Iron Counties and Major Cluff ' s command es-
corted those who came north as far as Fort Gunni-
son. They were six days making the trip and cele-
brated the fourth of July at Gunnison, after which
they were sent back to Mayf ield again where they en-
gaged in camp and scout duty until released to re-
turn home. A part of the command went to Fish
Lake with others, pursuing the Indians who stole
the stock from Scipio; they were gone from home
forty-four days, or from the 13th of June till the
27th of July.
While stationed at Gunnison, two of Major
Cluff ?s command deserted, namely William Nelson
and John Baum. They were seen crossing over the
ridge between Gunnison and Warm Creek. General
Wells was asked " Shall we follow them and bring
them back. ' ' The General scatched his head, studied
a while and then replied 1 1 No, let the poor devils go ;
they don't know what they are doing. "
When the Circleville settlers left Gunnison
they camped the first night on the Sanpitch river
between Twelve and Nine Mile creeks. Eight of
Major Cluff's command were sent to guard their
camp during the night ; they were posted on a ridge
northeast of camp. Two of the guards held their
horses in a swale out of sight all night, while the
others guarded an Indian trail that led to Warm
Creek (Fayette.)
BATTLE IN DIAMOND FORK, EDMUNDSON
AND DIMMICK KILLED.
Copied from History of Springville.
A band of Indians came down Maple Canyon in
Utah county, June 26, 1866 and made a foray into
214 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
the valley as far as Roundy's pasture and drove
off some fifty horses and twenty head of cattle into
Maple canyon. H. M. Dougall and D. E. Deal had
been the mounted videttes ' the previous day and had
patrolled the country between Hobble Creek and
Spanish Fork Canyon, camping with the squad over
night at the first bridge in the former canyon. As
il ey rode into town early the next morning they
met Bishop Johnson, who asked them if they had
seen any Indians. Their reply was "No, no sign of
Indians. Everything is all right. ™ The Bishop re-
plied, "No, everything is not all right: the Indians
came down Maple canyon last night and took a herd
of cattle from Markham's pasture at Spanish Fork,
and some horses from Roundy's pasture. Go tell
Colonel Bromley to come quickly. " Bromley was
summoned. The old bell spoke, the drains beat,
and in twenty mintues several of the mounted minute
men were on the public square, armed and ready to
go. It was about 9 a. m. and a dispatch had been
sent to Colonel Creer of Spanish Fork to meet
the Springville squad at the mouth of Maple canyon,
and all proceed under the command of Creer on the
trail of the hostiles. Alma Spafford, H. 0. Crandall,
T. L. Mendenhall, J. A. Groesbeck, John Edmund-
fcorj, Loren Dibble, D. C. Johnson and an old soldier
by the name of Gillispie, and Wiley Thomas of Span-
ish Fork composed the posse. The other members
of the minute company were in the fields and could
not be reached in time. A gallop of thirty minutes
brought the young troopers to the mouth of the can-
yon, but by the indications Creer 's men had arrived
first and gone up the canyon. Our 'boys rode
rapidly after them mile after mile, until they had
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 215
crossed the divide and descended the steep trail in-
to the head of Diamond Fork, but could see nothing
of the Spanish Fork troopers. There were three
young madcaps in the squad that day, who kept rid-
ing ahead in their anxiety to find the Indians.
When the party came within a half mile of the
spot where the skirmish took place, the three
boys who were still ahead rode up on a knoll
and gave a whoop, for a little way in advance they
could see Creer's men under a clump of trees and fir-
ing over towards the south side of the broad flat
canyon. With a yell the advance guard charged to-
ward their white friends, followed by the boys in
the rear. Just as the three mad-caps got within a
hundred yards of the party they were suddenly fired
upon by a number of Indians, who at that moment
were in the act of flanking the Spanish Fork boys.
They had found their Indians, but instead of engag-
ing them in a hand combat, Dibble turned to the right
and came back to the main body ; Groesbeck was un-
horsed by the breaking of his saddle girth, but clung
to the halter strap as his horse circled to the left and
came back to his comrades in the rear. Edmpndson
kept straight ahead and to the left of the Spanish
Forkers, until he was lost to view by the intervening
brush.
The Springville boys quickly dismounted, and
leaving their horses with one of the men, advanced
cautiously toward Creer's command. At this junc-
ture several Indians were seen to retreat hastily
from their position on the south and disappear in
the thickets which hedged Diamond creek. The
Spanish Fork boys had been in their position for an
hour and had seen some warm work. Al Dimmick
216 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
was fatally wounded and lay upon a bed of leaves
in the shade. In a few moments an Indian appear-
ed upon the bluff and by his excited gestures seem-
ed to be haranguing his men. Some shots were ex-
changed, but the effect was not known, as both sides
were laying low.
Presently Colonel Creer selected five long range
rifles and began volley firing at the chief, some 800
yards distant, and at about the fifth volley the In-
dian fell upon the neck of his horse, which ran be-
hind the hill and out of sight. The Indians were then
seen scampering over the ridge, and were variously
estimated at from twenty to fifty. All was quiet
for the next half hour and a careful scout was made,
but no sign of the enemy was visible and it was con-
cluded that they had drawn off with their dead and
wounded and would renew the attack after night fall.
Feeling sure of a night attack, a courier was sent to
town for help. The man who volunteered to undertake
this perilous task the the old veteran, Gillispie. It
was 4 p. m. when he departed and he reached town
about 7 p. m. with the news of the figh, the extreme
peril of the white men and that Edmundson was p,,ss
ing. The tocsin bell, in quick sharp tones brought the
minute men from their quarters, and by 8 p. m. they
had started under the direction of the scout to re-
lieve their companions from their extreme peril.
In the meantime the Indian camp which had
been abandoned at the beginning of the attack by
the whites with all it contained, was relieved, iw the
Spanish Fork contingent, of the butcher knives, new
hats; bridles and lariats which the enemy had left in
his flight. One man had nine new army hats, and
the others each had some trophy. Poor Dimmick
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 217
was tenderly placed upon a litter and just after sun-
set the party sarted on their return, expecting at
any moment to hear the crack of the deadly rifle
land the piercing war-whoop. They were compelled
Eo carry their wounded comrade, who groaned in
Jagony at every step. At times he entreated his
bearers to kill him and end his sufferings. Tire-
less the troops ascended the eastern slope of the
mountain out of the Diamond, winding up the precip-
itous and hazardous mountain trail. The front and
rear guards kept keenly on the alert, in order to pre-
sent an ambush. About midnight the pass was
reached and the descent upon the home side of the
mountain began. Near the summit the relief party
was met and not until then did the returning party
realize that it was safe. Still slowly the homeward
journey was continued and completed just at day-
break.
In front of the old hall they were met by Bishop
Johnson who praised the boys for their good work,
told them to get a few hours sleep and at the call of
the bell to assemble for the purpose of returning to
the scene of the fight to search for Edmundson, who
had not returned. It was thought he had escaped
and would perhaps reach home through some of the
canyon passes. Alas ! vain hopes ! the poor boy lay up-
on the lonely hillside cold in death, with the moon
shining in his upturned face.
At 7 a. m. the loud alarm bell called the weary
troopers from their blankets and in a very few mo-
ments they were on the march, under the command
of Captain Steele. At the mouth of Maple Canyon
they found Col. Creer with his company. This morn-
ing they had deemed it advisable to wait for the
218 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
Springville contingent. Under command of Colonel
Creer the party proceeded to the scene of the combat
of the previous day. They found the camp intact, the
enemy not having returned for his camp equipage.
There were seventeen saddles by actual count, and
other trappings used by native riders, but no other
appearance of an enemy. The day before the hostiles
had killed two or three beeves, and large flitches of
juicy steaks still hung upon the rocks and brush
where the thieves had placed them to sun-dry. The
horses were left under the guard of a part of the
troops, while the others in squads trailed the hills
in every direction in search of traces of the missing
man. After a toilsome search and just about sun-
down his mangled body was found three-fourths of a
mile north of the battle ground. He had been strip-
ped of his shirt, his right hand was severed at the
wrist, his scalp torn off and the savage foe had shot
him twice through the heart, the muzzle of the wea-
pon being held so close that the body was powder-
burned. A signal gun was fired to notify the search-
ers that the hunt was ended, and all gathered quickly
to their horses. When the boys came in they brought
some stolen stock, among which was a horse belong-
ing to Wm. Smith with blood stains upon the withers
and down the front leg — the animal supposedly had
been ridden by the war-chief the previous day. The
dead man was placed upon this horse by Thomas
Dallm and then came a discussion as to whether the
pompany should return home via Spanish Fork Can-
yon, there being a good wagon road all the way, or
take the trail back through Maple canyon. It was
eventually decided to take the back trail and the
bugle sounded the advance. At this juncture the
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
horse with the dead rider began to buck and rear and
plunge in a fearful manner and could not be quieted.
It was held a moment while the body could be re-
moved and strapped upon the back of "Old Beck"
a family mare belonging to William Mendenhall
and Richard Mendenhall mounted the refractory
broncho and the march home-ward was commenced
and was finished at 3 a. m. and the dead man was
placed upon a bier in front of the old hall when the
now thoroughly fatigued rough riders went to rest.
Hardly had their tired heads sank upon the pil-
lows when the signal, (three quick flashes) was made
at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon and seen by
the guard in the tower, and the bell from its iron
throat rang out, "Come! Come! Come! Quick!
Quick! Quick !" a few of the tired riders rallied,
also some of the citizens in wagons, drove like Jehu
to the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon and sur-
prised the guard there by their sudden war like ap-
pearance. The guard said they had seen Indians
appear some distance up the canyon and had made
one light (be upon your guard) ; but as it had been
only a flash, and fearing the lookout hadn't seen it,
another handfull of brush had been thrown on the
fire, which only emitted a faint flash, when a larger
amount had been put upon the embers and a satisfac-
tory blaze kindled. The watch-men had seen all
three of the flashes and acted accordingly. After
scouring the vicinity of the mouth of the canyon
where fresh Indian signs were plainly seen, the
cavalcade returned home. Thus ended three very
exciting days. Some of the boys had been forty-eight
hours in the saddle almost without food or sleep.
The Diamond fight was the most successful en-
220 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
gagement of the war in this : That the Indians were
thoroughly whipped, their entire camp equipage fall-
ing into the hands of the victors, who also brought
back some of the horses and all of the cattle except
those killed. A report came from DuChesne not
long afterwards, that the dusky marauders had eight
killed and wounded, and that Black Hawk was the
rider who left his blood-stains upon the captured
horse.
On the day after the return of the expedition,
Dimmick and Edmunds on were buried with mili-
tary honors. Thus ended the fight on the Diamond,
which was also the end of the Indian hostilities in
our vicinity.
CIRCLEVILLE IN PIUTE COUNTY
ABANDONED.
Circleville in Piute Couny was abandoned,
June 28, 1866, by the settlers, some going to Mil-
lard County and others of Sanpete and the coun-
ties north.
CAPTPAIN BIGLER WITH 60 MEN ARRIVE
IN MOUNT PLEASANT.
INDIANS STEAL 150 HEAD OF CATTLE
NEAR EPHRAIM,
Captain Bigler with sixty men from Davis
County arrived in Mount Pleasant, July 12, 1866 to
relieve the Salt Lake troops. On Friday, July 27th,
Indians made a raid on the stock of Ephraim and
Manti and drove away one hundred and fifty head,
Captain Bigler pursued them into Castle Valley
without recovering the stock, or having an engage-
ment.— From History of Sanpete.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 221
A CAVALRY COMPANY LEAVE ST. GEORGE.
ELIJJAH EVERT KILLED.
HISTORY OF ST. GEORGE STAKE.
Trip of a cavalry company from St. George to
Green Eiver as reported by John S. Adams of An-
nabella. Dated Sept. 18th.
A company of sixty-one men from St. George
and surrounding settlements were ordered out by
General Erastus Snow as a minute company which
expected to go as far as Green Eiver. The men from
the different places met at Gould's Eanch in Wash-
ington County, twenty-six miles east of St. George on
the 16th of August, 1866. They were inspected by
General Snow and Staff. General Snow told the
boys that if those who were called would obey their
officers, all would be well with them, if any of them
were hurt, it would be slightly ; he also said, if any of
them had been hired to go, they might return home.
Continuing the journey from Gould's Eanch, August
18th the men made their first camp on Short Creek,
where they saw a herd of wild cattle. Captain
James Andrus, who was in command, detailed six
men to go after the cattle and drive them to Pipe
Springs, or Whitemore's ranch. The company went
on to the place, and that evening the detail brought
in the cattle, the horses of those driving the cattle
being well night exhausted, ten or fifteen men were
sent out to help them in and drive the animals into
the Whitmore corral ; an old cow that had been tame
refused to go into the corral, and made an effort
to fight the men and horses ; finally they had to push
her along, but she was shot several times before
reaching the corral. Captain Andrus killed and
222 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
dressed the cow and three other animals. We stopped
there two days and jerked the meat, which is done
by cutting the meat into strips and hanging it on a
platform made of willows and building a fire under
it, the fire helping the sun to dry it. On Tuesday,
the 21st, we mustered in camp one captain, one 1st
lieutenant, one bugler, four 2nd lieutenants and
thirty-five privates equipped with good long range
rifles and revolvers, and we were later reinforced by
Lieutenant Joseph Fish with eighteen men ILODI
Parowan in Iron County who left there on the 22nd
of August. Next day brought us to Skootem-pah,
where it rained on us all night. Some of the men took
colds which culminated into chills and fever; the
next day 's journey brought us to the Par-reah. Here
six of the disabled men were sent back with the sore-
backed horses, fourteen in number, and the spare
camp equipage. These men were Elijah Everett.
Charles Pinney, George Ishum, Albert Beebe, Fred-
erick Eeggus and Hyrum Pollock. They started back
about two o'clock p. m. and at the same time we
moved camp seven miles to Coal Point. At about 5 :30
p. m. on Mondoy, August 21st, six miles on the
way back, the party returning were waylaid by In-
dians crossing a deep gorge and passing up a steep
ledge of rocks. The foremost man, Elijah Everett,
beins: dismounted and leading two animals, was kill-
ed at first fire. The party were all dismounted and
leading their animals up a steep acclivity at the time
the attack was made. George Ishum received an ar-
row wound in the left shoulder. Supposing there
were a large party of the Indians, they retreated to
the opposite side of the gorge and took shelter in the
cedars. When Everett was shot he exclaimed, "Oh
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 223
boys ' ' and expired. The boys who had been sent back
came straggling into camp one or two at a time, all
reporting that the others had been killed. On learn-
ing of this disaster, Captain Andrus took about twen-
ty-five men and went down the Pah-reah, expecting
to head off the Indians ; they came upon them about
12 o'clock ascending the point of a mountain. We
surrounded the place as quickly as possible, but
darkness came on and the Indians escaped. We re-
mained until daylight, supposing we had some of
them driven into a small cove near where we over-
took them. But in this we were mistaken; the In-
dians had escaped in the night. However, we got
all the horses and guns that the savages had captured
except the two that Everett had with him when he
was killed. About 10 o'clock a. m. on the 27th (Mon-
day) we recovered Everett's body, wrapped it in a
blanket and burier it there, covering the place with
brush and and rocks. The men all stayed together
during the balance of the trip. We went up the east
fork of Pah-reah and through Potato Valley (now
Escalante). Here we gathered some wild potatoes
which we cooked and ate them ; they were somewhat
like the cultivated potato, but smaller. From there
we went through Rabbit Valley, crossed the Dirty
Devil Creek (also called Fremont River) and got
within sight of Green River. We then turned back,
the country between us and the river being too rough
and broken to proceed farther. Black Hawk told Mr.
Adams later (at the time of the treaty) that when
the men turned away they were within three miles
of his (Black Hawk) main camp and the stock, that
he and his warriors were in Sanpete, and that there
were only old men and squaws left in camp. The
224 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
company expected to meet the Sanpete boys some-
where, but missed them. When starting back we
made a dry camp ; we traveled all the next day and
made another dry camp. Some of our horses giving
out, six men were sent back after them on foot, ex-
pecting to catch the horses and ride them back. The
horses, however, were rested and would not be caught
consequently the men had to carry their over-coatB
and guns and walk and drive the horses; it was a
rough experience ; one of their number gave out and
they had a hard time to overtake their companions
in the evning. The company now went down the east
fork of the Sevier River, and passed through Circle-
ville, which had been abandoned in the spring, after
the crops had been put in; the grain was ripe and
looked fine ; we turned our horses into a field of oats
which was inclosed by a fence. From there we went
up the canyon westward and through Bear Valley,
where we killed some wild chickens. The following
day we continued the journey to Parowan where we
were entertained with a dance arranged in our honor.
Next day we continued the journey to Cedar City
where we were well cared for and from there we went
to our respective homes.
We were gone from home sixty days to the best
of my memory.
It was said that Brother Everett who was
killed had been hired to go on this expedition and
that he was one of those who were permitted to re-
turn home before starting. The personel of the com-
pany was as follows :
JOSEPH M. WESTWOOD
Conmiander-in-Chief Utah Indian War Veterans
Caleb
Haw's Cavalry Company, Commander Utah County Department,
Utah Indian War Veterans.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 225
uimuim imitiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiimmiii IIIIIMIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIHIHIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIM
MUSTER ROLL OF INDIAN EXPEDITION TO
REACH JUNCTION OF GRAND AND GREEN
RIVERS.
James Andrus, captain, Franklin D. Woolley,
Adjutant, Charles John Thomas, Bugler.
First platoon : Willis Coplan, second lieutenant,
George Gould, sergeant. Privates : Jesse W. Crosby,
Jr., James Cragum, John Houston, David Cammer-
on, Mahonri Snow, William Meeks, William Edwards
Cowley, Henry McFate, Archibald Sullivan, John
Lay.
Second Platoon: Woodruff John Freeman, sec-
ond lieutenant; Thales Hastings Haskell, sergeant.
Privates : Alfred Ford, Hiram Pollock, Thomas Jef-
ferson Clark, Samuel Newton Adair, Frederick Dic-
kerson Riggs, Lehi Smithson, William Gardner, Wil-
liam Slade, Bennett Bracken, Benjamin Knell.
Third Platoon: Thomas Dennet, second lieuten-
ant ; George Petty, sergeant. Privates : George Wil-
liams, Albert Beebe, George Isom, Charles Pinney,
James A. Stratton, Robert H. Brown, Elijah Ever-
ett, Jr. killed, Gardner Potter, Walter Winsor, Wil-
liam Riggs.
Fourth Platoon : Albert Minerly, second lieuten-
ant; Elijah H. Maxfield, sergeant. Privates; Wil-
liam A. Bringhurst, John S. Adams, Joseph S.
McCleve, John Batty, George A. Wads worth, Lem-
uel H. Redd, Francis Prince, Robert Richardson, Eli
N. Pace, James Brigham Thompson.
Fifth platoon: Joseph Fish, second lieutenant,
Privates: William C. McGregor, Enoch Wardle,
George Richard, Thomas Robb, John White, Thomas
Rowley, Richard Heber Benson, Edward Parry,
Samuel Wood, Andrew Corry, Horatio Morrill.
226 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
i ii i linn i in inn ii mi in
AN EXTRACT FROM JAMES M. PETERSON'S
DIARY.
The following is culled from the diary of James
M. Peterson of Eichfield which gives some additional
data. Mr. Peterson who is the founder of the first
bank in Sevier County : * 'April 15th, 1866. I am now
sixteen years old and subject to military duty. My
first service in the Black Hawk War was on the 26th
of April when I was on guard.
May 3rd, together with Sheriff Nathaniel Han-
chett and five others I started north with fifty head
of cattle to buy arms and ammunition for the people
of Sevier county ; we went by way of Scipio for safe-
ty.
Tuesday, May 5th, we began to trade for guns at
Payson and we also traded at Springville. We paid
for revolvers thirty to forty dollars each ; we finished
trading in Salt Lake City on the 14th and returned
home on the 21st under guard of twenty men. Dur-
ing our trip we bought eighteen rifles, eleven revol-
vers and one hundred and forty pounds of ammuni-
tion, which we had purchased at an enormous price ;
but these articles were indispensible. June 5th I
was on picket all day and stood guard at night.
Sept. 8th a company of militia camping between
Eichfield and Glenwood took a man prisoner suppos-
ed to be a spy from the Indians.
DEATH OF BLACK HAWK.
Black Hawk, the Indian chief who figured so prom-
inently in the Utah Indian War in 1865-1867, died
at Spring Lake Villa, a small settlement situated be-
tween Payson and Santaquin, Utah County, Utah, in
1870.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 227
The following letter gives interesting details :
A LETTER FROM WILLIAM PROBERT.
Dated at Provo, Utah, July 1st, 1915.
Mr. Peter Gottfredson, Springville, Utah.
Dear sir: — I am glad to comply with your re-
quest to give some items of history of some of the In-
dian troubles in and near Bound Valley (Scipio) and
in the following narrative I am sure some of the eron-
eous stories told in regard to the death of Black-
Hawk, the great Indian Chief, and also Panacara, an
inoffensive Indian who made his home in Round
Valley, may be corrected and the truth of the matter
given to the people in your proposed history of the
Indian troubles of early Utah days.
There are probably a dozen men in Utah who
claim the honor of killing Black Hawk, none of which
is true.
It is true that Black Hawk was severely wounded
in the fight at Gravelly Ford on the Sevier River,
near what is now called Vermillion ; but he lived three
of four years after receiving the wound ; and before
his death Black Hawk obtained permission from the
military authorities of the Territory to visit all the
places where he and his tribe had caused trouble or
raided. And accompanied by a few (seven or eight)
warriors, Black Hawk visited every town and vil-
lage from Cedar City on the South to Payson on the
north and made peace with the people. On this mis-
sion of peace he was provided with an escort, usu-
ally from two to six citizens, from town to town. An-
sel P. Harmon and myself acted as such escort from
Holden to Scipio, Millard County.
328 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
Black Hawk told the people wherever he went
that he was going home to die and before the end
came he desired to be at peace with the pale faces.
Black Hawk died at his wigwam near Spring Lake in
1869 or 1870 ; the exact date I am unable to give. He
was buried in the foot hills immediately east and
south of Spring Lake Villa, Utah County.
Because of the killing of the old man Ivie
(James Ivie) in Bound Valley (Scipio) a few years
before by members of the Black Hawk tribe it was
feared that the old warrior would be harshly treated
by the Ivie family on the trip through the valley,
unless provisions were made in advance for his pro-
tection from assault from that source.
The Ivies had previously sworn vengeance, and
some time before Black Hawk's appearance on his
mission of peace, the old Indian, Panacara, had been
shot to death by James A. Ivie. In order to justify
himself, Ivie charged that Panacara was a spy for
the Ute Indians on the south, which was not true, as
Panacara was a special friend of the white people
in that vicinity and was hated by the Utes. On one
occasion a band of Utes came to the valley for the
sole purpose of killing him. Panacara was for a
number of years before his death " medicine man"
for the Pahvante tribe whose home was in Millard
County, and this tribe of Indians was always friend-
ly with the white settlers.
Panacara ?s death at the hands of Ivie was
brought about in this way : The Old Indian came to
the town of Scipio, and as was customary he car-
ried a gun. This custom was objected to by the
military authorities and a rule was adpoted that In-
dians should not carry arms when visiting the set-
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 229
tlements. Accordingly the acting justice of the peace
Benj. Johnson, prevailed upon the old Indian to give
up his gun. The Indian willingly gave the gun to
the justice and started out to cross the hills in the
direction of Oak Creek, when Ivie followed him, and
out on the flat, about two miles from town, he
overtook the Indian and without warning shot him
dead. He was buried where he was killed.
According to the Indian custom it was "a life
for a life ' ' and it did not matter to them who it was
just so they got their revenge by killing a white. For
the death of Panacara I came nearly losing my
scalp at the hands of ' ' Nun-ka-tots " (a particular
friend of Panacara), who lived most of the time
with him. I was on my way from Deseret to Scipio
\\ith a load of wheat and on reading a point on the
desert near Mud-Lake the reflection of a gun showed
an Indian in hiding behind a mound near the road.
I jumped off the wagon, ready with my rifle for
action when the Indian rode away. For seven years
this Indian avoided me and finally came to me and
asked if I was "tobuck" now. I told him I was
not "tobuck" and he said "me no tobuck now'; and
from then on this Indian and myself were good
friends.
(Signed) William Probert.
Manti, Utah, Feb. 12, 1914.
Box 109.
ATTACK ON THE J. P. LEE RANCH NEAR BEAVER,
JOSEPH ULYWHITE WOUNDED.
Dear Brother Gottf redson :
When I began reading to mother the manuscript
you inclosed, she began saying, "That is not quite
230 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
right, you must correct that ; ' ' and by the time it was
finished she said, "I wish you would just lay that
aside and write the whole story in your own way,
and I will help you with the facts. I think we can in
that way make it more clear than by correcting this.; '
I have done so, and Mother says, this is the only
really true version of the story that has ever been
told. She is the only survivor of the three grown
persons present at the affair, and you are the only
person in all these years who has ever asked her for
the facts.
She hopes you will thus apply at headquarters
for all your other Chronicles, and get them as true
and straight as this one is.
With kind regards from Mother and myself .
L. L. Dalton, Lucinda Lee.
THE INDIAN ATTACK ON LEE'S RANCH IN
BEAVER COUNTY.
In the fall of 1866, Mr. John Percival Lee, with
most of his family, was on his dairy farm (called
Hawhorne Dell, situated about eight miles southeast
of Beaver on a bright little stream called South
Creek,) busily pushing preparations to return to
town for the winter.
He usually spent the winters in town, employed
in teaching school, and the summers at Hawthorne
Dell, farming and dairying. Already he had turned
out some thirty milch cows with their calves along
with the dry stock, to forage on the good bunch grass
until spring. The grain was standing in stacks ready
for the thresher, and Mr. Lee and his young hired
man, Joseph Lillywhite, were gathering potatoes,
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 231
with the help of several children who assisted to pick
up the tubers. The plan was to fill the double-bedded
wagon full, and early next morning take that load to
town and there make ready for storing the whole
crop. This was the 22nd of October, and Mr. Lee in-
tended to take his helper with him, and rather
thought they could not return on the same day, hav-
ing so much to do there.
It was sunset before the load was completed, and
all the busy workers noticed that the wolves were
very noisy, and seemed to answer each other from
many directions. They took no hint, however, even
when a neighbor from town, Mr. Elliott Willden, who
had been out on the range, and who tamed to take
supper with the Lees, remarked that Indians often
used wolf howls to signal each other and to drive cat-
tle together.
After the guest went on his way, Mr. Lee said to
Kis helper: "Joe, it does seem foolhardy to live on
a lonely place like this and pay so little attention to
our firearms. Say, we clean them all up tonight and
get our ammunition all ready. Then, if we do stay
in town tomorrow night, Mrs. Lee will not be quite
defenseless you know." Lightly spoken words and
long remembered!
The firearms consisted of one large double-bar-
relled shotgun (Mr. Lee's favorite weapon), one new,
excellent repeating rifle, and one good six-shot re-
volver. The stock of ammunition was found to be
pitiably small and Mr. Lee resolved to buy some on
the morrow while in town. The magazine of the rifle
contained the whole of its stock of cartridges. The
shotgun and revolver were both loaded up with re-
232 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
volver balls, with plenty of powder behind them.
Mrs. Lee assisted in the loading to be sure of under-
standing all about it, with this preparation the fam-
ily retired to rest in blissful unconsciousness of the
danger that was even then hanging over them. All
night, however, the wolf howls continued and the
two dogs barked and fretted.
Before light next morning, the family was astir
and as soon as the back (west) door wa» opened,
the dogs barked so furiously toward a low ridge only
a few rods away on the north, that the two men took
their guns when they stepped out to reconnoiter.
There was still no daylight, but the sky line showed
faintly the ragged crest of the brush crowned bench.
"Mr. Lee," said Lillywhite, "I see something mov-
ing. Shall I fire ? ' ' Hail first, Joe, ' ' answered Mr.
Lee, "for if it should be Indians, and we fire first,
it will be said that we brought trouble on ourselves."
Accordingly the young man hailed ; and for re-
ply received a volley of bullets, one of which went
through his right shoulder. He reeled and the gun
fell from his helpless hand; but he staggered into
the house before he fell. Mr. Lee, with other bul-
lets singing past him, watched the young man till he
gained cover; then fired one barrel of his shotgun
at the place where he saw the flashes, and sprang
into the house, forgetting to recover the rifle.
The doors and windows had not yet all been
opened. Such as were open were now hastily closed,
just barely in time to prevent the entrance of the In-
dians as they rushed yelling down the hill.
The front or east door had only a wooden but-
ton on a screw for a fastening, and the west one had
a broken gimlet stuck nail-fashion into a small hole ;
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 233
so that it was necessary to reinforce these frail fas-
tenings with furniture.
For the first few minutes the whoops and yells
of the Indians, punctuated as they were with heavy
blows on the doors and with shots through both
doors and windows, were something terrific. The
windows, fortunnately, had strong wooden shutters,
secured with iron hooks on the inside. When these
were all closed, the house would have been very dim
had the sun been shining ; but now, just at the break
of day, it was quite dark, and a tallow candle had
to be lighted to enable Mr. Lee to reload the empty
barrel of his shotgun.
After raising such a hideous storm around the
house for what seemed an age, the Indians grew
quiet and one advanced to parley. During this lull
in the strife, it may be well to introduce to the reader
the remaining members of the household.
Besides Mr. and Mrs. Lee and Mr. Lillywhite,
there was a young daughter not quiet sixteen years
old, who lived to become Mrs. Mary C. Black, now
(A. D. 1914) a skillful apiarist resident in Fruita,
Cal. Another daughter, twelve years old, who after-
ward became the wife of Judge J. G. Sutherland,
an eminent jurist in Salt Lake Ciy. Before her mar-
riage, this lady had studied law, passed a successful
examination and been admitted to practice before
the bar. She was then Miss Emma Lee.
Next was a son, Chas. A. Lee, an enterprising
lad of nearly ten years, who is now an apiarist and
orchadist in Fresno County, Cal.
Next was a little daughter between seven and
eight years old, now Mrs. Ellen L. Sanders, living
in Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico. This lady is consid-
234 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
ered to be one of Utah's foremost literary women.
Last was Baby Rosamond, only fifteen months
old, who is now Mrs. Geo. Sutherland, wife of the
U. S. Senator from Utah. Besides these five child-
ren of their own, there was a little English girl
named Jane Hall, whose father had left her tempor-
arily with the Lees while he went in search of a
home and employment. She was about thirteen
years old. These six children would have made a
costly sacrifice to be offered up on the alter of
redhanded violence.
The Indian spokesman who hailed Mr. Lee by
name, said that he was Too-witch-ee-Tick-a-boo*
a very good friend, who was hungry. Would his
friend John open the door and give him break-
milk-matches, etc., Mr. Lee, after some talk, said
to his wife, "We have always been such good friends
with the Indians, can it be possible that all this is
a mistake 1" "Not possible!" she replied "that all
this shooting is any mistake." The Indian con-
tinued to plead and protest until Mr. Lee said a,/ain
to his wife, "I have so little ammunition that I can
not fight long ; and when it is all gone, we should be
at their mercy, and they would be still more an-
gry than they are now. What do you think!"
"I think just this: They are not angry at all —
have no occasion to be so. They have simply made
up their minds to kill us. We will fight as long as
there is one shot left, and trust in God. Let m«
answer once." "No," she called to the Indian,
"you are not Tick-a-boo! We will not open the
door! If you come in here, we will shoot you!"
The Indian laughed, and said, "Oh! Squaw
shoot! Now me scared! Yes, now me scared!"
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 235
Mr. Lee hastened to speak again lest the enemy
suppose that the woman had spoken because he was
disabled.
Now the defenders learned the real reason for
the stay of proceedings and the parley; for little
puffs and lines of smoke began to come in between
the roof and the walls of the unceiled rooms. The
Indians had brought sagebrush and pushed bundles
of it with poles up under the eaves, and fired them.
Providentially, there had been snow sometime
lately, and although the most of it was gone from
sight, the roof of boards and slabs was so damp it
would not blaze. The underside, with the burning
brush against it, took fire but only smoudered, and
poured into the rooms clouds of bitter smoke. It
floated high for awhile, and then settled down like
doom upon the defenseless inmates. It grew so
dense that strangulation threatened ; and baby Eose
gasped and struggled so that she seemed about to
die. At one time some one discovered that under
the best bed was better air, and Mary was appointed
to take the child there and tend her. The other
children stuck their heads into cupboards and even
the dutch oven, and wherever they could find a little
air. There was still a little water in the house, which
was hoarded carefully. The wounded man contin-
ously moaned for water, the baby drank eagerly,
the others must have a few sips, and there was very
little to spare for the fire, but that little was cautious-
ly applied so as not to waste one precious drop.
Emma had used some to make a cup of coffee
for her father who dared not be off his guard for a
single minute; and she had also given the children
drinks of milk and bits of bread; but the parents
236 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
had no time for eating.
The smoke thickened till the wounded man
groaned in distress ; and Charles, Emma and Janey
Hall took turns in fanning him while they breathed
through damp handkerchiefs, and coughed in a way
that must have been music to the ears of their would-
be murderers. Charles could even lift the head of
the fallen youth to give him water, and did so until
he was nearly as bloody as the patient. As the din
increased, and more shots flew through the stifling
smoke, Charles and Janey went together to the
mother to ask what they could do to help.
"You poor children," she answered, "there is
nothing more you can do with your hands ; but you
might pray with all your might for God in heaven to
help us — He only can ; ' ' and those two children knelt
down amidst all that blood and smoke and uproar,
and prayed with all the unstudied earnestness of
trusting childhood ; and who shall say they were not
heard?
About this time some Indian inserted the tines
of a pitchfork into the closing of the east door, and
burst off the frail wooden button, but the cupboard
barricade did not allow the door to open more than
an inch or two. Here the darkness within gave Mr.
Lee his first real advantage over his assailants. He
haw, without pressing near enough to be seen, an
Indian raising his gun to fire through the crevice;
and he turned loose with the old shotgun at point
blank range.
A wild yell, followed by dreadful shrieks, groans
«nd howls, was the result of this, the second shot
from the gun, which fairly tore away the right
shoulder of the Indian. Almost immediately, Mr.
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 237
Lee saw another Indian at a few rods distance ram*
mmg a load into his gun. He sent the load fromt he
other barrel after this besieger, and handed die gun
to his wife to be reloaded; while with his revolver
in hand, he continued his watch through that danger-
ous but convenient opening.
The Indian who received that last shot, had
seemed to think he was out of range ; for when the
charge struck him, he dropped his gun and sprang
straight upward with a suppressed, guttural cry
that seemed to express as much surprise as pain. By
this time the Indians decided that they had no use
for that narrow opening in the door, for the pitch-
fork was cautiously removed ; and the besieged has-
tened to drive in a stout nail.
During this part of the action, Emma had found
an ax in the kitchen and stationed herself by the
west door, saying grimly that she would do her best
to chop off a leg from the first Indian who came in
there. Had the occasion and the moment been less
tragic and desperate, this might have been amusing ;
for she was a delicate girl and small for her age;
but she meant it.
Her mother smiled drearily at such training for
a dainty girl, but her keenest anxiety in this terrible
situation was for her daughter Mary. She found
and gave to Mary a small dagger in a sheath at-
tached to a narrow leather belt ; and while directing
her to buckle it around her waist, said solemnly : • 4My
daughter, our case is desperate; and if the worst
comes, if the Indians do break in on us, your father,
I and most likely all the rest of us except yourself
will be killed at once ; but I fear they would take you
alive and put you to tortures worse than death, as
238 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
is their way with women prisoners. Let me beg you
to wear this dagger and do not let them take you
alive."
Mary who had been so brave until now, almost
fainted on hearing this; and, pale to the lipe, she
sighed "Oh, I couldn't — hurt a fly." Her mother
urged her to be brave, and added, ' ' I wore that dag-
ger through a time of danger — " and Mary, with a
great effort, put by her weakness and returned to her
duties.
The uproar on the outside gradually subsided;
and the smoke on the inside thinned a little, probably
being drawn up through the two chimneys.
The besieged waited with straining ears to learn
what new deviltry was to be practiced on them, while
the slow minutes dragged along. The baby, pale
and gasping, grew so weak and faint, that the mother
in desperation took her to a west window which she
opened enough to give the child a few breaths of
outside air. The father ran in alarm to see what
had happened; and on seeing the condition of the
child, took up his guard there as long as they both
dared. Then he said, "I will rush out and get
water to drink and to throw on the fire."
The wife protested earnestly, against this, so
did the children. Mrs. Lee believed that the treach-
erous foe had only pretended to go away, hoping to
entice him, the only fighting man, to go on this very
errand, so they might pick him off easily. "If he
were killed," she urged, "the others very soon
would be. ' '
He yielded to their entreaties; and Mrs. Lee,
who was never known to flinch in the face of duty,
and Mary, who had already concluded that an In-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 239
MIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1IIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIMIIIIIMIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIMIIIIIMI1II
dian bullet would be far better than a dagger in
her own hand, took buckets, and when the barricade
had been removed from the back door, while the
husband and father stood at guard for them, they
ran to the stream, only a rod or two from the south
end of the house, and secured water.
The opening of the door (which was hastily bar-
ricade again) released a volume of smoke, the
water relieved their aching throats and smarting
eyes, and with it they finally extinguished the fire.
There had been no demonstration whatever from the
enemy for nearly an hour; and hoping that the In-
dians were really gone began to struggle with the
fear of an ambuscade, when Charles came to his
parents with a grave proposal that they allow him
to run to town and ask for help.
They were horrified at jthe bare thought of
sending out so young a child to go eight miles on
foot, more probably, to be shot down before their
«yes by their lurking foes. But the boy had the look
of one inspired while he urged, "I know I can go
and not be shot;" and said he would not follow the
wagon road, which wound among the ridges, but
would take a straight shoot across the country,
which would shorten the way two miles or more.
The parents then looked into each other's eyes
and agreed without words. ' ' God is with the child, ' '
said the father, and laying his hands on the head of
his grave little son, he solemnly blessed him. The
mother kissed him just as solemnly, with all the dust
and blood upon him. Then they opened the west
window looking toward town and the boy sprang
through and ran like a deer until lost to sight among
the stunted cedars and sagebrush on the hillside.
240 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
His father remained by the open window watch-
ing for sign of an enemy until the flying figure
disappeared. Then he closed the window and with
his tired wife and weary children, prepared to face
another interval of inaction and suspense. But just
here, Janey raised a diversion by requesting Mr. and
Mrs. Lee to let her also run away to Beaver. This
they assured her they would never do. She was a
girl — nearly thirteen years old — not even their own
— oh ! no ! that was not to be thought of — not for one
moment !
But the more they explained these things to
Janey, the more persistent she grew, and the more
fiercely she accused them of allowing one of their
own to escape and save his life, while they kept her
to be killed. After fifteen minutes to half an hour
of screams and tears, and alternate entreaties and
upbraidings from Janey, Mr. and Mrs. Lee decided
that only God in heaven knew whether it were less
dangerous to go or to stay ; and they let her go.
Mr. Lee stood at the window as before to keep
his futile watch over the child until she went out of
his sight around the bend in the road.
The sequel proved that at this very time the
Indians were really gone to join their companions
who were passing with droves of cattle; and happy
would the Lees have been could they have known il.
When Charles set out, he felt, as he said after-
wards, as though he could fly. He fixed his eyes on
a landmark and never went a round a rock or a bush,
but leaped over them. He had no sense of fatigue
until he reached the little suburb of Beaver which
had been named Pleasant Point, but nicknamed
Jackson County. There he saw Mr. Anderson just
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 241
about to mount a horse to ride over to Beaver, about
a mile distant.
Seeing the boy all bloody and wild, he paused to
make inquiry ; and the boy panted out, l ' The Indians
— fighting — Hawthorne Dell. ' J
"Poor boy," said Mr. Anderson, "Sit down
here and rest and I'll stir up Beaver in a hurry."
He mounted and galloped away, and the boy sat
down on some timbers and felt like he never could
move again. He had lost hat and shoes, scratched
his flesh and torn his clothing to rags; but he had
accomplished his errand in a marvelously short
time.
So did Mr. Anderson; for the boy was still
sitting in the same place when a band of mounted
men whom he had "scared up," passed on their
way to Hawthorne Dell. They shouted "Hello
Bub," but never drew rein. Near Birch Creek,
about half the distance to the ranch, they met Janey
Hall, who, to their surprise, did not seem frightened
nor excited, but was walking leisurely along the
road, and chewing gum that she had picked by the
way. They greeted her and passed on, and she fin-
ished her long walk alone but safely.
When the horsemen reached the ranch, sometime
before noon, they found no Indians, but scouted
about and found plenty of signs. Patches of frothy
blood on the top of the ridge whence came the shot
that brought down young Lilywhite before he had
a chance to fire once ; other blood on the ground east
of the house, and indoors, too. The dropped rifle
was found and utterly ruined, and with its magazine
quite empty. Harness, saddles, tools and many other
things were destroyed, all the horse and cattle in-
242 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
closures were left empty, and untold damage done;
but of the nine persons beseiged only one had been
hurt, and the grain stacks were safely standing. For
these mercies Mr. Lee was a thankful man.
A few of the men remained to assist the family
while the others pushed on after the Indians.
It did not take those on the trail very long to
understand the situation. The range was silent and
empty, and the fat young cattle found shot along
the trail, told them the whole story. They knew that
the relations between this family and their Indian
neighbors had always been friendly, therefore it
was highly improbable that this attack had any per-
sonal ill will behind it; but was made solely because
the little ranch lay in the track the Indians wanted to
use in a great cattle raid. Although they must have
known that the family was hurrying to get away for
the winter, they could not postpone the raid because
they also knew the white men were preparing for an
extensive roundup, and they, the Indians wished to
be beforehand.
These men followed the Indians and cattle sixty
or more miles without overtaking them, swift as
they had been to follow. There they were forced to
turn back because their hasty preparations were so
inadequate to a long march or for a hard fight.
At the farm the great concern was to get the
wounded man and the family away before night. The
team was gone, the harness demolished, the wagon
heaped up with potatoes ; and the only vehicle that
had come from town was a very light buggy belong-
ing to Bishop E. Murdock. This could not even
convey the wounded man, who was too weak from
loss of blood to sit erect. Just here the meinorv of
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 243
IIIIIIIMIIIIIIlMlllllllllllllllMIIIIIIIMIIIIIItlMltlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Mrs. Lee (now 84 years old) under whose sanction
and prompting this chronicle is made, fails her;
and the pen woman, who was not an eyewitness,
supplies from impressions received at the time this
one statement, believed but not guaranteed to be
true.
A good brother named Alonzo Colton, from
Miners vile, was on his way to a sawmill farther up
in the mountains to get a load of lumber. He arrived
at Hawthorne Dell when it began to look as if there
was nothing to do but to send to Beaver for convey-
ance and await its coming, a most dread alternative.
On hearing of the dilemma, Mr. Colton promptly un-
hitched his team, and leaving his ^running gear"
standing, hitched on to Mr. Lee 's wagon, from which
the potatoes were hastily "dumped." The sick man
in his bed and the wife and children were then load-
ed in, and Mr. Colton himself drove them down the
mountain road to their home, where they arrived at
about five o 'clock, p. m.
Now if this statement be not correct, Mr. Col-
ton or any surviving member of his family is at
liberty to deny it; and she who wrongfully accuses
him stands ready to apologize amply. One thing,
however, that she knows to be a fact, is that when,
some days later, threshing was done, this same Mr.
Colton with his own wagon and team brought down
one or more loads of the crop, and never would ac-
cept one cent of pay. For this kindness to fellow-
creatures in distress, he is gratefully remembered
to this day; also others who freely rendered assist-
ance at a time of need.
This murderous and unprovoked attack took
place on the 23rd of October, A. D. 1866. Mr. Lee,
244 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
Who is not now living, always considered it a divine
intervention that prompted him to put his fire-arms
into good condition just on the eve of such dire
need. He fired only three shot, (having no ammuni-
tion to waste), but every one reached its mark. The
Indians at the time made themselves scarce, and
knew absolutely nothing; but in after years they
said Mr. Lee was a Big Chief — a Brave — and that
he had killed three bad Indians who had tried to kill
him. These were the Piutes, whose home was in Bea-
ver County, and who knew every member of Mr.
Lee 's family well, and often visited them at the farm.
It is even probable that the very matches used to fire
the dwelling had been begged from the intended
victims. One queer thing not yet mentioned is that
when the east door of the house was finally opened,
it was found piled high with sagebrush that had not
been fired; and after much wonder why this dry
door was left unburned while the wet roof had so
much effort spent on it in vain, the conclusion was
finally reached that after the brush was heaped
against the door, the Indians found they had used
all their matches. If so, it was certainly an error of
judgment on their part, because the door would have
burned readily.
Joseph Lillywhite recovered from his wound;
but it is said that he never became the strong man
that his robust youth promised, and did not live to
reach middle age.
Such were many of the experiences of the early
settlers of Utah.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 245
ACCOUNT OF THE WAR IN WASATCH COUNTY
AND VICINITY.
Wasatch County, Utah, which was somewhat ad-
jacent to the Indian rendezvous in the DuChesne
country had its share of Indian troubles during the
Black Hawk war in 1866. The following from the
writing of John Crook of Heber City :
In the early spring of 1866, instructions came
from military headquarters, Salt Lake City to pre-
pare for Indian troubles, and to guard our stock and
vicinity, and we were informed that officials would
arrive to organize us and place us on a war footing.
In the month of April, 1866, we began to build
corrals for our dry-stock in Eoss Hollow, eight miles
north, and also a large corral in Heber City for the
cow-herd.
On the 25th of May, 1866, Col. Robert T. Bur-
ton and Drill Sergeant D. G. Eoss arrived, and or-
ganized the militia in the valley, with John W. Witt
as Major and Charles H. Wilkins as adjutant of
company (A) " cavalry. " Company (D) was com-
posed of Silver Grays, and these two companies
formed the first Battalion.
Companies B and C formed the second battal-
ios, and was commasded by John Ha.rm1f.fm as
major and John Crook as adjutant.
All on the west side of the Provo Eiver prin-
cipally Midway formed a separate command, a bat-
talion, with Sidney H. Epperson as major and
David Van Wagonen as adjutant, this company con-
sisted of both cavalry and infantry.
246 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
All the settlers on the east side of the Provo
River moved to Heber City. On the 25th and 26th
of May a two days drill was ordered, and a sham
battle was participated in on which occasion Col.
Robert T. Burton called the troops into a hollow
square. This being done Col. Burton said, "Now
you are organized on a war footing, go to work
and put out your guards and scouts, and protect
yourselves.''
The previous winter had been a very severe
one, and with deep snow in the mountains we did
not expect that the Indians would come over so
soon.
FIRST INDIAN RAID.
About the middle of May, 1866, a band of In-
dians came over the mountains, no doubt in the
night, the snow being crusted. They gathered up
some forty or fifty head of stock on the east range,
and drove them over no doubt while the snow was
yet crusted. Wm. McDonald while hunting cattle
came across the trail. Adjutant Wilkins and Lieuten-
ant McDonald started with a posse of men in pursuit
and reached the trail in the middle of the day. The
snow being soft the horses plunged to their bellies
and the expedition had to give up the chase and
return home. Wm. Bradley Sessions who had a
big family lost seven cows in this raid, the Indians
taking all he had. This raid was made before the
county militia was organized.
For information I will describe the lay of the
country. Three canyons leads from Provo Valley to
the dividing ridge between said valley and the In-
dian Reservation. The center one is Lake Creek
INDIAN DEPBEDATIOHS 247
iiiMiiiiiimiuiMiimiilif minium
running due east, through this canyon an Indian
trail leads over into the west fork of the Duchesne
River, and it was only forty miles from Heber to
the Indian colony on said river by way of this trail.
After re-organization of the militia we placed
guards, "The Silver Grays," on the north
and south of Main Street in Heber City and a
guard at the grit mill, one mile east, also three
sets of scouts for the three canyons, patrolling the
ridge between the Reservation and Provo Vallyy.
They were on duty both day and night, and were
changed every four days.
On the 27th of May an expedition started to the
Uintah Indian Reservation. Col. Head, the Indian
agent, was along with Col. Robert T. Burton and
Sergeant Ross, with supplies for the Indiass ; there
were also three men with one hundred head of beef
cattle for the Indians, a present from Brigham
Young (church donation) Col. Head asking for an
escort of the militia, the following were chosen to
compose the escort.
Captain Wm. M. Wall, Lieut. Joseph McDonald,
Serg't John McDonald; Privates: John J. Cum-
mings, Wm. B. Sessions, Hyrum Oakes, Joseph Mc-
Carrol, George Boner, Nymphus C. Murdock, Wil-
liam Forman, Stanley Davis, Steven Taylor of Salt
Lake City, Alma Huntington, George Carlile. The
expedition was gone twelve days.
The personnel of a Second Platoon composing
the escort is the following:
Lieut. Patrick Caroll, Serg't Edward Brunson
Privates : Wm. Giles, Jr., Eph. Van Wagenon, Jerry
Robey, Zeke Bates, Emanuel Richman, James Carlile,
John Acomb, Stephen Moore. Teams and teamsters :
248 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
N. C. Murdock's team, Ben. A. Norris, driver, John
W. Witts team, Willard Carroll driver, Hyrum
Oakes, team, Isaac 0. Wall, driver.
This Platoon and outfit was gone ten days.
They were corralled four day in a log cabin sur-
rounded by three hundred "to-buck" (angry) In-
dians, who didn't want the cattle but wanted Mor-
mon scalps. The agent prevailed on the Indians to
let them go.
On July 8th, 1866, a second expedition was sent
to the reservation with Indian supplies.
Following are the names of the parties, con-
stituting this expedition :
Major John Hamilton, Lieut. Joseph McCarroll
(infantry), Adjutant Charles WilMn, Capt. Wm. M.
Wall, lieut. Wm. McDonald, and Privates Nym-
phus C. Murdock, George Giles (blacksmith) William
Gallagher, Joseph Thomas, George F. Giles, Henry
Luke (interpreter) Albert McMullen, John Harvey,
Jr., James Allred, Richard Jones, Wm. M. Giles, Mo-
roni Duke, James Shanks, commissary for the expe-
dition and Privates Ira N. Jacobs, George Boner,
James B. Hamilton, A. Thompson and Emanuel
Richman (teamster.)
This expedition numbering 23 men was gone
eight days, from the 8th to the 16th of July.
While this party was over at the Reservation
a raid was made on Thomas Handley's corral, in
Heber City, where Indians took two oxen and a hei-
fer.
This raid will be explained as the raid in which
Jas. A. Ross and others figured.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 249
SECOND RAID ON STOCK.
After the second expedition had started for the
Reservation and while the expedition was still there
between the 8th and 16th of July, 1866, some Indians
came into the eastern part of Heber and took two
oxen and a heifer from Tom. Handley 's corral ; they
left a bell-cow. William Foreman, who was on guard
at the lake, found the tracks at daylight. A shower
having fallen during the night he rushed to Heber
and reported. Handley *s stock being found miss-
ing, James A. Eoss, Joseph S. Parker, Sid Carter
and Isaac Cummings started in a hurry on the trail
and when down about eight miles on the west Du-
chesne they saw smoke in the timber. Leaving their
horses and crawling up close to the timber, they
saw the Indians roasting meat, they having killed
the heifer. One Indian was sitting on the paunch
while the others were lying down. By signs each
of the men in pursuit took aim at an object and
fired. The Indian on the paunch fell over and the
others crawled into the brush. The boys got the
oxen and also the Indians' horses and effects and
some of the meat, which they brought home, and
they did not look to see how many Indians were
killed.
This occurred when the militia was at the Res-
ervation. Lieutenant McDonald was conversing-
with some Indians when another Indian rode up
very excited pointing to the hills and motioned for
another horse. It was rumored that a wounded In-
dian was brougt in before the company left. Putting'
these items together, they tally with circumstan-
250 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
ces connected with the raid on Mr. Handley's cattle
at that time.
By request of Commander James D. Shanks.
Adjutant Lindsey sends an account of an incident
which happened in conection with the second expedi-
tion from Provo Valley. After delivering the sup-
plies to the Indians, part of the company decided
to come back to Heber by way of the short cut, or
Indian trail. Captain Wm. M. Wall, Charles H.
Wilcken, Nymphus C. Murdock, George Bonner, Jos.
McCarrel, Ira Jacobs and Wm. Gallagher and two
or three others were in this company. This route
led them down Lake Creek Canyon which is east of
Heber and runs to the ridge between this Valley and
the old Reservation, scouts were kept on this ridge
all through the summer. The day before these men
came over the ridge the scouts came to Heber and re-
ported that they had seen Indians encamped in a
grove near the head of Lake Creek.
Twelve men on foot were sent out that night
with orders to get well up into the canyon before day
light to surround the Indians. They reached the
appointed place by nine or ten o 'clock a. m. and exa-
mined the grove. They saw no Indians, but found a
fresh trail leading down towards Heber.
This company consisted of W. B. Sessions, Isaac
Baum, John and Geo. Muir, Jesse Bond, Lewis Mec-
ham, Thos. Handley, G. A. Wilson, Dickson Green
and three others. After following the trail three
miles, they came onto what they supposed were In-
dians, lying in a sort of grassy and shadj- place, and
without waiting for orders two of the men fired. The
result was that N. C. Murdock was grazed by a
Imllet on his left wrist and shot in the right leg.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 251
iiiiiimiiimiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiii
The bullet shattering the shin bone. George Bonner
was shot through the thigh, the bullet coming so near
through that it was cut out with a pocket knife.
Wm. M. Wall had a marvelous escape, a bullet
passed around the rim of his belly, making nine holes
in his vest and shirt, but never breaking his skin.
It has always been considered a miracle that Cap-
tain Wall was not killed. It was also through the
alertness of our scouts just a few days before, that
J. A. Boss and three companions were able to over-
take those three Indians who took Thomas Handley's
oxen and heifer out of his corral, right in Heber, and
they brought back the oxen and the Indians ' horses,
also a white mule that had been stolen by the Indians
down on the Sevier River.
One Indian was known to have been killed at
the time, and another wounded; one got away.
Written by Wm. Lindsey, and corroborated by
James D. Shank, commander Wasatch Department,
Indian War Veterans, — who was Commissary at the
time.
THIRD RAID.
About August, Indians took John Muir's mules
and John Turner's horses out of a pasture adjoining
Heber City east. Through friendly Indians Mr. Tur-
ner got back his horses, but Mr. Muir's mules, two
fine ones, failed to return.
FOURTH RAID.
About the 20th of August Indians took John
Lee's horses from his pasture, one mile east of
Heber City. Mr. Lee had moved from his farm to
the east line of the city, and had just taken the
252 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
animals to the pasture, when on looking east,
he saw the Indians driving the horses out of the pas-
ture. He gave the alarm. The Indians drove the
horses along the foot hills, east and north aiming to
strike the Park City road north of Heber. A com-
pany of men started to head them off. William Mc-
Donald who lived on his farm on said road and
owned a good horse, mounted this horse bare back
and started in pursuit, but the Indians struck the
road before Mr. McDonald. A race ensued, but be-
fore Mr McDonald could reach the river bridge six
miles north, the Indians ran the horses across the
Provo River and into some brush where they left
them, and then hurried away.
The boys brought the horses back. About ten
days later the Indians stole the same horses again,
out of the same pasture. On this occasion Mr. Lee
got one horse back by paying an Indian for getting
it.
FIFTH RAID.
In September, 1866, the Indians broke into Wm.
BelPs stable south of Heber and stole a fine pair
of mares "called Island stock ". These animals
were young and full of life, and had not been han-
dled much. It appeared that the Indians had had
a struggle with them in the sage brush. The next
morning they were found shot. About this time, or
perhaps a little later, Charles H. Wilkin went to his
saw-mill in Center Creek canyon with two yoke of
oxen, which he turned out in the evening. The next
morning they were gone. Major Witt and Adj't.
Wilkin went to the Reservation and got three of
them back; one had been killed and eaten. It was
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 253
quite a risk for these two men to go on such, an
expedition alone.
From a report filed Oct. 8th, 1866, by Major
John Hamilton, who was in command, we learn that
Indians had stolen some horses from stables in the
south part of Heber City, and had driven them
south, following a ridge to the river. Thence up a
canyon over the ridge, thence into American Fork
Canyon, and thence down to the north end of Utah
Lake, across Jordan Bridge and thence into Cedar
Valley, going west.
A company of sixteen started in pursuit and
when they reached the Jordan Bridge they learned
that the Indians had crossed there before day-light.
The boys followed the thieves into Cedar Valley and
met some teams hauling wood. The wood-haulers
said that they had seen some Indians and horses
two hours previous on the run. As the pursuers
realized that they were at least two hours behind
the Indians they concluded that following further
would be a fruitless chase, as the Indians before
they could be overtaken would be on their own
grounds and the horses hidden away. It was there-
fore decided to give up the chase, and the boys con-
sequently returned to their homes.
Following are the names of those who partici-
pated in this expedition:
Major John Hamilton, Capt. Wm. M. Watt,
Lieutenants James A. Ross and Patrick Carroll,
Sergeants Philip L. Smith and Geo. A. Wilson and
Privates John Acomb, Joseph Parker, A. McMullen,
Sol. Sessions, Geo. F. Giles, Wm. Gallagher, Wm.
M. Giles, Orson Hicken, Bobt. Broadhead and Frank
Fraughton.
254 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
MiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiimiiimiiMiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiitiiiii iiiiiiiimmiiiiiii IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIN
ACCOUNT OF THE WAR IN WASATCH
COUNTY CONTINUED.
The spring of 1867 was late and the snow deep
in the hills. We pnt out our guards, but no Indians
troubled us until about the middle of July. We had
a special scout independent of the usual scouts,
namely John Cummirigs, who on a certain occasion
found in a side Canyon an Indian who had skinned
an ox and was in the act of cutting up the meat.
Mr. Cummings covered the Indian with his rifle
and drove him ahead of him to Heber City where he
was kept under guard three days. A court marshal
decided to write a note to Chief Tabby, advising
him to keep his Indian at home, and also asking
Tabby to come over and make peace with us. We
gave the note to the Indian and told him to go im-
mediately to the Reservation, give the note to Chief
Tabby like a good Indian. Two guards went with
him to see him over the ridge.
About a month later, or about the 15th or 20th
of August, Chief Tabby with his whole tribe, squaws,
pappoosses and peaceable Indians that he could
control came here. The Chief said that he could
not control those of his Indians who were with
Black Hawk. We had a bowery in which we held
summer meetings, and in this we set large tables,
and the ladies furnished a good picnic for the
Indians. An ox was killed and roasted, (a fine
barbeque) and the Indians filled up good; the pipe
of peace was passed around, and the Indians
after stopping a few days returned home with a
few good presents. On leaving our valley these In-
dians stole thirty of our horses.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 255
This occurrence ended the raids in our valley,
and we still kept up our guards and scouts in the
hills.
Concerning further Indian troubles in Wasatch
County in 1867 John Crook wrote the following:
The expeditions reported in the foregoing de-
tails are from the original records in charge of
John Crook who was adjutant to Major John Ham-
ilton at the time. Other information is from par-
ties who took part in the different expeditions and
from personal knowledge and memory. The guards
and scouts were mostly from the infantry and
the Silver Grays. The cavalry was kept as min-
ute men to be ready to go at a minute's notice.
There were about 260 men enrolled in the militia
in Provo Valley. At this time (1914) the sur-
vivors are reduced to about thirty-five.
I have written this by an order and sanction
of the Veterans and they pronounce it O. K. this
7th day of November, 1914. John Crook.
COL. PIERCE AND ANDREWS ENGAGE
INDIANS NEAR ST. GEORGE. ,
Early in January 1867 the Navajoes made a
raid on the horse herd in Washington County. This
being just after New Year, it was an intimation of
what might be expected in other places ; in this in-
stance however, the success of the savages was of
short duration. Captain James Andrus led a party
of Saint George cavalry in pursuit, overtook the
thieves, killed eleven of them and recovered the
horses.
256 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
RAID ON PINE VALLEY, INDIANS OVERTAKEN,
ELEVEN KILLED.
From David Chidester the following additional
particulars are obtained. On the night of Jan. 18th,
1867, the Navajo and some Shevete Indians gathered
stock from Shoal Creek down along Black Ridge.
When Col. J. D. L. Pierce and his company found the
tracks, they followed them to the end of the ridge,
some ten or fifteen miles. The militia kept in a
wash as much as possible, and saw in the distance
what appeared to be a small whirl-wind, but which
proved to be smoke from the Indians camp-fire.
The cavalry came upon the Indians unawares, and
killed twelve of them and put the rest to flight;
they recovered nearly all the stock, about two hun-
dred head, but some of the Indians had separated
were seen, but not found. While the fight was in
from the rest, as the tracks of two large mules
progress the stock started back the way they came,
and were not overtaken till they had preceded about
six miles.
As spring advanced Black-Hawk and his band
from the Elk Mountains region made, their way
northward. In March, 1867, General Snow was in
Glenwood confined to his bed with sickness, and the
people were not looking for trouble with the Indians
so early in the season. However, they were prepar-
ing for future trouble by building a rock fort about
two miles west of Glenwood, which was considered
a safer place than Glenwood, being farther away
from the mountains, or out in the open valley, but the
location was not good, as it was low land and without
MARK LINDSEY
The above cut shows the
flag of the 1st Battalion 3rd Regi-
ment of Infantry Nauvoo Legion.
This flag was carried by Mark
Lindsey, of Captain James C.
Livingston's Company under the
command of Major Andrew Burt,
which company was mustered into
service July 25, 1866. Mark Lind-
sey was chosen to carry this flag
on account of his height, which was
6 feet and 3 inches. Mr. Lindsey
was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire,
England, January 22, 1832, and
came to Utah with the Utah Hand-
cart Pioneers in 1859. He was the
Pioneer Pleasure Garden man of
Utah and owned what was known
in pioneers days as "Linsey'-s
Gardens", which occupied a quart-
er section in the North-east part
of Salt Lake City. He died in
Ogden, Utah, February 12, 1900.
PRESIDENT WM. H. SEGMILLER AND WIFE
of Sevier Stake, closely connected with the colonization of Indians in Grass Valley.
PETER GOTTFREDf
VXD FAMILY 1
18T2, and contracted with her sister's
I married Amelia Gledhill in April. i**tz. ana contracted with her sister's
isband Bernard Snow, to bring logs to his saw-mill to be sawed into lumber
to have half. I took my young wife to the mill to cook, and engaged her
brother, Thomas Gledhill. to help me get logs to the mill, *-ith :hree "oke jf
large oxen We worked there till the 26th of September, when Indians from
ambush killed one of our number and wounded another.
In 1882. at the age of 36. when this picture was taken. I was requested
by the editor of our local paper, the Richfield Advocate, to write up the circum-
stances for publication, which I did. with the assistance of my wife, her brother
Ihomas, and my brother-in-law. Colonel John L. Ivie, which was the beginning
of the compilation of this history.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 257
drainage, and surrounded by springs and swamps.
Yet the town being so near the hills was too much
exposed for safety; hence, the move. The Fort,
however, was never finished.
J. P. PETERSEN, WIFE AND MARY SMITH
KILLED NEAR GLENWOOD.
A SKIRMISH AT GLENWOOD, STOCK
RECOVERED.
Early in the morning of March 21, 1867, Jens
Peter Peters en and wife, and Mary Smith, a neigh-
bor girl, aged fourteen years, left Richfield, Sevier
County to go to Glenwood about five miles distant
(east) with an ox-team to do some trading. Stores
being few in those days. Warren S. Snow had
brought a load of merchandise to Glenwood to trade
for stock and produce, and in order to get some
needed articles, these people ventured out, think-
ing that by starting so early in the day there would
be no danger, but as the roads were muddy, they
could not travel as fast they had expected. It may
here be added that it was contrary to council at
this time for anyone to travel between the settle-
ments without armed escort. The Petersens left
their baby girl, eighteen months old, at Jorgen
Smith's at Richfield; she is now Mrs. Christine
Christensen of Koosharem, and mother-in-law of
Louis Hatch (the Indian Missionary). When they
got to the so-called Black Ridge east of the Sevier
River, Indians were gathering the stock along the
river bottoms; and the Indians seeing the people
on the road, immediately attacked them and killed all
of them, mutilating their bodies in a most horrible
258 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
manner, especially the women; they also killed one
of their oxen. Just at that time two boys from
Glenwood, Joseph Hendricksen and Joseph Frankum
happened to be down in the field near by after some
cows. They had some difficulty in starting the
animals and looking back they saw two persons com-
ing down the dugway. One of the boys said to the
other: " There comes some boys, we will ask them
to help us to start the cows." But they soon dis-
covered they were Indians and then ran for town,
The Indians squatted down and took a shot at them,
but missed their mark. Hendricksen reached town
first and reported. The murderers drove the stock
which they had gathered north to the crossing of
Cove River, near the so-called Herrings Hole. The
stream being difficult to cross, they were delayed
somewhat in getting the stock over. Some of the
men in town requested that no one should leave the
settlement lest the Indians should come and over-
power the people. But when Dr. Elias Pearson,
called for men to follow him, ten or more responded
among whom were the following : Dr. Pearson, Arte-
mus Millett, James Killion, J. K. Petersen, Joseph
Snow (son of General Snow), Archibald T. Oldroyd,
Joseph Herring, George Pectol, J. K. P. Sampson,
and Hans J. Gottfredson (a boy who was on his
way to work on the fort) Some of these men got
between the stock and the hills, and exchanged sev-
eral shots with the savages; and the Indians who
would not fight in the open, made for the hills and
rocks. One redskin endeavored to stampede the
stock by shouting and shaking his blanket, and
two or three others were hiding among the cattle,
but the stock did not seem to scare much on this oc-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 259
casion. The Indian with the blanket was wounded
and ran to the hills, and the savages reached a
creek later called Indian creek, where they made a
stand and fought for some time. It was amusing
to see J. K. Peterson maneuver, he would dodge
around here and there and when he saw an oppor-
tunity he would squat down and fire, throw himself
down on his back, while reloading, and get up again
to repeat the performances. Some of the men kept
the Indians back, while the younger boys drove the
stock to town. About a dozen men came out from
town to meet those who had been out and helped
to rdrive the stock in. Some Indians rode out onto
the point of the hill, and the white horse Chief
' ' Shena- vegan. ' ' rode around encouraging his braves
The boys picked him out for a target and ran him to
cover. John Frankum, whose gun was out of com-
mission, obtained another gun from a boy (Tom
Goff ) and together with some others went up to-
wards the Indians on the hill. Here Frankum was
shot through one shoulder which disabled him, but
Hans. J. Gottfredson assisted him to reach town. The
Indians finally pulled off into the hills, but got away
with a few horses and a mule or two. One of the
mules belonging to Peter Oldroyd. It was recovered
at the Spring City fight the next fall.
After the skirmish and recovery of the stock,
George Crowther of Monroe, who had been working
on the Glenwood Fort for Peter Oldroyd, started for
home. Archibald T. Oldroyd and some of the other
boys who had been in the fight started with him to
escort him part way, and when they reached the dug-
way on the hill near Glenwood they found the wagon,
and the murdered people. It appeared that when the
260 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
Indians had shot the ox, the people jumped from the
wagon and started to run. Petersen had gone but a
short distance from the wagon when he was shot
down. After being shot he had been horribly beaten
about the head and face ; his nose was mashed onto
the side of his face, and he was scalped. Mrs. Peter-
sen who was in a delicate condition had run a short
distance up the road. Miss Mary Smith being young,
had nearly reached the top of the hill before she was
overtaken. Both women were stripped and horribly
mutilated. Before George Crowther and his escort
left the scene of the tragedy, they were joined by a
company of men from Richfield. One of the party
was sent back to Richfield after a conveyance to
take the dead people home.
At the time of the killing of the people on Black
Ridge, Ole P. Bork, a Richfield harness maker, then
a boy, was going down into the meadows to look
for stock. Just at sunrise he heard shooting; the
air was a little hazy, but he could see that the shoot-
ing was done by Indians, and knowing also that
Petersen had gone to Glenwood, he thought the In-
dians were after them. He therefore ran for town,
but when about half way to the settlement a man on
horse-back (who had been down at the river) passed
him and gave the alarm. The drum beat, and when
Borg got to the fort at Richfield a number of men
had already started for the scene, but arrived there
too late to render much assstance. The Smith family
claimed the little girl who had been left with them,
as their daugther had been killed, but Major Glaus
P. Anderson who was a relative claimed her, and
raised her to womanhood.
Ten of the Richfield boys participated in the
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 261
expedition named. They were ordered to go to the
upper, or south end, of the Black Ridge and follow
down the same. When they came to the place where
the people were killed they met the Glenwood boys.
Some of both parties (Joe Snow with them) went
after the Indians; they traveled up Indian Creek,
the way the Indians had gone, and followed the trial
to the head of Lost Creek, where they abandoned the
chase and returned.
SEVIER, PIUTE AND PARTS OF OTHER
COUNTIES VACATED.
Richfield as well as Monroe and Glenwood were
vacated April 20, 1867, by their inhabitants because
of the Indian troubles. About the same time many
other places were temporarily deserted. Thus Piute
County was entirely vacated as well as the settle-
ments of Berryville, Windsor, upper and lower
Kanab, Shunesburg and Northup and many ranches
in Kane County ; and so also were the settlements of
Panguitch and Fort Sanford in Iron County.
These timely movements undoubtedly saved many
Kves, for the hostility and strength of the savages
left no doubt as to their determination on aggressive
measures. Troops were accordingly mustered into
service in the counties of Sanpete, Juab, and Utah.
GEN. R. T. BURTON AND COMMAND ORDERED
TO SANPETE.
April 15th, 1867, General .Daniel H. WeUs
called upon Major-General Robert T. Burton of Salt
Lake County to raise three platoons of cavalry to
262 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
march on the 22nd for Sanpete; this detachment
numbering seventy-two men, under command of Cap-
tain Orson P. Miles reported to General Pace at
Provo who had been appointed to succeed General
Snow in command of the Sanpete district.
CAPT. WM. L. BINDER'S INFANTRY LEFT
S. L. CITY FOR SANPETE.
ADAM PAUL OF CAPT. MILES CAVALRY
COMPANY WOUNDED.
On the 22nd of April 1867, Captain William L.
Binder left Salt Lake City with a small company of
infantry and reported for duty to General Pace,
whose headquarters had been established at Gunni-
son; General Pace's own district. Utah County had
also sent a company of cavalry under Captain F. P.
Whitmore and one of infantry to the front. With
these reinforcements and the energetic preparations
made by local troops it was hoped that the savages
might be deterred from further depredations.
An engagement occurred in May 11, 1867 in
which Adam Paul of Mile's Salt Lake cavalry was
wounded.
ATTACK ON FOUNTAIN GREEN COWHERD
LOUIS LUND KILLED.
At Fountain Green, Sanpete County, it was cus-
tomary for a guard of ten men to be with the cow-
herd, but in the morning of June 1st, 1867, only five
were with it, and Mathew Caldwell, the man in
charge of the guard, was detained in the settlement
and getting his horse shod. Feed being plentiful,
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 263
the herd only went a short distance from town to
graze. Two of the herders were stationed a short
distance east of the herd on a knoll where their
horses were feeding just below. The other three
herders were on the north. Wm. Adams, Jr., who
happened to be in the edge of town saw ten per-
sons riding fast from the east hills towards the herd.
Thinking they were the ten herds-men he took no
more notice of it until he heard shooting in the
direction of the herd; then he was convinced that
the men he had seen were Indians. Before the
Indians reached the herd, they separated, six going
east and the other four west of the herd. Jasper
Robertson, Swen Anderson and Louis Lund who
were north of the herd, had killed some rabbits
and were cleaning them in a hollow by the water
hollow ditch, and did not know anything about the
presence of Indians until the savages rode to the
brink of the hollow and shot Lund through the re-
gion of the heart. He immediately fell forward into
the water, and the other two jumped up and ran.
Jasper Robertson was shot through the thigh, while
Anderson escaped unhurt. Albert Col!ard and Char-
les Jones, who were on the east of the herd, heard
the shooting and ran toward the place where their
horses were. The Indians tried to head them off,
but the boys had the start and were not overtaken.
W. H. Adams and Thomas Caldwell, hearing the
shooting, thought it was the boys and Indians fight-
ing, and they mounted their horses and went to the
scene of action as speedily as they could. When
they got about two miles from town they saw cat-
tle which had been shot along the trail on which
264 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
the Indians were driving the herd. They followed
the herd to the pass that leads over into Water Hol-
low, and thinking it unsafe to follow farther they
returned. William G. Caldwell, a boy was taking
an old mare to the herd, seeing the Indians, turned
and rode for town. Some of the Indians tried to
head him off and shot at him several times, but
he escaped unhurt and gave the report in town. As
Adams and Caldwell were returning, after follow-
ing the Indians, they saw two men, Noah T. Guyman
and Charles Johnson, and on reaching them they
were informed that Louis Lund had been killed some-
where on the Water Hollow Ditch, but they could not
find him. But as Adams knew where the first shoot-
ing had been done, they soon located him and found
him lying with his head in the ditch with the water
running through his hair. He had also been shot
in the center of the forehead at short range, his
face being powder-burned. Adams and Caldwell
carried the body out of the hollow and by this time
others had arrived. Most horses are frightened at
the smell of blood, and as Adams had a gentle
horse and Parley Allred had a saddle on his horse,
they took the saddle off and put it on Adams' gen-
tle horse, placed the corpse in it in an upright posi-
tion, and with Swen Anderson walking on one side
and Adams on the other they held in it the saddle
until they reached the edge of town, where they
met Thomas Crowder with a wagon. They then
placed the body in the wagon and took it to the
fort, only about two hundred yards distant. Bro.
Lund's body was taken to his mother's room; he
was her only child.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 265
As soon as possible a company of men followed
the Indians who were driving away two hundred
head of stock and horses belonging to the settlers.
On reaching Thistle Valley they met Colonel John
L. Ivie and his company of cavalry from Mount
Pleasant and together they now followed the In-
dians and soon captured the cattle, but the Indians
who had changed horses and were riding fresh
horses belonging to the settlers hurried away, know-
ing that they were pursued. They rushed the horses
into Spanish Fork Canyon and got away with forty
head.
Col. Eeddick N. Allred gives the following par-
ticulars of the Fountain Green tragedy.
Springtown, June 12th, 1867.
Editor Deseret News: —
In regard to the Indian raid at Fountain Green,
some people may wonder why forty-five men, com-
iug up with twenty-one Indians could not kill or
cap line them and recover the stock, — we were led
to believe, from the report of the express riders and
telegram from Moroni, that twelve Indians had
gone with the stock, and that a war party was left
behind fighting for two hours. On learning this,
and that Major Bradley had sent assistance, I raised
fourteen men from Springtown and followed Col.
Ivie as fast as I could to Thistle Valley, to inter-
cept the Indians. He (Col. Ivie) arrived in Thistle
valley with twenty-three men from Mount Pleasant
and Fairview, and saw the Indians about three miles
distant, and near the canyon. Finding themselves
266 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
hard pressed they killed and wounded some of the
cattle, mounted fresh animals, driving only horses
before them and reached the canyon before Col.
Ivie came up. He took the precaution to flank
the canyon, not knowing but that a heavy re-
serve was lying in wait. In a few moments he be-
came satisfied that twelve Indians were about the
whole number in the canyon, but supposed that the
war party was still behind, and kept a rear guard
to watch for them. That guard twice reported In-
dians in the rear, but they proved to be our re-in-
forcements. Col. Ivie pursued the Indians about
three miles, into the mountains, but finding that
their jaded horses were unable to compete with the
fresh horses that the Indians had just mounted,
they gave up the chase. I formed a junction with
Maj. Guyman and twenty- three men from Fountain
Green and Moroni, in the south end of Thistle Val-
ley, and met Col. Ivie at the mouth of the canyon.
After hearing his report I decided to return. The
distance our men had to travel was from fifteen to
thirty miles, which was done on the run, I believe
that the officers and men generally did their best
in trying to capture the raiders, but the want of
vigilance on the part of the guards gave them the
advantage ; and the want of telegraph office in each
settlement was all that prevented us from cutting
them off. The distance rode from the point of at-
tack till I met Col. Ivie was at least fifty miles.
Yours,
R. N. Allred.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 267
MAJOR VANCE AND SOT. HOUTZ KILLED AT
TWELVE MILE CREEK.
On the 2nd of June, 1867, Major John W. Vance
(of Alpine, Utah County) Brigade Adjutant on Gen-
eral William B. Pace's staff, was returning with
Captain Orson P. Miles, Sergeant Heber Houtz, and
Nathan Tanner, Jr., of the Hiles Company from
a military drill at Manti to headquarters at Gun-
nison, at dusk, while halting at Twelve Mile Creek
to let their horses drink, they were fired on by
ambushed Indians at close range; at the first shot
Major Vance and his horse fell dead, and Sergeant
Houtz with a groan also fell from his steed as the
animal wheeled suddenly out of the creek. Believ-
ing their companions both dead, Captain Miles and
young Tanner rode rapidly back to Manti, where
a detachment under Lieutenant M. H. Davis of Salt
Lake County was ordered to recover the bodies of
the dead men.
Vance was found pierced with two bullets and
lying where he fell within a few feet of the creek;
Houtz had evidently recovered himself a moment
after the first fire, for his body shot with two bul-
lets and several arrows lay about ifive hundred
yards from the scene of the ambush. The remains
of the deceased were reverently conveyed to their
respective homes, where obsequies were conducted
over Major Vance on the 5th and Sergeant Houtz
on the 6th of June, 1867. The services closed with
military honors.
268 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
THE PARAGOONAH RANGE SWEPT BY
INDIANS.
Indians raided Beaver and captured a herd of
stock, June 14, 1867. The Paragoonah range was
swept by Indians June 22, 1867. Major Silas S.
Smith gave chase and succeeded in cutting the In-
dians off from the mountain passes; a maneuver
which caused the thieves to leave their booty. At
this raid an Indian named Albert Hanks, who had
been raised by a brother Hanks at Par o wan cap-
tured a Spaniard who had been captured by the
Navajoes and kept as a prisoner for several years.
He was trying to get away from the Indians when
captured. He afterwards made a speech at Pa-
ragoonah, giving a detailed account of how he had
been captured by the Indians. Among other things
he said that they burned the bottom of his feet in
order to cripple him, so he could not get away; he
was kept as a servant or slave by the Navajoes, and
he said that this was the first opportunity offered
him to escape.
RAID ON THE STOCK AT LITTLE
CREEK, BEAVER COUNTY.
At dusk on July 21, 1867, a descent was made
upon the stock at Little Creek near Parowan, Iron
County. The guards gave the alarm, the local caval-
ry was quickly in motion and headed off the Indians
at the mouth of the canyon, charging them and
turning back the stock. The savages re-formed and
charged twice, but were finally repulsed. The fight-
ing lasted nearly all night.
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 269
WM. J. ALLRED RECOVERS HIS HORSES, KILLS
TWO INDIANS.
William Jackson Allred was the first Bishop
of Circleville. When that town was vacated on the
28th of June 1866. He went to Parowan, Iron Coun-
ty, and later in the fall moved his family to Beaver.
The next summer he worked a farm on shares at
the Buckhorn Springs, south of Beaver, leaving his
family at Beaver.
One morning (Nov. 10th, 1868) when he got
up, he sent his little boy to look for his horses and
as the boy was gone longer than he thought he
should, he went to look for him. The boy who had
found the tracks of the horses, could see that they
had been taken by Indians, and showed his father
the tracks. Allred then took with him his five-
shot revolver and followed the trail of the thieves
all day, going northeast through Cottenwood can-
yon. Having crossed Buckskin Valley into Hawkins
Canyon, he discovered a smoke about a mile distant.
He crawled carefully to the place where he saw the
smoke and here the three thieves were located in a
deep wash sitting by the fire. He stopped to reflect as
to what was best to do and seeing one of the Indians
with a gun laying by him Allred fired at him, and
he fell over ; the other two jumped up and ran. He
fired at one of them killing him, the other got away.
When Brother Allred went down in the hollow where
he shot the first Indian he found that the Indian
was not dead as he raised up and shot an arrow at
him ; it grazed his face and went up through his hat.
Allred then shot the Indian in the head. He re-
270 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
covered his horses, and before leaving the place he
dragged the dead Indians together, covered them
with brush which he set on fire, and got back in
the night.
SPRING CITY FIGHT, J. MEEKS AND
A. JOHNSON KILLED.
An account given by Marinus Lund of Spring
City, Utah. During the month of April a com-
pany of "Minute Men" was organized at Spring
City, Sanpete County, Utah, for guarding, scout-
ing and general service in protecting the settlers
from the Indians ; the company was composed of ten
picked men, who were on duty all the time during
the spring and summer of 1867. Everybody moved
along quietly until the morning of August 13th,
1867, when about twenty men with teams left Spring
City for the hayfield which was about six miles
south-west of the town. Contrary to the usual cus-
tom, the scouting ahead of the cowherd was not
done that morning. A company of Indians, who
evidently had spent the previous night in the stone-
quarry hills, about a half mile south of the hay road,
saw the cow-herd coming over the hills north of
the road. In their effort to reach the herd the
Indians encountered the hay teams ; the minute men
were guarding the cow herd and were attracted by
the reports of the guns fired by the Indians in their
attack on the hay teams. William Scott, Sanford
Allred and myself rode to the place where the fir-
ing was heard. On our way we saw Andrew
Johnson, a driver of one of the hay teams, going
north with an arrow in his back. He had been shot
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 271
by an Indian while on his wagon. Sanford Allred,
who was armed with a cap and ball pistol, went to
Spring City, to report. William Scott left me and
rode down west. I yelled and asked him to wait
for me. I had nearly reached him when Mr. Scott
said "Look behind you." I then discovered that
several Indians were riding close behind me. I
turned in my saddle and fired at them, when they
rode away.
When I reached Scott, I asked him where he
was going? He said that he was afraid his falher-
in-law, James Meeks had been killed. I then left
Scott and rode north to the cow herd. On the
way I met William Blain who had been shot through
the ear by the Indians. Mr. Blain told me not to
get scared. I showed him the nearest way to town,
and told him to go there as fast as he could. The
Indum? were then ali south of us.
I then met Jack Allred and asked him where he
was going. He said that he was going down to get
his horse out of the band which the Indians had
stolen. As he was crippled I told him that I would
go with him and help him catch his horse. I sug-
gested that the Indians might kill him; to which he
replied that he did not care. We went east to a
place where other minute men were stationed on top
of a hill. At the foot of this hill two Indians rode
by without seeing us ; neither did we see them until
they had passed. When we arrived at the top of the
hill, I dismounted and tied my horse to a cedar tree ;
as I dismounted three Indians rode by. I shot at
them three times. Captain John Hitchcock asked
me if I was shot. I told him "no." He then said
272 INDIAN DBPBBDATIONS
that my horse was shot, if I wasn't, but my horse
was not hurt. Jack Allred said ' * You hit an Indian. ' '
"I am not certain whether I did or not," was my
reply. Later we caught a mule which one of the
Indians that I shot at had been riding. This mule
had been stolen from Peter Oldroyd at Glenwood at
the fight in March, 1867. I then rode towards Spring
town and met members of the militia who were
coming to the rescue of the herd and hay teams. The
Indians had stolen twenty-eight head of horses and
started to the mountains with them. We followed
the Indians up the trail south of Bill Allred 's can-
yon and the militia had a small engagement with
them on the mountain-side. The Indians were fol-
lowed to the top of Horseshoe Mountain, and on
the way up my horse gave out. Thomas Coates,
and a tame Indian from Moroni, and I followed to
the top of the Horseshoe. When we arrived there
we discovered that all the militia-men had return-
ed to Springtown and we did not see any Indians
there. Then we returned to Springtown where we ar-
rived about nine o'clock at night. Here we learned
that William Scott's father-in-law, James Meeks
had been killed, and also that Andrew Johansen who
had been wounded, died that night.
RAID ON SPRING CITY
By H. S. Ivie
" About nine o'clock as reported on the morn-
ing of the Spring City fight I was riding down to
the hayfield with Sidney H. and James B. Allred,
when about half way between the stone-quarry and
the meadows we heard some shooting. Christian
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 273
J. Larsen, who had a pair of gray horses (pretty
good runners) was not far behind us. About eight
Indians on horses came from towards Pigeon Hol-
low towards him. Larsen who had a small boy
with him, whirled his team around and went back
as fast as he could go, while the Indans rode along
beside the wagon, shooting at him and the boy. They
shot several holes through his clothes, and also shot
his gunstock in two, but he was not hurt. The
main lot of Indians had been hidden in the cedars
above the stone-quarry, south of the road. When
we saw what was up, we turned and drove back
till our horses got out of wind. The Allreds un-
hitched the horses and went to where the figb
hitched the horses and went to where the fighting
was going on. Two men from Ephraim came along
and one of them took me on his horse over the hill
and let me down, when Con Rowe, who was com-
ing out, took me into town on his horse. When we
got to the foot of the stone-quarry hill, we saw James
Meeks lying by the road dead; he had been shot
through the right breast and under one eye; his
pants and hat had been taken; his pipe lay by his
side and his ox team was out in the brush a short dis-
tance from the road."
Colonel Reddick N. Allred in his journal, says :
"I went to Ephraim to meet General Pace and
General Robert T. Burton and to hold inspection
only taking J. T. S. Allred. Sr. and daughter with me.
I knew not that a band of Indians were lying in wait
in the cedars to take the herd as soon as it was
driven out. They made a break on the herd, killed
James Meeks wounded Andrew Johansen and wound-
274 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
ed Wm. Blain slightly. When we arrived at Eph-
raim we received a telegram from Mount Pleasant
giving the news of the raid, and we joined Captain
Louis Larsen's Minute men who later joined men
from Springtown and Mount Pleasant under Colonel
Ivie. But the Indians had made good their escape
into the mountains, taking only the horses from the
herd. We purseud them to the top of the Horse
shoe Mountain after exchanging a few shots with
them.
The "Deseret News" of August 28, 1867, pub-
lished an account of an interview which Superin-
tendent Head of Indian affairs, who had just re-
turned from the Uintah Reservation where he had
met and had a talk with the notorious chief, Black
Hawk, who came there with his family, unattended
by his braves. Black Hawk said he had 28 lodges
under his sole control, and that he was assisted by
three Elk Mountain chiefs who each had ten or
twelve lodges with him. These Indians were scat-
tered all along the valleys from the north of Sc-.n-
pete county to the southern settlements, watching
opportunities to make raids. Nevertheless he ex-
pressed a personal desire for peace and said that
inasmuch as the others looked to him as head chief,
he thought he could influence them to bury the hat-
chet and perhaps consent to a conference with Super-
intendent Head in the near future. He declared
he had made a covenant when he commenced to
fight that he would not have his hair cut, and
that he had found much fault with Tabby and
Kanosh, who had had theirs cut like the white men.
Now that he was w'.Un.i? to make peace, however, he
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 275
expresses a desire that the Superintendent shear his
locks for him, which Colonel Head very kindly did.
Brief obituary notices were published in this
week's issue of James Meeks and Andrew Johansen,
who had been killed, as reported in this department
last week, by Indians at the Springtown herd
grounds. Mr. Meeks was 69 years of age, a native
of England, and came from that country to Utah
in 1853; he was one of the earliest settlers in
Springtown. Mr. Johansen was 30 years of age, a
native of Sweden, and had only arrived in Utah the
previous year.
JOHN HAY KILLED NEAR WARM CREEK
WHILE ON GUARD.
Communication from General Wm. B. Pace to
Deseret News Sept. 5th, 1867. — Last evening about
11 o'clock private John Hay of Captain Binders
company was shot dead by Indians, while tending
the fire at the lime kiln near Warm Creek. The
Indians crawled up within twenty feet and fired
one gun only, then fled. It appears the guard had
changed their position for some reason, leaving this
avenue open. Detachments from Manti and this
place were immediately placed upon the trials to
interecept them without success. A reconnoitering
party since daylight report signs of only three In-
dians on foot, who, from the course and length of
steps must have made twelve mile canyon in less than
an hour from the time of committing the murder,
Eeconnoisances are out in search of their rendezvous.
Yours, Wm. B. Pace.
276 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
On Sept. 4th near Warm Creek (Fayette) San-
pete County, where three of Captain Binder's Salt
Lake infantry were on picket duty, Indians stole
up in the darkness, and by the light of the camp-
fire were able to single out John Hay, upon whom
they fired with fatal effect. His comrades gave the
alarm to eight other men stationed near by, and
taking the dead man with them, the detachment made
good their retreat to the settlement. Soon after-
wards the Indians withdrew for the winter, and the
militia were able to devote the few remaining weeks
of autumn to the pursuit of peace. (During this sum-
mer and autumn a stone fort was projected and
partly built at Gunnison for protection against the
savages. The remains of this fort, which was never
completed still remain as a reminder of times past.
From Whitney >s History of Utah, Vol. 2, page
208-9-10.
GEN. WELLS ISSUED ORDERS FOR A
GENERAL MUSTER.
Sept. 17, 1867. Lieutenant-General Wells issued
orders for a general muster of forces in the various
military districts of the Territory, which orders
were generally observed. At this time Adjutant-
General Clawson was absent in the east, and the
duties of his office were performed by Assistant
Adjutant General Thomas W. Ellerbeck; Colonel
John R. Winder, who had acted as General Well's
Adjutant in Sanpete in 1866, assisted in drawing up
a report of operations of the militia, during the
three years campaign just described, which was pre-
sented by General Clawson to the Governor, and by
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 277
him to the legislature in January 1868. It is dated
December 31st, 1867. From this document it ap-
pears that the militia of the Territory consisted of
one Lieutenant-General, with a staff of eighteen of-
ficers ; thirteen topographical engineers, six officers
of the ordnance department, two Major-Generals,
with a staff of fourteen officers. Nine Brigadier-
Generals, with fifty officers in the staff, twenty-
five lieutenant-colonels with eighty five officers in
the regimental staff, 112 majors with 113 of bat-
talion staff, 236 captains, 228 first lieutenants. 906
second lieutenants, 896 sergeants, 322 musicians,
and 82 teamsters, making a total of 12,024. The
cavalry consisted of 2,525. The artillery 179, and
the infantry of 9,207, the remainder being the gen-
eral officers and staff, and a topographical and
ordnance department. The arms and equipment
of this body were reported as several pieces of ar-
tillery, 2,838 horses, 2,476 saddles, 4,926 revolvers,
252 swords, 6,960 rifles, 1,719 muskets and shotguns
25 bayonets, 431,375 rounds of ammunition, 77 trum-
pets, 96 fifes and 107 drums.
General Clawson in his report dated February
9th, 1869, to the Department at Washington, terse-
ly tells the story of these military operations and
supplies vouchers, showing the expense of the In-
dian War during the three years to be $1,121,037.38,
not including charges for vast amount of service in
the home guard, which would have mater.iyUy in-
creased the total. The report bears Governor Dur-
kee's official endorsements and quotes from the re-
ports and communications of Colonels Irish and
Heath to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
278 INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS
Accompanying it also was a memorial to Con-
gress adopted by the Legislature in February 1868
and approved by the Governor, asking for the
payment of the expenses. The document pointed
out that Colonel Irish had applied to General Con-
nor for military aid in putting down the rene-
gades, and that Colonel Head, had addressed him-
self to the same effect to Colonel Potter and that
in each case the request had been refused whereupon
it became necessary to call upon the militia: that
notwithstanding their ready response and their en-
ergy and courage, six flourishing settlements in
Sevier and Piute Countes, four settlements in
Sanpete, fifteen settlements in Iron, Kane and
Washington Counties and two or three in Wasatch
County had been abandoned, with an almost
total loss of stock and improvements; that about
seventy-five lives were lost, and that in furnishing
its own soldiers, arms, transportation, horses and
saddles the Territory had borne a heavy burden,
wherefore an appropriation of $1,500.000 or so
much thereof as might be necessary to cover the
expenses was respectfully asked. The petition was
never granted and the just debt of the General
Government to the then struggling Territory re-
mains unpaid to this day.
RAID ON BEAVER, 200 HEAD OF STOCK
STOLEN.
September 18th Indians raided Beaver and
stole twc hundred head of stock.
CHAPTER III.
GIRL STOLEN AT WELLSVILLE, NEVER
RECOVERED.
On April 1st, 1868, a beautiful little daughter
of a Mr. Thurston who lived about three miles from
Wellsville, Cache County, was napturod by some of
Pocatello's band of Indians, and in spite of every
exertion she was never recovered. She was about
three years of age, idolized by her parents, and her
loss was to them a dreadful blow; far worse in-
deed than her death would have been, she was never
heard from with certainty again, except that she
was dead.
For detailed account of a sad story of this story
of this stolen child the reader is referred to the
" Contributor " Vol. 12; Page 75. 1868 Files Des-
eret News, April 22nd, Vol. 17.
BATTLE AT ROCKY FORD, JUSTE-
SEN AND WILSON KILLED.
In the spring of 1868 it was believed that In-
dian hostilities were over and that it was safe for
the people to return to the deserted homes on the
Sevier.
A company was formed under the leadership of
Frederick Olsen of Spring City, Sanpete County.
Their intention was to resettle Monroe. There were
twenty-three persons in the company with twelve
280 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
teams, namely, Frederick Olsen and son Ole, Ri.chard
Davis, Benjamin Davis, David Davis (a boy), Axel
Einersen, John Knighton, C. C. Brown, John Fern
and his brother (a small boy), Walter Jones, Lars
Alexander Justesen and his 'step son (Simon T.
Beck), Adolph Tomson, Ira Sutton, J. W. Bohman,
Andrew Rasmussen, Rasmus Sorensen, and Louis
Barney. When at Cedar Eidge, (now within the
limits of the present Vermillion), near the Rocky
Ford, April 5, 1868, some thirty Indians, who had
just previously attacked George and Charles Wil-
son from Scipio, Millard County, a short distance
north of the Rocky Ford. These men were on their
way to Monroe after some mill irons. Charles Wil-
son was killed by the Indians who cut the tugs
of the harness, taking the horses and supplies.
George Wilson escaped by running to the
river and hiding in a hole in the bank till night,
when he made his escape back to Scipio.
Some of Olsen 's company had ox teams and
traveled slow. As they came along the upper road
the Indians came in behind them and when those
with horse teams saw the Indians, they stopped to
let the ox teams catch up. The savages circled out
around into the cedars on the west of the company
and got a little way ahead. The people seeing that
the savages meant mischief, corralled their wagons
as speedily as possible placing the back ends of
the wagons in such a position that each wagon would
shield the team on the next wagon to it from the
fire of the Indians.
As soon as the Indians were prepared, some
behind cedars and rocks and others in a ravine,
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 281
they opened fire on the company. A bullet from
an Indian's gun struck a wagon tire; it glanced
and struck Alexander Justesen, killing him instant-
ly. Andrew Rasmussen turned his oxen loose with
the yoke on; they wandered away and were never
recovered. While some of the best marksmen dii
the shooting, others were loading guns, and sfill
others were digging rifle pits, (holes in the ground),
about three feet deep, and from six to twelve feet
across. Th fight was kept up for an hour or more.
In the meantime volunteers were asked for to go back
to Gunnison for help; Axel Einersen and Adolph
Tomson offered their services which were accepted.
The Indians had pulled off and gone towards the
ford, and were seen holding a council. When the
expressmen started they were seen by the Indians
who tried to head them off. Einersen rode a pretty
good horse, and when he saw the Indians coming, he
headed away from them towards the hills. The In-
dians, seeing that they could not overtake him, went
after Tomson who was following the road. They
gained on him and fired several shots ; a bullet pass-
ed through his thigh, cutting an artery and lodged
in the saddle. He was also hit in the back with
an arrow. Seeing that he could not get away from
them, the impression came to him that if he would
turn back and rush at the Indians, it would save
his life. Consequently he turned, and with gun in
hand rushed on them. The Indians opened ranks,
seemingly surprised and let him pass, but then they
gave chase. The men is camp seeing what was going
on ran out, firing at the Indians, and pne of them
fell off his horse. The Indians then turned and
282 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
IIIIIIIIIIIIIHI
went away, followed by the riderless horse; they
returned in the night and carried away the fallen
Indian. On his arrival in camp Tomson was nearly
exhausted from the loss of blood; but the men re-
moved the arrow and dressed the wounds as best
they could; he was badly hurt, and it took a long
time for him to recover. During the fight the White
Horse Chief was constantly riding around, direct-
ing the movements of the warriors. Walter Barney
was hit on the shin, the bullet going through his
pants and boot, but did not cut his under garments.
The men kept up a guard all night. The four boys
in the company dug a trench about three feet wide
three feet deep and covered it with a door which they
took out of one of the wagons and placed some rocks
on it, and laid there two deep on top of each other.
The next morning Einersen came with a posse
of men to help the company back to Ghinnison. In
the meantime the Indians had left. All went back
with the relief sent with Einersen. No further at-
tempt was made to resettle the Sevier country until
1871.
The following additional information was writ-
ten by Joshua W. Sylvester:
In the spring of 1868 I accompanied some Gun-
nison boys to Marysvale to do some prospecting,
gold having been discovered there. There were
six of us altogether, and as we were returning home
we camped one night in the abandoned town of
Monroe. Next morning we resumed our journey,
and when we got to the Rocky Ford, about twenty
miles distant from Monroe, we saw a lone horse on
the opposite side of the river. We also discovered
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 283
fresh pony and cattle tracks, and upon crossing the
river we saw a wagon, and decided to stop there
for dinner. But when we reached the wagon we found
that the tugs had been cut off the single-trees, and
there were moccasin tracks around the wagon. Con-
cluding in a hurry that we did not want dinner, we
drove on, wondering what had happened. Upon reach
ing the road that led to Scipio we found a board laid
across the road upon which was written "we have
taken the dead man from Scipio to Gunnison. ' ' As we
drove along the west side of the river, the Gunnison
people could see our dust for quite a long distance,
and they imagined that they could see Indians fol-
lowing us ; and as a squad of men had just arrived
from Manti, and were already mounted, they pushed
on to meet us, though the sun had gon° down and
it was getting dusk . As they were coming up one
side of a slope we came up on the other, and when
we reached the top and saw their dust, we thought
of nothing but Indians, consequently we all reached
for our guns and pistols, but right then I took com-
mand, telling the boys not to fire a shot till I told
them to, and if the Indians made a move to surround
us we would let them have a shot and I would run
the team to the river bank where we could get breast-
works. The boys kept eyeing the squad and finally
I said that it might not be Indians, and then they
could see at a glance that it was not. There was a
big excitement at Gunnison, for they knew we were
coming. When we reached home we learned that
a company of men who were on their way to Mon-
roe to put in crops had been attacked by Indians ;
they had corralled their wagons, had entrenched
284 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
themselves and had stood off the Indians until Axel
Einersen mounted on a smarter horse than the In-
dians had, broke through the lines to take the news
to Gunnison. One man was killed in the affair.
RAID ON SCIPIO, FIFTEEN HEAD OF
HORSES STOLEN.
Of other Indian raids which took place in 1868,
we may mention that on May 7th, four Indians made
a raid on Scipio, Millard County, and drove off fif-
teen head of horses.
On July 5th, Seth Childs was accidently shot
and wounded near Gunnison, Sanpete County, by
an Indian who proved to be friendly.
INDIANS STOP COL. IVIE IN SALT CREEK
CANYON.
Copied from Deseret News, July 10th.
We met Brother Henry N. Larter of Moroni,
Sanpete County, today, who arrived in town yester-
day, in company with Col. John L. Ivie and the
latter 9s family. He reports that when they were
about four miles below the divide above Salt Creek
Canyon, six Utes, among whom was Tabiona, rode
up to them and demanded to know of Col. Ivie
whether he was "Jim Ivie," the colonel's brother.
On being answered in the negative they passed on.
In a short time, however, they returned, rode in front
of the wagon, stopped it, and reiterated the question.
One of the Indians then said that it was not "Jim
Ivie," but his brother. At this time, Tabiona had
his hand on his arrows, and another Indian had his
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 285
rifle ready for use. The Indians, however, passed
along and after going a short distance they stopped
and held a council. The team was made to travel
at a lively pace. When the Indians saw this two
of them started after it, coming towards the wagon
about three hundred yards, but seeing their com-
panions did not follow they stopped and went back.
One Indian was so drunk he could scarcely sit on
his horse, and the others had been drinking, but they
knew what they were doing. James Oscar Ivie, son
of Colonel Ivie, one of the children in the wagon
said, Lyman R. Peters was the driver. Mrs. Ivie
and her children were very much frightesed; the
mother covered the smaller children with the bedding
in the wagon. Colonel Ivie said afterwards that if
the Indians had overtaken them the second time, he
intended to jump out of the wagon and let it go
on and take his chances with them. He was well
armed.
INDIAN GRATITUDE.
The following is an incident as related by Col.
John L. Ivie, to his son James 0. Ivie :
During the Indian troubles in the 60 's — the
Indians had stolen some cattle, and driven them up
North Creek Canyon, between Fairview and Mount
Pleasant. Father John L. Ivie and his company of
minute men were in pursuit, and going up the moun-
tain they gathered up several head of cattle which
had been left along the trail, on account of not
keeping up with the herd. And up among the tim-
ber was discovered a lone Indian covered up with
leaves ; he was sick, and not able to travel with
286 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
the rest. Some of the boys wanted to kill him, but
father said "no, we will not shed blood, unless it
is necessary, " so they left him and went in pursuit
of the Indians and stock till nearly night, when it
was decided to give up the chase and return home,
taking back what stock they had.
On their return they came across the sick In-
dian sitting up against a tree smoking a pipe. The
men still wanted to kill him, but father wouldn't
let them. Some time after that, Father and two
other men were standing guard over some stock in
the north fort of Mount Pleasant; they would fre-
quently meet and report to each other during the
night, and had got together at the north side of the
fort, when they heard and saw the cattle getting
up from their bed-ground and moving awav from
xvhat they thought nriglit be Indians crawling among
them. The cattle kept getting up nearer and nearer
to where the three men stood, when father spoke
to the others and said, "that they must be close
by." After that they saw the cattle moving as if
something among them was going away from them.
When morning came nothing had been molested.
In the beginning of the 70 's — after peace had
been restored, an Indian and his family came to
our house and spent a day or two. He told father
of the occurrence at the fort, explaining that he and
four other Indians were there on that occasion and
had their guns lying across a cow ready to shoot the
three men, when they heard father speak and say,
* ' They must be close by. ' ' He said he knew father's
voice and would not let the others shoot as father
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 287
MHfiiiiutimitmitiNitii miiiiiiiMiiiiiuMMiiMiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii MI.....I, ...,,,,., ,.,,,, ,,,,,,,,.1.1
had saved his life on the mountain when he was
sick. In appreciation he had now saved father's
life.
James 0. Ivie.
SKIRMISH AT EPHRAIM, BATTLE AT
ROCK LAKE.
July llth, the Ephraim horse-herd was driven
to feed about two miles southeast of town, on the
south side of Willow Creek Wash; they were in
care of James P. Christenseii, Sr., John Tompson
and Sam Beal, an Indian who lived with the set-
tlers. N. 0. Anderson and Andrew Overdale passed
the horse-herd and went to the mouth of Willow
Creek Canyon after wood ; they heard some shouting
as if someone was driving cattle. They thought
it might be men with ox-teams after wood, but it
proved to be Indians driving animals which they
had gathered up in the morning before the horse-
herd came out. Anderson and Overdale began get-
ting their loads of wood, when they heard some
talking and thought it was a scouting party, but it
proved to be Indians who came out into a clearing
and approched to within thirty yards of them. The
men being behind some trees were not seen by the
Indians who were making for the horse-herd. The
two men ran onto a hill south of the cedars, about a
half mile from the herd, and saw the Indians and
the three herds-men in battle for possession of the
horses. The fight lasted about fifteen minutes, when
the herders succeeded in getting most of the horses
started for town. The Indians, however, cut out
a few which they succeeded in getting into the hills
288 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
and drove off. Thompson and Beal drove the
horses, while L. P. Christensen rode in ahead and
gave the alarm. Soon two squads of men were on
the tracks of the Indians. One posse of about thirty
men went by way of Willow Creek Canyon, the
others went up Ephraim canyon which was a more
direct route to head off the Indians. This posse
consisted of Tory Thursten (Captain), P. C. Peter-
sen, C. A. Larsen, Henry Oviett, Andrew 0. Ander-
son, L. C. Larsen, Chris. Thompson (Balla), Chris.
Nielsen, George P. Jenson, John Thompson and
Sam. Beal, eleven in all. When they reached the
top of a high ridge between Willow Creek and
Manti Canyons, Indians came out and fired on them,
Thinking they could stop them or scare them back,
they did not check up, but continued on about two
miles farther to a small lake on the top of the moun-
tain known as Eock Lake. Here they were fired
upon by the Indians from ambush at close range.
Three horses were wounded and one fell dead un-
der its rider (P. C. Petersen.) The horse fell on
his leg and the dead horse served as breast-works
and a rest to shoot from. P. C. Peterson who
gives this information says that the battle lasted
about an hour. The Indians were at a disadvantage,
the brush that they were hidden in was thin and our
men could see them and disabled some of them, which
caused them to retreat and follow those who were
driving off some horses and cattle. Further pur-
suit was considered unwise owing to lack of horses
and being but eleven in number.
From Whitney's History of Utah.
CHICKENY' SHOOTBM1
or OLD TOM — more than 100 snows
PAH-VANT-SQUAW
and pappoose at Bear Dance 1914
CHIEF ANDREW HUN-COP, OF KANOSH
Successor to Chief Kanosh at steering wheel. Chief Walker Ammon of
Koosharem, Piute County, at his side, two squaws m back
SB - O
<t> 5 5
II S
A NATIVE SON OF UTAH
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 289
COL. HEATH'S TREATY WITH INDIANS
IN STRAWBERRY VALLEY.
On the 19th of August, 1868 the energetic Super-
intendent of Indian affairs, Colonel Head, succeeded
in negotiatng a treaty with the sub-chieftains of
Black Hawk's band and their still recalcitrant fol-
lowers. Major Dimick B. Huntington was interpre-
ter on the occasion, and Black Hawk himself who
had kept his pledge given a year before, lent
his personal influence. The young warriors were
loth to bury the tomahawk and boasted not a little
of their prowess and deeds of blood; one of them
especially, a handsome, feminine-looking stripling
named Aug-a-vor-un. After the war, Shenanagon
confessing his participation in killing Major Vance
and Sergeant Houtz and in other more daring and
less dishonorable engagements. Of the fellows
courage there could be no doubt. He had been wont
to ride a white horse, and as his reckless bravery
always led him to the front, where his example
served as a command to his associates, he was fre-
quently the mark of military sharp-shooters, and
once when he fell wounded the cry went up that
Black Hawk himself had been killed. His defiant
eloquence was reinforced at this meeting by that of
other hot-heads, but it was patiently met and at
length entirely overcome by persuasion and threats
of the peace party. The treaty was signed and it
is believed was faithfully observed, although peace
was not completely restored until after the summer
of 1869.
10
290 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
NAVAJOES RAID HARRISBURG,
SOME STOCK STOLEN.
The earliest signs of trouble during the
year came from the southwest where the turbulent
Navajoes were the predominating tribe. A band
of them invaded southern Utah in the latter part
of February and drove off the herds from "Wash-
ington and Harrisburg. A party of militia started
in pursuit, recovered some of the stock and drove
the thieves beyond the Colorado.
FRANKLIN BENJAMIN WOOLLEY
KILLED NEAR FORT MOHAVE.
March 21st, Franklin B. Woolley of St. George,
son of Bishop Edwin D. Woolley was killed near
the Mohave Eiver, California; he had been on a
business trip to San Bernadino, California, and was
returning with goods for the St. George store and
had been separated from the main body of his freight
train and had gone to look for his horses that had
strayed from the camp the night previous. They
had gone back to the spring where the company
nooned they day before, when it is supposed he was
surrounded by a party of about fifteen Indians. He
dismounted from his mule to parley with them, but
finding that no compromise could turn them from
their murderous purpose, he sought to make his es-
cape. He fell pierced with arrows after running a
few rods. His slayers stripped off his clothes and
dragged his body to a place of concealment where it
was not found until some days later by searching
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 291
parties. The remains were brought home for inter-
ment by the brother of the deceased, E. D. Woolley,
Jr., now president of Kanab Stake.
RAID ON KANE COUNTY, THREE FRIENDLY
INDIANS KILLED.
May 1st. Raid on Kane County, three priendly
Indians were killed and the marauders drove off
eighteen head of horses.
RAID ON KANARRA, MANY HORSES STOLEN,
SOME RECOVERED.
Joshua W. Sylvester.
I will now relate the next trip we made after
Indians :
We had moved from Gunnison to Kanarra ; after
living there a couple of years, on October 31st,
1869, a very dark night, the Navajoes made a raid
on the place, and when I got up I found my fences
torn down and some horses gone. After breakfast
I rode to town, about a mile distant and found the
boys saddling the few horses they could get hold
of, for most of their stables were empty. A man
from Dixie had been stopping at the place and be-
fore going to bed he had gone out to see after his
mules in the corral. Finding the bars down he
put them up, thinking it would be best to hobble his
mules ; he got the iron hobbles and put on them. Next
morning he found them shot with arrows ; that with
the horses being gone gave the situation away; we
knew then that Indians had been on the ground.
We went after them, and owing to a light fall of
snow we could consequently track them easily. We
292 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
pushed on until dark and discovered the Indians
making camp. They had just started a fire. We
crawled on, and just as we were ready to fire they
heard us, jumped up and ran, but we fired on them.
We recovered our horses, which they had taken, and
took their outfit. When we returned home we learn-
ed that a raid had been made that same night all
along the line for about forty miles. A man by the
name of Nebeker who was camping just outside of
Kanarra lost all his mules. Had we known they
were gone, we could have headed them off. We
afterwards learned that the Indians had been prowl-
ing around for a week or two gathering horses and
getting ready to make a general break in one night.
They had sat on the hill watching the men put
their horses in their stables, and where they could
find the door in the dark they took the horses.
They went to my stable and I suppose they could
not find the door. I had driven four cows and an
ox to a nice spot of grass near a spring on the
mountain. The Indians had camped there, killed the
animals and dried the meat. They drove stock from
all those points but the thefts were not discovered
until after they had gone. Had it not been that
they got angry and shot the mules because they
could not get the hobbles off, their success would
have been complete. That was the way it was all
the time. The Indians could sit on the mountain-
side and see where our stock were and what we were
doing and then making a dash, they would kill peo-
ple who were at work in the fields, or traveling on
the roads, rush their stock into the mountains, leav-
ing some to drive them, while others fell back and
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 293
waited in ambush on the trail for those who pur-
sued. We hardly ever met them when they did not
have the advantage; therefore, whenever we were
out in the mountains, our wives, mothers and sisters
anxiously awaited to hear from us, and they were
actually the greatest sufferers. If they saw any-
one riding fast into town, they all rushed to the
meeting house to hear the news. But while they
had women's fears they had soldiers' hearts; they
would get provisions ready for us out of their scanty
supplies, and often mould bullets for us, while we
were getting other things ready ; but they never said
"Don't go."
NIELS HEIZELT KILLED AT
TWELVE MILE CREEK.
It has been stated that the Black Hawk Indian
trouble of 1866-67 ended all organized warfare on
the part of the aborigines in Utah. The spring of
1872. however, witnessed some desultory depreda-
tions by the savages, which threatened at one time
a general outbreak. The primal cause of disaffec-
tion among them was the treatment received at the
hands of some dishonest government agents and
acts of lawlessness committed by renegade white
men. These troubles did not originate in Utah, but
in the northern territories, whence they spread to
this region. During the previous autumn hostilities
in Southern Utah and Arizona had been barely
averted by the good offices of Jacob Hamblin, the
well known Indian interpreter, who at Fort Defiance,
on November 2nd, 1871, concluded a treaty of peace
on behalf of the people of this territory with the
294 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
principal chiefs of the Navajoes. When winter was
over the scenes of trouble was shifted farther north ;
and while the majority of the savages were friendly
to the settlers, a portion of them seemed bent on
mischief. This was partly an effect of the war-
like feeling exhibited at that time by hostile tribes
generally throughout the country.
Under these circumstances, Special Indian
Agent, G. W. Dodge, early in 1872, sought to redress
the grievances complained of by the Indians and
distributed large quantities of flour, beef, and other
supplies among them. The unruly ones, however, be-
came more insolent with the efforts to pacify them,
and levied a burdensome tax upon the settlements
in central Utah by their persistent begging and
stealing. On the 16th of June in a raid by a band
of Shiberetch Indians upon Twelve Mile Creek, San-
pete County, Niels C. Heiselt, Jr., of Pleasant Grove
Utah County, was killed. The next two months wit-
nessed a series of depredations in which several
white men were shot and a large number of stock
driven off. From friendly Indians it was learned
that the hostiles were mostly members of unorganiz-
ed bands such as the Capotas, Magoots and Elk
Mountain Utes.
During the period when the major portion of
these outrages were committed, several hundred In-
dians were paying friendly visits to the settle-
ments in Sanpete, Sevier, Juab and Utah counties.
As some of them moved about in small companies,
there was difficulty in distinguishing -\vhich of the
roving bands were hostile. ColoneJ Dodge endea-
vored to simplify the situation by having all peace-
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 295
able red men return to the reservation, but these
could not be made to understand fully why they
should be restrained because of the actions of hos-
tiles not of their tribes. Therefore, though they
consented to the measure at a council at Nephi on
July 5th and again at Fountain Green on the 14th,
and 16th of that month, they failed to fulfill their
agreement, thus complicating matters.
The aspect of affairs gradually became more
serious. Even Indians formerly disposed to be
friendly were implicated.
INDIAN OUTRAGES AT MANTI,
SANPETE COUNTY.
Under date of August 9th, 1872, James C.
Brown writes from • Manti, Sanpete County, Utah,
to the "Deseret News":
The Indians are still around, and are meaner
than ever. They have been stealing horses every
night during the week from the range and also
from the brethern's stables. They took one of
mine a few weeks ago. I got him back, however,
by paying for him. They took the other this week.
They have tried for several nights past to steal from
the stable of Mayor Tuttle a fine span of bays, but,
as yet they have not been successful. They tried
it last night and on not getting them they crossed the
street to the stable of A. C. Van Buren and took
one of his. A party of them went down to the range
last evening and myself and three others who were
on our way home from hunting horses saw them just
about dark. We felt certain they wanted to steal
a band of horses that was close by, we went to work
296 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
and gathered the animals together and took them to
town. I expect they were disappointed at losing the
band, for they wantonly shot a mule with an arrow,
mortally wounding it. They also went a little farther
and shot down a steer and, with their knives cut it
all to pieces. They manifest even a meaner spirit
than they did before the last war. They went into
a brothers the other day when there were no one
at home but the latter 's wife and because she did
not give them bread, when they asked it, they struck
her in the face. Several instances have occurred
when they threatened women with violence for not
complying with their demands. The people are fair-
ly exasperated, but do not want to take any steps
that would tend to start an Indian war, if it can be
avoided. I am informed that a party of Indians
went to a stable in Ephraim a few nights ago,
and because they could not get the horses out of
the stable, crawled in by a small opening and cut
the animals in a horrible manner.
CHIEF TABBY SENDS WORD HE CAN NO
LONGER CONTROL HIS INDIANS.
On the 12th of August General D. H. Wells re-
ceived the following message from Colonel E. N. All-
red of Spring City: " Tabby sends word to all the
Bishops, that he can control his men no longer. ' ' He
was in Spanish Fork Canyon yesterday. I with
a detachment brought the herd from Thistle Valley
yesterday, having started as soon as I got word of
the raid at Fairview. The wounded boy Stewart
is dead."
Next dav R. L. Johnson of Fountain Green, tele-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 297
graphed to Indian Agent Dodge for troops to de-
fend the people against some of the bands of sava-
ges who had become incensed on account of obedience
to Dodge's orders not to feed them as he would furn-
ish them plenty on the reservations.
COL. IVIE SENDS DISPATCH TO GEN.
WELLS.
Colonel John L. Ivie of Mount Pleasant sent
the following dispatch:
Mount Pleasant, Aug. 17, 1872,
Gov. Geo. L. Woods, care of Daniel H. Wells —
Indian depredations here last night. Shall I
call out the militia to defend the place for services
generally in this county? The Indians attacked the
telegraph operator about 11 o'clock last night in
front of the office and, we fear, fatally wounded
him.
John L. Ivie, Colonel of Militia
Also the following was sent:
ASSAULT UPON JEREMIAH D. PAGE
AT MOUJH1 PLEASANT.
Mount Pleasant, Aug. 17th.— Gen. D. H. Wells—
As the telegraph operator, Jeremiah D. Page,
was leaving the office last night about 11 o'clock,
and when near the gate by the office, an Indian
pounced upon his back and struck him three blows,
with a tomahawk, upon the head, inflicting severe
wounds, one penetrating through the skull. He was
in a critical condition all night, but seems a little
298 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
better this morning. There were five Indians seen
in town about the same time that the attack was
made upon Mr. Page. Col. J. L. Ivie detailed a
scouting party from the home guard this morning,
and they were scouting the base of the east moun-
tain. One scout reports no sign of Indians in
that direction,
J. S. Wing.
INFORMATION ON ASSAULT, BY
BISHOP SEELY.
Under date of Aug. 20, 1872, Bishop Win. Seely,
of Mt. Pleasant writes to the Deseret News the fol-
lowing :
On Saturday evening suspicion rested on Rich-
ard Smyth as being the person who assailed our
operator on the 16th. He was arrested, but on ac-
count of unavoidable circumstances, was held over
until today at ten o'clock. An investigation took
place, and when the prisoner was asked if he were
guilty, or not guilty, he pleaded guilty of committing
the horrible deed, after which he was committed
to a higher court. The operator said that he was
telegraphing a message to the operators of the
county, and while so doing observed Smyth go into
an adjoining room, and return and place himself
behind him. He stood for about a half an hour, and
as quick as the operator had finished the message
and closed the key he was struck down and knew
no more until he found himself lying on a lounge in
the above named adjoining room with his head all
mangled and his clothing all soaked in blood, and
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 299
Richard Smyth pacing to and fro with a hatchet in
his hand. The latter continued to walk back and
forth along side of the lounge, making remarks about
the deed he had done. After making a pause for some
duration, he said, Jeremiah, hold up your hands, I
cannot spare your life any longer, your head is all
chopped into pieces and your brains are running out.
I have murdered you. The operator says he resol-
ved in his mind, weak as he was, if a chance offered
itself, to spring upon Smyth, take the hatchet and
kill him, but there was no chance, so he thought
again the best way was to direct his mind upon the
best means of liberating himself and cover up the
deed; so from that Smyth made him swear not to
reveal what had happened for six months, and still
kept him there for about five hours ; without any
assistance, soaked in his blood and perishing with
cold. He was so weak and frightened that he dared
not reveal anything after he got among his friends
until Smyth had confessed he did the deed, when
the operator made the above statement.
Signed W. S. Seely.
No justifiable reason for the assault on
Page by Smyth can be ascertained, Smyth, it ap-
pears, was subject to fits of insanity, and was prob-
ably laboring partially under an attack of insanity,
when he committed the assault.
The following is added by the historian Peter
Gottf redson :
"The office in which Jeremiah Page was assailed
by Richard Smyth was under the supervision of An-
thon H. Lund. Besides the telegraph office Bro-
300 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
ther Lund also kept a daguerrotype picture gallery
in an adjoining room. It was quite customary for
young people to meet and visit there. Brother
Page was well thought of and a favorite with the
young people, but not so much with Smyth, and it
was the general supposition that Smyth was jealous
of Page and that this had much to do with the act.
I was a resident of Mount Pleasant at that time
and well acquainted with all parties concerned. Page
was learning telegraphy under Brother Lund and
was night operator. "
On the morning of August 17th, 1872, General
Morrow left Camp Douglas with a body of troops to
take the field against the hostiles by co-operation of
leading men in the settlements and friendly Indians,
the General secured a council with several chiefs,
and after a long pow-pow held in front of the resi-
dence of Interpreter L. S. Woods at Springville,
made a treaty which was signed by Chiefs Tabby,
Douglass, Joe, To-kawanah, Antero, Wandrodes,
Parrades and Tom. Colonel Dodge, A. 0. Smoot,
Colonel L. John Nuttall, Bishop William Bringhurst,
General A. K. Thurber and General William B.
Pace and other citizens were present. The treaty
provided that the Indians should return at once
to the Reservations. General Morrow was to apply
to President Grant for permission for several chiefs
to visit and lay before him their grievances, or if
this was not agreeable, to ask that an investigation
commission be sent out by the government.
General Wells had an interview with Gen. Ord
and Governor Woods in relation to Indian affairs,
at which the former proffered all the men and sup-
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 301
plies necessary in any emergency. Gen. Ord and the
Governor, thought, however, that there were suf-
ficient troops available without making it neces-
sary to call on citizens who were not in the im-
mediate employ of the government. A body of troops
left this morning for Sanpete and efforts were being
made, which we presume were successful to obtain
transportation for them from the Utah Southern
track to the scene of their future operations. Gen-
erale Morrow will accompany the troops in person
and will take an active part in endeavoring to bring
about a pacific solution of the grave difficulty, and
thus, if possible, avert, the dreaded calamity of an
Indian war. We understand an invitation will be
given to friendly Indians to use their influence with
all the red men, and an offer will be made to them
to the effect that if they feel so disposed a deputy
of chiefs can be organized to go to Washington,
with the view to visiting the chief authorities of
the nation for the purpose of laying their grievences
before the latter, if they have any, that they may
have the same adjusted. Gen. Ord and the Gov-
ernor informed General Wells yesterday that they
desired to be understood by the people that them-
selves and their property would be amply pro-
tected. They also stated that should it be found
necessay to call on the people to assist the regular
militia, Gen. Wells would be notified to that ef-
fect.
INDIAN CONFERENCE
On Saturday evening Bishop Abraham 0.
Smoot and other leading citizens of Utah County
302 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
had a conference with the Indians at Springville
The co-operative herd having been removed from
Hobble Creek canyon recently, caused some uneasi-
ness among the red men,as they construed the re-
moval as a preparatory measure for war. Tabby
and Douglas, two chiefs did not attend the con-
ference, but others of their tribe were there repre-
senting them. Tabby expressed his willingness to
return to the Uintah reservation on condition that
they are supplied with flour, but say some of their
people oppose him in this.
The Shiberetch, Capotah and Elk Mountain
bands with a number of Navajoes were still on the
war path. However, the troops were kept on
scouting expeditions against them.
TREATY CONCLUDED AT
MOUNT PLEASANT.
On September 17th, General Morrow, Apostle
Orson Hyde, Bishop William Seely, Bishop Amasa
Tucker, Bishop Frederick Olsen, Colonel Eeddick
N. Allred and others met a number of chiefs who
had been present at the former council. Among
these were Tabiona, Angizebl, White Hare and some
who were known to have encouraged, if they had not
taken part in the depredatory incursions ; all entered
into a treaty of peace, and it was believed that the
principal danger of a war was passed.
August 31st, some Indans made a raid on
Spanish Fork stealing some horses.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 303
tlllllltltllllllllllllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllMllllllllllltllllllllllllM
ATTACK ON FAIRVIEW COW HERD,
NATHAN STEWART KILLED.
August 13th, Henry Larter writes from Mo-
roni. On Saturday afternoon Bishop George W.
Bradley, of this place sent his two sons, James and
Jephania into the cedars with a team, to get a load
of brush. They went to a spring about three miles
from here to get a drink, when a number of Indians
with guns cocked, rushed on the wagon, and cut
the harness to pieces and made off with the horses.
The boys made their escape to town.
This same band of Indians crossed the hills to
Fairview, where they were seen riding the Bishop 's
horses, and at which place they came upon the cow
herd and commenced shooting at the herdsmen. They
were Peter Larsen, Morten Petersen and Nathan
Steward. Larsen was shot through the hand with a
gun, and also shot with an arrow in the back of
the neck, the arrow stuck in the bone, and one spike
in his wrist was broken off, he rode home. Steward
was wounded,but ran home; he died on the 12th.
Petersen was pulled off his horse; one of the In-
dians struck him with his gun and told him to get.
The savages took both of their horses. This hap-
pened on the 10th of August.
HORSES STOLEN FROM RICHFIELD.
During the late summer, (have not been able to
get date), I glean the following account from Eskild
C. Peterson and others:
304 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
During the night Indians came into Richfield
and stole a pair of horses belonging to Andrew
Killion. The animals were tied to his wagon in the
southeast part of town. The Indians also took a
band of horses belonging to Stanley Davis from
the Prattville meadows. The trashing machine,
horses and some others belonging to Archibald W.
Buchanan at Glenwood were also taken. A com-
pany of fourteen men from Richfield under Cap-
tain Eskild C. Peterson started early next morning
in pursuit; they went to Glenwood and awaited
orders. In the meantime Brigham T. Young (son
of Joseph A. Young) Stanley Davis, William H.
Seegmiller, Cornelious Fairbanks and others were
in consultation at Prattville and decided to
send Brother Young to Manti to get a com-
pany from there to go out and head off the
Indians ; it is said he asked for two hundred men to
go at once; but meeting with some rebuff, he tele-
graphed to Salt Lake City without results. Peter-
sen 's company having awaited in Glenwood till about
three o'clock without receiving any instructions, de-
cided that it was too late to follow the thieves;
they went to Salina, where they remained during
the night. There they learned of Brother Young
going to Manti, which was the cause of the delay
at Glenwood. Early next morning they rode up
Salina Canyon by way of Soldier Fork; there they
met Killion 's horses which had got away from the In-
dians dragging a long lassoo. When they got to
Gooseberry Creek they saw that the Indians had
crossed it that morning, as the bank was still wet
from them crossing. The company followed till they
reached the summit where they could look down
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 305
into Castle Valley. Not being prepared to camp
out, they abandoned the chase and returned to Glen-
wood by way of Grass Valley, crossing into Kings
Meadow Canyon at the head of the big willow patch
through a very rough t country and in a very dark
night they got separated and came straggling into
Glenwood after day-break hungry and exhausted.
HORSES STOLEN FROM FOUNTAIN GREEN.
(THE PURSUIT.)
About this time on a Sunday morning P. N.
Guyman and Wm. G. Caldwell, two boys of Foun-
tain Green, Sanpete County, went on the range after
some saddle horses near where the wagon road pass-
ed through the hills toward Mount Pleasant, where
the horses had ranged. Not finding them, they hunt-
ed further until they found tracks and followed them
into the hills far enough to make sure that Indians
had taken them. The moccasin tracks showed plainly
where an Indian had been off his horse to cinch his
saddle. They decided to return to town and re-
port. When they reached town, Sunday meeting was
in process and James Guyman, father of P. N. Guy
man, was speaking. Young Guyman interrupted
him by saying, "Let me say a word." He then
related what they had found; the meeting was im-
mediately discontinued and the minute men went
in pursuit, but the Indians had too much the start
and was not overtaken. A company of U. S. Sol-
diers who were in town, also went in pursuit, with
Wm. A., ?>"yman as <-»-uide; they followed the In-
dians into Strawberry Valley where they found that
the Indians separated and had gone in different
306 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
directions. Further pursuit would have been fruit-
less. They found some horses which the Indians had
ridden till they gave out; they were left along the
trail.
DAN MILLER KILLED AND SON
WOUNDED NEAR SPRING CITY.
The following sketch of the last killing of a
white man by Indians during the Black Hawk up-
rising, was originally prepared by Peter Gottfred-
son, of Richfield, for the local paper, about 1882.
The last man killed in the Indian Wars of Utah
was Daniel Miller of Nephi, Juab County. The tra-
gedy took place on the morning of the 26 of Septem-
ber, 1872, at Snow and Douglas ' saw mill, in Oak
Creek Canon, Sanpete County, three miles east of
Spring City. The mill had shut down about a month
before, it being considered unsafe to work there be-
cause of Indians, but William Higbee stayed there
as watchman.
I had a contract to get out a bill of lumber to
finish a new school house which was being built in
the Second District at Mount Pleasant, and Thomas
Gledhill, my brother-in-law, sixteen years old, was
helping me. I was working three yoke of oxen,
getting logs to the mill to be sawed on shares. Mil-
ler was building a house at Nephi, and he and his
son, (Dan M. Miller), thirteen years of age, was
working a pair of mules getting out logs for lum-
ber to finish his house. All told, there were five
of us at the mill.
The 26th of September, 1872, was Saturday. We
were all going home except Higbee. The house in
which we camped was about two hundred yards be-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 307
low the mill, between the road and creek, with the
door toward the road east. About thirtjy yards
east of the house at the side of the road lay a pile
of poles. The Indians had placed two small poles,
one on each end of the pile, and a large pole on top
of them, making an opening to put their guns through
There were marks in the dust where five Indians
had lain, ready to fire, if we had all gone out to-
gether.
That morning we maneuvered differently
from our usual custom. I arose at day-break and
went up to the mill to saw out a few joints that
I wanted, which were not in the mill yard, and to
load my wagon. I called Gledhill to go after the
oxen which were in the hills about a mile south of
the mill. He left the house shortly after I did.
Soon afterwards, Miller came up to the mill and
loaded his wagon, and in a short time Miller's boy
came up to the mill. Gledhill brought the oxen,
yoked them, left them in the mill yard, and re-
turned to the house. Soon after this I went down
to breakfast and Miller and his boy started away.
They passed the house with their load of lumber,
drove about one hundred yards below the house,
around a patch of oak brush which hid them from
view, and then stopped to tighten the binder. The
Indians had run down behind a low ridge where their
horses were tied to the oak brush, and from am-
bush fired five shot, most if not all, taking effect. Mil-
ler was shot through one arm and in the side under
the arm, and one bullet passed through his bowels,
breaking his back. The boy was shot through one
thigh and through one wrist, the ball passing be-
tween the two bones.
308 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
We heard the shooting, but thought the Millers
were shooting at a rabbit or wolf and took no more
notice of it. We finished our breakfast and all three
started up to the mill after my team. When about
half way up, we heard the rattle of a wagon, and
in looking back we saw a man standing up on the
wagon driving as fast as he could make the horses
go. Tom Gledhill said, "That fellow is driving
pretty fast up hill." I remarked, "he must have
had one drink too many this morning." Just then
the man shouted, ' i There is a man shot all to pieces
below the house. ' We then knew what the shooting
was we had heard and started back to the house as
fast as we could run. We saw some horsemen south
west of the house coming at full speed through the
brush, and thought they were Indians trying to head
us off from the house, where we had left our guns.
When we reached the house we saw that the men
were from Spring City.
The Miller boy, when shot, tried to rm to the
house, but the Indians headed him off. They had
not yet reloaded. The boy turned and ran down the
road toward Spring City and met these men going
out to look for stock. They had received word that
Indian rigns had been seen the previous cvevini?
in the foot hills. Some of the men took the boy
who was very weak from the loss of bloo<] to Spring
City and sent a telegram to Mt. Pleasant. Col John
L. Ivie gathered up a small posse with which he
pursued the Indians, but never overtook them. Later
Colonel Allred took young Miller home and kept
him until he recovered. Brother Allred 's wife at-
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 309
tended him like a mother without compensation.
We all went down to where Miller lay. When
shot he had fallen off the wagon on the north
side. The Indians, without mutilating his body,
had dragged him about a rod from the wagon and
laid his face on a large bed of cactus. They had
taken his gun, pistol, food, bedding, and cooking
utensils, and with the mules had made off in a north-
easterly direction towards the mouth of Cedar Creek
Canyon. It was then that R. N. Bennett, the man
with the team drove up. He had seen the Indians
leave, but thought they were white men. He saw
the wagon, but did not notice that the tugs were
cut. As he was passing the wagon he heard a man
moan, and, turning, he saw Miller lying about a rod
north. He stopped, tied the lines, and went to
Miller and asked who had done this. Miller said,
" Indians. " Bennett said, "When?" Miller an-
swered, "Right now." Bennett asked if there was
anybody at the mill and was answered, "Yes." He
then lifted the old man off the cactus and drove up
to the mill.
When we reached the place where Miller lay, I
put my arm under his neck to raise him up for
some of the others to pick the cactus briers out of
his face, and in doing so I heard his back bone grate.
I asked if it hurt him. He answered no, but that
he was thirsty. One of the men stepped to the wagon
to get some kind of a vessel in which to fetch some
water, but the Indians had taken everything of that
kind. He, however, picked up one of the bullets that
had been fired by the Indians on the wagon.. I said
' ' My hat will hold water, ' ' and ran to the creek, about
310 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
fifty yards distant, where I received a moment's
scare. On the opposite side of the creek some wil-
lows had been cut down and fire had been through
them. One willow about the size of a gun barrel had
been blackened by smoke so that it looked bright, and
lay in such a position that it pointed right at my
head. I thought that if I did not drop this instant, I
would be shot. As I squatted to the ground I saw
what it was. I obtained the water and let Miller
drink out of my hat, after which we held consulta-
tion and decided to make a litter of four small poles
and a pair of Higbee's blankets, using a pair of
overalls belonging to me for strings to lash it to-
gether. Gledhill was sent to the house after a bucket,
blankets and overalls. When he returned he
was sent upon an elevation to guard against a sur-
prise by Indians.
The Spring City men made the litter while Hig-
bee and I followed the trail of the Indians to learn
if possible, where they had gone. We were armed
with good " Henry " rifles, and followed the trail
to the mouth of Cedar Creek canyon, about two
miles, where the Indians had gone up a wide hol-
low with large oak brush on both sides. I told
Higbee that I was going there, as it gave the Indians
too good a chance to ambush us without our get-
ting a chance at them. He then said that he would
go alone, and went on. I went onto a ridge where
I could look around and could see no Indians, but
saw one of Miller's mules feeding a short distance
north with the harness on. I feared it might have
been left there for a decoy to get us into a trap, but
as the mule was feeding contentedly, I concluded
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 311
that it had been left because it was too slow to make
headway. I secured the mule and took it back to the
wagon. When I reached the vehicle the men were
ready to start with Miller. Some of the men had
gone up to the mill and brought down my team.
The Spring City men carried Miller, one at each
corner of the litter, and Gledhill took Miller's
wagon with one yoke of my oxen. I drove my wagon
with the other two yoke. Having travelled about
half the distance to Spring City, Miller said he
was tired and wanted them to lay him down in the
road to rest. We all gathered around him. I asked
him if he would like us to take any word to his
family if he should not live to see them. His eyes
were turning glassy. He said he had nothing on
his mind, but would like to see his twins before he
died. We learned later that a pair of twin baby
boys had recently been born to him. We asked him
if he wanted us to take vengeance on the Indians.
He said, "No, they don't know any better." He
said he knew some of the Indians, one was Taby-
any, and there were five of them. Other things
were said that I do not call to mind. We could see
that he was too low to proceed, and in a short time
the poor fellow expired. Colonel Allred came up
with a wagon, and his body was carried down to
Spring City. That night his family, who had been
telegraphed at Nephi, came to Spring City and took
charge of his remains.
Orson Hyde sent the following telegram to Salt
Lake City, dated September 26th, 1872.
"The Indians are upon us. Several horses were
stolen last night. This morning a man was shot off
312 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
a load of lumber and his little boy wounded in the
hip and wrist. The man is said to be Miller from
Salt Creek."
It was generally believed that the Indians mis-
took Mr. Miller for Bernard Snow, as they had the
same kind of team, a gray and a bay mule, and
Snow often had a boy with him. The Indians did
not like Bernard Snow.
In one of the raids on Ephraim Bernard Snow,
the veteran actor who was building a mill at the
mouth of the canyon near the settlement sustained
during several hours a lonely but heroic siege; the
savages surrounded the mill, but the gallant de-
fender kept up a fire so vigorous that they were
forced to retire. (Copied from Whitney's History
of Utah.)
GENERAL MORROWS RECOMENDATION TO INDIAN
AGENT DODGE.
INDIANS GO TO WASHINGTON TO IN-
TERVIEW PRESIDENT GRANT.
This was the last serious raid made by the hos-
tiles, and matters soon quieted down to their normal
condition. The settlers had suffered more severely
than they otherwise would have done both in loss
of life and property because of the proclamation of
Governor Shafer, and Acting Governor Black, pro-
hibiting the assembling of the militia. Governor
Woods refused to rescind that order when applied
to in July of the same year, even to enable the peo-
ple to defend themselves. Of the action of tjie
citizens in obeying the edict of the Executive, Gen-
eral Morrow said in his report to Indian agent,
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 313
IHIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Dodge: "I think I may say with truthfullness that
there is not another American community in the
nation which would have endured half the outrages
these people have endured without rising up as one
man to drive out the savage invaders at the point
of the bayonet. On any principle of self defense
they would have been justified in doing this. In
the same letter the General made the following re-
commendation : l ' Now, sir, I have given you a plain
statement of facts, and I desire to invite your at-
tention, and through you the attention of the Indian
Department, in the justice and propriety of making
this people some recompense for their losses. This
may be done, I believe, from the appropriation made
by Congress for these tribes. It is only an act
of simple justice to the poor people who have suf-
fered so severely that it should be done. It is some
time since I had occasion to examine the subject, but
I believe there is a law of Congress, I think of 1834,
which authorizes compensation to be made in cases
like the present, and prescribes the manner in which
it shall be done. If this course is pursued now,
it will not only be proper in itself as an act of
justice to the people, but it will also teach the
Indians that they cannot commit depredations with
impunity. ' '
To General Morrow's letter, Colonel Dodge re-
plied: "I fully concur with you in all the statements
you have herein made," adding, "Your reference
to the great losses on the part of the citizens of the
disturbed district is eminently just, and I shall do
everything in my power to bring such relief to the
sufferers as the law will allow." He also supported
314 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
General Morrow's, application in behalf of the In-
dians, asking permission for a delegation of chiefs
to visit President Grant. This application was
favorably acted upon, and on October 17th, Chief
Wandrodes, Antero, Tabiona, and Kanosh accom-
panied by Judge George W. Bean of Provo as in-
terpreter, left Salt Lake City with Special Agent
Dodge to confer with the " Great Father" at Wash-
ington. Since then depredatory acts by Indians in
Utah have been rare.
UTE DIALECT, TRADITION AND LEGENDS.
By D. B. Huntingdon.
Numbers
One Soos
Two Wy-une
Three Pi-une
Four '. Wats-u-ene
Five Man-i-gin
Six Nav-i-une
Seven Tat-su-ene
Eight Ni-wat-su-ene
Nine Sur-rom-su-ene
Ten Tom-su-ene
Eleven Tom-su-ene-soos spinko
Twelve Tom-su-ene Wy-une spinko
Thirteen Tom-su-ene pi-une spinko
Fourteen Tom-su-ene wats-u-ene spinko
Fifteen Tom-su-ene man-i-gin spinko
Sixteen Tom-su-ene nav-i-une spinko
Seventeen Tom-su-ene tat-su-ene spinko
Eighteen Tom-su ene ni-wat-su-ene spinko
Nineteen Tom-su-ene sur-rom-su-ene spinko
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 315
Twenty Wamp-su-ene
Twenty one Wamp-su-ene soos spinko
Thirty Pam-su-ene
Forty Wats-u-ene tom-su-ene
Fifty Man-i-gin tom-su-ene
Sixty Nav-i-une tom-su-ene
Seventy Tat-su-ene tom-su-ene
Eighty Ni-wat-su-ene tom-su-ene
Ninety Sur-rom-su-ene tom-su-ene
One hundred Soos meh
THE TRADITIONS OF THE UTAH INDIANS IN RE-
LATION TO THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.
When the gods made the world it was dark
all over the face of the earth; and they said let
us have light; and the chief said, I will make it;
I have no arrow long enough to penetrate through
the darkness. So he groped about and found some
willows (Cannab), and broke the longest one he could
find, put it upon his bow and shot upwards. In a
short time a small star appeared. They watched
it and it soon began to grow ; light came in, the ori-
fice expanded, the darkness disappeared, and they
could see to divide the water from the land ; and they
made dry ground, and the rivers, lakes, springs, and
small streams, and they all sang together.
THE FLOOD.
The people of the earth a long time ago be-
came exceedingly wicked, and the Lord sent out a
proclamation for all of the inhabitants of the whole
316 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
earth to come together, for he wanted to talk to
them. They met in a large valley and the Lord came
down and stood, one foot on one mountain and the
other foot upon another mountain; but the people
would not listen to Him. He then called all of his
friends to come to Him. They came two of every
kind of beasts, and a few men, women and children,
and they made a covenant to hearken unto Him.
The others kept talking and would not hear Him,
Then the Lord was angry; he stooped down and
pulled up a large tree and whipped every living
thing to death except his friends, and then He told
them to go and throw or scatter their young upon
all the face of the land and be His friends.
ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS.
A great many moons ago a woman strayed off
and got lost from her lodge. She became very hun-
gry, and cried to the Lord for food, and He sent
ravens to carry her food for many days. After a
while she found her lodge, and there was great re-
joicing among here people when she told them what
the ravens had done.
THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST.
A great many years ago the Lord (Towats)
lived in the Piede country. His house is standing at
this time. He had a son who died and when he
died the earth was broken up; there were earth-
quakes and terrible thunderings and lightnings. It
was very dark for three days and nights. It was
so dark the people could feel the darkness with
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 317
liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiii inn in 1111 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiu ii
their fingers ; and all of this time they were howling
and crying, for they could not make fire burn. They
had to eat all their meat raw. The third day His son
came to Hfe and the darkness disappeared, and there
was great rejoicing. The Lord had a brother, but-
they were not on friendly terms with each other.
And he, the brother, had a son who died, and his
father went to the Lord (his brother) to ask him why
it was not dark. The Lord told him it was because
he opposed him in all things. The Lord's brother's
name was Shinnob. The Lord told him to go home,
cut off his hair, burn up his lodge, kill his horses,
howl, and lacerate his flesh, for the third day his
son w^ould stink; and it was so. Hence comes the
tradition, which is ; That when they die their spirits
go to a large canon in the Sierra Nevada mountains
where there is plenty of game, and they hate to
have their relatives die and go poor to the hunting
grounds. This is the reason why they kill the dead
man's horses to go with him for him to ride. It is
customary with them to kill a prisoner or some
poor person to go with them to wait on them.
WAH-KER'S HISTORY.
Wah-ker was born about the year 1815, on the
Spanish Fork River, Utah County, Utah Territory,
and was one of the shrewdest of men. He was a
natural man ; read from natures books. He was very
fond of liquor; but when in liquor you could not
get him to make a trade.
Wah-ker means "yellow," or "brass." When
about twenty five years of age he had a curious vi-
sion. He died and his spirit went to heaven. He
318 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
saw the Lord sitting upon a throne dressed in white.
The Lord told him he could not stay; he had to
return. He desired to stay, but the Lord told him
that he must return to earth; that there would
come to him a race of white people that would be
his friends, and he must treat them kindly. The
Lord gave him a new name. It was Pan-a-karry
Quin-ker (Iron twister) in 1846 or '47 he went to
California with a lot of Piede prisoners. He frighten-
ed the Piedes into giving him their children, which he
took to lower California to trade for horses to enrich
himself, taking many of his tribe with him. The Span-
iards gave him numbers of beef cattle and charged
him for them, where upon he started for home. When
out two days he called a halt, held a council, and sent
the old men, women and children on towards home.
The third day ten men returned to visit the Span-
iards. Each man visited different ranches, and took
a large number of horses. The Spaniards raised a
large force and pursued them, and recoverd many,
but lost six or seven hundred head of wild horses,
for which the Mexicans offered a large reward. The
Indians pushed the horses so hard that they lost
several on the desert.
He remained king of the mountains until about
1852, when he inaugurated what is called the Wah-
ker war, through which many whites lost their lives ;
and which cost Utah Territory over a million dol-
lars.
Soon after he was taken sick near Fillmore,
in Millard County, and was ill but a short time when
he was stricken with death, being blind for three
days. He would have the men raise him up, when
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 319
he would talk to them, telling them not to fight the
whites as he had done. When he died there was a
terrible howling. The men jumped upon their horses
and killed seven head of horses, one Piede woman
(a prisoner), and one boy, and carried Wah-ker up
into the mountains, put his body into a cliff of
rocks, walled it up and put a Piede boy in with
him alive. Three days after, as some Indians were
riding by, the boy called out to them and asked to
be let out. He said Wah-ker began to stink and he
was hungry. They laughed at him and rode on.
Wah-ker had three brothers: Ara-pene, Sam-
pitch, and Tabby. Tabby is at present the head chief
of the ITtahs proper, and is on the Uintah reser-
vation. (1872.)
Ara-pene was a great orator, but a hard-
hearted man. At one time in Manti he got mad
at his wife and burned her in a fearful manner with
a frying-pan handle that was broken off the pan.
She crawled to the settlement and the white women
nursed her until she recovered.
At another time he came down out of the moun-
tains with some deer-skins and a Piede prisoner, a
small boy, to trade. The price was too high for the
child, whereupon, in rage, he took the child by his
heels and dashed his brains out by thrashing the
ground with his head.
In 1849, when fifty of us were exploring the
' ' Dixie ' ' country, in the month of December, we met
Ara-pene on his way from the mountains on the Se-
vier river, coming down to winter. An old squaw
had a long roll of cedar bark, one end of which was
on fire so as to light a fire quickly. We all camped
320 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
together. Ara-pene had one daughter, about nine
years old, and she was very sick with measles. She
died that night ; and the Indians held a council whe-
ther to kill one of us or a Piede prisoner, a boy
about six years old, to send with the daughter. In
the morning two young men came out of Ara-pene 's
lodge, loading their rifles and driving the Piede be-
fore them. I shall never forget how pitiful he looked,
for he knew what his fate was. He asked to take
off his moccasins and was refused. It was very cold.
They drove him about four rods from camp, when
both fired and the poor little fellow rolled down
from off the little knoll on which he stood. He was
buried along with the girl.
THE UTES.
Have no marriage ceremony. They buy and
sell their women and daughters. They have many
wives and the women do the hard work, dressing
all their skins. When the hunters return from a
hunt, if he brings in any game the women unload it
and unsaddle the horses. The hunter does nothing
more until the meat is gone, when the women bring
up the horse, saddle him, and he goes on the hunt.
The men are intensely fond of gambling, horse-rac-
ing and shooting at the target. The women love
to gamble with sticks for beads and paints, etc;
and are also fond of playing ball in summer time.
They are very affectionate to their children.
The Utes have no religious ceremonies, but are
great for doctoring. A "medicine-man" is looked
upon as one that can handle the thunder balls and
stand in the fire with his bare feet. Their medicine
J
HANS J. GOTTFREDSON
years emjiloyed Indians to work for him. Boating
Canyon. 1S72 to 1SSO. He camp-
aitd legends.
Who for si
on the Colorado River, at Eldorad
ed with them and learned their
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 321
is princpally singing and sucking.
I never saw an Indian with a bald head, and
they have but very few decayed teeth. They pluck
out their beards and eyebrows. They are very much
afraid of witches and crazy people, .and believe in
making medicine on paper to kill people.
UTE AND PIUTE TRADITIONS.
By H. J. Gottfredson.
The Ute and Piute Indians have traditions very
similar. Hans J. Gottfredson was in business at
Eldorado Canyon on the Colorado River for about
seven years, and employed Piute Indians ix» work
for i im. He camped out with them a considerable
and from them learned some of their traditions with
regard to the creation, and the Lord's dealings with
his children. They believe when the earth was
created that it was level and beautiful, that fruit
and vegetation grew spontaneously, that game was
plentiful everywhere and that all was peace, that God
(Towats) lived in the south, and that the Lord had
two sons. The elder son, who was independent and
could always take care of himself, was the father of
the Indians who inherit his nature: the younger
was a cry baby always wanting everything he saw,
and he is the father of the white people. The Lord
granted him his desires, and the whites inherit his
disposition, that is the reason why the white people
are smarter in getting and in inventing and mak-
ing things. But as orators they are not the equals
of the Indians.
At one time the father became vexed at his
children for some cause or other and tearing through
322 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
the country from south to north he tore up the land
as he went along, leaving it in the present condi-
tion, with mountains, hills and deserts and not fer-
tile as it was. But that he will sometime come back
and level the land and make it as it was before. Then
it will be the happy hunting ground. The Indians
are superstitious and believe there is some kind of
charm about writing and making pictures. They
also believe in Satan (Shin-nob) who is always bent
on doing harm, that he delights in seeing people do
wrong. They do not serve God, because he is good
and will not harm any-thing; but they serve Satan
through fear; they want to keep peace with him.
Many of them, when they eat, throw the first bite
over their left shoulders, and when asked what that
is for, they say that is to feed Satan to keep peace
with him. They believe that the white people can
write to him and he will cause sickness or trouble to
come onto others. And should you write the name
of an Indian on a slip of paper and tell him that you
was going to send it to Lucifer, the Indian would
risk his life, if necessary to get possession of it.
When trouble comes to them, they think, that if they
do something to please him, it will stop the trouble.
The writer had some acquaintance with the In-
dians in the early sixties, they were hospitable if
a person came to their camp hungry, and they ex-
pected the same from the whites. If they were
trusted with anything, they could as a rule be de-
pended upon, and were generally truthful ; they dis-
pised a falsifier. There were many small bands of
Indians in the country at that time, and we could
run onto an Indian camp in many places. In the
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 323
summer of 1864 I was herding cattle and sheep in
Thistle Valley. Once I followed some cattle tracks
into the west mountains traveling over hills and
canyons for about fifteen miles to Mount. Nebo.
As it was late in the day, night soon overtook me.
I had with me my Kentucky rifle and a dog. The
night was dark and as I could not remember how
many canyons I had crossed I went down the
wrong canyon. Near midnight I was attacked by
a lot of dogs and I knew they were Indian dogs.
They were fierce and had it not been for my dog,
it is hard telling what the result would have been.
I yelled when some Indians got out of their blankets
and came up and called off the dogs. I went down
with them to their camp. They knew me and said
that I was the sheep captain. Some young squaws
came out and stirred up a fire and roasted deer
meat for me. They offered me some of their bread
which was made of berries and large wingless black
crickets the size of the end of my thumb, they call it
Queash. I showed them the cricket legs and said they
were ' ' Kay-wi-no. " not good. They laughed at me.
The Indians offered me blankets to sleep in but as
I told them that my folks would be worried about me
and would be out at daylight hunting for me. An In
dian went down the canyon with me about a mile
to where a trail led into Thistle Valley, and I got
to camp about daylight.
The Indians realized that they were being
crowded off their hunting grounds and would often
tell us so; they wanted cattle, horses or sheep in
payment for it They never stayed long on a camp-
ground, but moved to new hunting grounds and pas-
324 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
tures where feed could be found for their horses. In
the morning before breaking camp, the Chief would
call the Indians around him and talk to them for half
an hour or so, instructing them as to their move-
ments. Then each would go to their several tasks
some would go hunting on the way to the new camp
ground. The squaws did the packing and moving of
camp while the men and boys gathered up the horses
and did the easy work.
They loved hunting, and as scouts and trailers
they were far superior to white men. If a twig had
been newly broken, or a stone moved they always
noticed it and learned the cause. They were so
thoroughly acquainted with the mountain trails, can-
yons and watering places, and knew the hiding
places in case of danger or pursuit so well, that they
were hard to locate. They would often travel long
distances without leaving any tracks or signs, by
walking on rocks, or wading in streams, and thus
conceal their movements. They generally made
small fires and hovered closely over them, burn-
ing mostly sage brush, which made the best embers
and coals and kept the fire better, when covered,
than other wood. They thought white men foolish
for making large fires and have to sit back. The
Indians always smelled smoky because of sitting over
their small fires so much, and being in their wicki-
ups.
AN EXPLORING TRIP AND TREATIES WITH IN-
DIANS IN GRASS VALLLEY AND VICINITY,
BY A. K. THURBER, G. W. BEAN AND
OTHERS.
On or about the 1st of June, 1873, President
Brigham Young and Council called Bishop Albert
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 325
K. Thurber and Wm. Jex of Spanish Fork, George
W. Bean, Bishop Abraham Halladay, General Wm.
B. Pace and George Evans, of Provo and some others
to take a party and explore the country southeast
of Sevier Valley and make treaties of peace with
the Indians in that vicinity. Consequently, on the
4th of June, 1873, a party of ten men left Provo,
Pleasant Grove and American Fork. At Spanish
Fork four other men joined and at Warm Creek
(Fayette) one at Nephi, and at Salina one more man
joined. From Richfield, Glenwood and Prattville
came five more men. The noted Chief Tabiona ac-
companied them as guide. The party fitted out
with saddle and pack horses, and started out on
Indian trals southeast over the mountains. George
W. Bean had previously acted as Indian interpre-
ter for President Young, and also for the govern-
ment. Bishop Thurber could also speak the Ute
language and Chief Tabiona accompanied them both
as guide and as mediator between the Indians and
Whites. Interpreter Bean had obtained from the
government two pack-horse loads of blankets, shawls,
beads, butcher knives, calicos and numerous other
articles, such as the Indians like, to give to them in
order to obtain their good will, and keep peace
with them.
We left Prattville June llth, 1873 and camped
at Brimhall Springs. Next morning we traveled up
a nice narrow valley through grass which in places
touching our stirrups, and at the head of the valley
we found a large grizzly bear that had just been
killed and skinned; it looked as large as a cow,
so they named the place Bear Valley, and it still
326 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
retains the name. About half a mile farther on was
a bunch of quaking-asp, the largest about seven
or eight inches in diameter. We noticed that one
of the trees had the bark pealed off half way around
up about seven feet from the ground. We learned
later that the bear had an Indian up that tree for
about twenty-four hours, and he was in such a hurry
getting up that he dropped his gun, but later killed
the bear.
On the night of the 12th we camped on the
spot where Burrville is now located. Here we no-
ticed the prettiest natural meadows that I ever saw,
and there was bunch-grass all over the hills. Hence
we named the place Grass Valley. Next day, the
13th, we reached Fish Lake about 3 o'clock p. m.
There we saw our first Indian; he was after fish;
but as soon as he saw us, he jumped onto his
pony and rode up the creek through the quaking-
asp timber as if he expected to be shot at every
minute. Tabiona called for him to stop, but he kept
going. Some of the members of our company be-
came a little uneasy, knowing that the band was
camped not far away. I unsaddled righf quick and
ran over to where the Indian had been fishing, and
there was about forty fish lying on the D#.nk of
the creek and thousands more in the little c^eek
(Doctor Creek.) I ran down the little stream three
or four rods and started to throw out fish. By the
time the others had un-saddled and unpacked they
came and stopped me. I think I had about 300
fish and I was down on my knees throwing them
out with both hands. They threw back those that
were still alive but we took 210 to camp. It will
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
be well to state that the fish in this locality go up
the small streams to spawn in such numbers that
they can hardly move. We cleaned and salted what
we had taken, and got the Indians to dry and smoke
them and bring them to Cedar Grove in Grass Val-
ley twelve days later — two seamless sacks full. We
prepared supper early, and after picketing and hob-
bling our horses (keeping them between our camp
and the lake) we made our beds scattered in the
brush. It was agreed that all were to keep quiet
and lie low. Tabiona, my father or A. K. Thurber
being the only ones allowed to talk. Not long after
dark, our horses began to snort and make an awful
fuss, trying to get loose. Tabiona called out and be-
gan talking; then also my father and Thurber. Ta-
biona spoke again, and finally two old squaws an-
swered him and came into camp. We gave them
presents and sent them back to their camp; they
soon returned with about half the tribe. Old Poga-
neab (Fish captain) their chief, tried to keep them
from coming and was on the fight. A little later
most of his fighting men came in and said it was
safe to build fires, and about midnight the chief
and his two squaws, and eight or ten more, came
into camp.
We talked to them, and gave them presents till
about two o'clock in the night. We then sent them
to their camp, but told them to come back in the
morning.
We had a big talk all day. At the meeting
Tabiona spoke and said that when at Washington
visiting the Great White Chief (President TJ. S.
Grant) he saw three persons of fine appearance,
328 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
dressed in white robes and they had long white
flowing beards; the friends to the Indians, the
white men did not see them, but he did Some
also thought that they might be the three Nephites
spoken of in the Book of Mormon. Old Poga-neab
became very friendly, and accompanied us on foot
all the way round till we met the tribe at the council
previously arranged at Cedar Grove. One of his SOPS
went with us. We left Fish Lake June 151 h and
went to the place where Thurber is now located. .A.
K. Thurber liked the creek and location so well that
we named the place Thurber in his honor. Next
day we went to the lower end of Rabbit Valley, and
during the day we caught a lone wild horse, and
an antelope. Twenty seven of us circled round
them and closed in on them. "Where ever we went
the deer were nearly as plentiful as the fish in the
lake, and were quite gentle but we never killed
more than we wanted to eat.
We camped in a nice grove of long-leaf pines
which grew right down to the valley, and called the
place Pine Creek ; it is known as Pine Creek to this
day. Here we picketed about half of our horses,
hobbled the rest and built some nice big fires. All
of a sudden several of our horses snorted and
stampeded, running up the creek. Our ropes held
fifteen animals I think. The night was dark, and
as we had not been up the creek we let them go
till morning. We knew there was another camp
or tribe of Indians down there, somewhere, but not
having seen any signs of them, we did not expect
to see them till next day. Some of their scouts
or guards, however, were out.
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 329
We put our fires out and all laid flat on the
ground. It made old Poga-neab so mad, Tabiona
said, that he swore at them He and his son went
out on the trail and were gone about an hour, talk-
ing loud, telling the Indians to come in the morning.
We all rested next day and found our horses
two or three miles up the creek. When the Indians
came in, we gave them presents and made peace with
them. Their squaws brought us forty nice trout
that they had caught in their willow traps. The
name of their chief was Angewetimpi. We noticed
quite a difference in the Indians of the two tribes,
though they lived only forty to sixty miles apart.
Next day we started up Pine Creek through timber
and grass and saw lots of deer which were quite
tame. About sun-down we crossed a divide and
came into a nice little flat where the water ran
down into Grass Valley, as we learned later. We
were just going to camp for the night, when we saw
an old coyote with three young ones. We gave chase
and caught the little ones, cut their ears and tails off
short, tied a paper collar around one's neck and
turned them loose. We named that stream Coyote
It still retains that name and there is a settlement
there now by that name. Next day we went south
on to the Boulder Mountain, passing through big long
leaf pine timber. We also saw springs and meadows
and ]ots of deer, chickens, etc. In two dp.ys we
reached the head of the east fork of E sealant o creek,
now called Potato Valley. Here we found a small
band of Indians and after making peace with them,
we came down the river and went up Grass Valley to
the Cedar grove, just below the present site of Burr-
330 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
ville, where we met the Fish Lake tribe of Indians.
We stopped there a day in council with the In-
dians ; the next day we went back to Prattville, and
then returned to our homes.
When the result of this trip was reported to
President Brigham Young the result was that Bish-
hop Albert K. Thurber and George W. Bean were
immediately called to settle in Grass Valley and as-
sist the Indians who would gather there to culti-
vate the arts of peace and industry.
At the time of the meeting July 1st, 1873,
a heavy snow storm came up which was a reminder
that we were in the near vicinty of the top of the
rim of the Basin, five or six miles distant. The In-
dian talk was highly satisfactory to all parties, and
the promise made by the natives has been exceed-
ingly well kept ever since.
In the spring of 1874, (about April 12th), these
men with some of their sons and some others in-
cluding the noted Porter Rockwell commenced
operations in Grass Valley. Among the others
who came into the valley were Tom and Billy Mc-
Carthy, James H. Clinger, Aaron and Dave Dan-
iels from Provo, a man by name of Prator who had
a family and a few others who took up ranches. We
put up a lot of hay that summer.
THREE NAVAJO INDIANS KILLED IN GRASS
VALLEY.
That fall four Navajoe Indians came into the
valley to trade blankets for horses with the Grass
Valley Indians. While in Grass Valley, It was re-
ported, they had killed a calf belonging to the Me-
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 331
Carthys and trouble arose. Just as they were leaving
they called at McCarty's cabin sullen and saucy. The
ooys who were getting breakfast motioned for the
Indians to go. The boys guns were all in one cor-
ner of the cabin, and the Indians who got between
them and their guns, now motioned for the Ooys
to go. The boys went out to the ?orral ani stable
to plan what was best to do and in the meantime
the Indians ate the boys breakfast. Mr. Clinger
had come to the cabin riding a fine horse, which
he tied to the fence just before the Indians came.
Though the Indians were in possession of the boys
guns there was no ammunition the boys carried that
in their belts and pockets. The boys finally tied up
a large bundle of hay in their lasso's and started to
roll it toward the house. The Indians got scared and
made a run, two of them getting on Clinger 's horse,
and the other two taking their best horses. The
boys got their guns and started to shoot, killing the
two on the Indian ponies not far off. The others
on Clinger 's horse got away. The boys saddled up
fresh horses and followed the Indians down the val-
ley. After getting quite close they killed one In-
dian and wounded the other as well as the horse.
The wounded Indian left the horse and went up a
rough canyon, as it was getting dark the boys re-
turned to their cabin.
The wounded Indian was twenty-one days get-
tng home, eating anything he could catch, on the
way, as he had no matches to make a fire. As
word soon came that the Navajoes were coming to
kill the whites. All the whites left Grass Valley,
except Praitor and Family, Aaron Daniels, G. T.
332 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
Bean and E. P. Bean. We had to stay to feed the
stock. The Utes who were friendly said they would
take care of us. We wintered in the valley all
right till we run out of salt. We were snowed in
and it took three days on horse back to get to
Glenwood.
UTAH INDIAN WAR VETERANS ORGANISE
AT SPRINGVILLE.
In the afternoon of July 4, 1893, a few of the
veterans of the Black Hawk War, met upon the
public square at Springville and talked over the
old troubulous war times and it was there agreed to
have a re-union of the Black Hawk warriors, their
families* and friends, sometime during the ensuing
winter. The prime movers in the affair were George
Harrison, Edwin Lee, Joseph M. Westwood, Albert
Harmer, Francis Beardall and Walter Wheeler.
Another meeting was held January 1, 1894, at which
in addition to the above named, there were present
Thomas A. Brown, Eliel S. Curtis and Samuel Bulk-
ley, and it was there arranged to invite all the com-
rades of the Black Hawk war residing in the county
to meet at the Reynold's hall, January 24th, 1904,
for a grand ball and picnic. A local society was
organized about the same time called the "Spring-
ville Comrades of the Black Hawk War." The
first captain was J. M. Westwood and Thomas A.
Brown was Adjutant and Quartermaster. From the
local Springville organization evolved the state or-
ganization, known as the "Utah Indian War Veter-
ans Association " under whose auspices the great
encampment was held in (1900). Joseph M. West-
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 333
wood was made commander-in-chief , and Thomas A.
Brown, adjutant and quartermaster of this organiza-
tion. During the previous year the ' ' Home Guards '
and "Walker and Tintic War Veterans" held re-
ceptions, balls and feasts, wrhich were patronized and
looked forward to as events to be prized for their
social and enlivening characters.
On the 25th day of January, 1894, the Black
Hawk War Veterans held their first re-union, at the
Reynolds Hall at Springville, commencing at two
o 'clock, p. m. and continued, with an interval for sup-
per until 4 o 'clock a. m. next day.
There were one hundred and eleven veterans
present from various parts of the county.
On the arrival of the visiting delegations at Spring-
ville they were met with sleighs, under the direction
of George Harrison, and taken to the homes of the
Springville comrades, where old acquaintances were
revived and stories of the war times recounted. At
2 o'clock p. m. order was called by Captain F. P.
Whitmore and the Springville comrades opened with
a song, entitled "The Black Hawk War." F. C.
Boyer made an .eloquent speech of welcome. At 6
o'clock, p. m., the supper hour arrived. A tent was
pitched outside and a fire kept burning, to remind
all of the early camping days. At intervals be-
tweor dances, speeches were made by Orson Croer,
of Spanish Fork, an original poem was recited by
Milando Pratt, and Albert Jones sang an old-time-
song, composed during the Sanpete campaign of
1866-67. Levi N. Kendall, a Utah Pioneer, made re-
marks and Colonel Page of Payson, recounted some
incidents of the war. Benjamin Driggs told about
334 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
campaigning in Sanpete; D. C. Johnson told of the
fight upon the Diamond and the gallant ride of
Noakes, Curtis and Stewart; John Tanner of Pay-
son told now he got out of a certain scrape at Nephi ;
B. W. Brown narrated his experiences at the fight at
Gravelly Ford, in Sevier County, etc. Thus with
music and song the first happy reunion of the In-
dian fighters of Utah passed into history. Since then
the reunions have been held annually, also a mid-
winter dance and festival.
All the counties which furnished assistance dur-
ing the war have been organized into departments
of the organization, and most all the towns and cities
have had their local posts.
Local and State camp-fires and reunions have
been held, which have kept the fire of fraternal
friendship burning.
Through the efforts of Commander J. M. West-
wood the organizations have been kept alive. I do
not know of another man, who would have continued
for twenty-five years or more to keep in touch with
the organization and lead it as long as he has done,
and I verily believe that if this organization had
not existed the Black Hawk Indian War Veterans
services would not have been recognized by the Fe-
deral Government, nor pensions granted. I feel
that we, as Indian War Veterans, owe him our sin-
cere gratitude as well as those who have stood by
him, of whom I will mention George Harrison and
Moroni L. Pratt.
We have held three State encampments, namely :
first at Ephraim, Sanpete County, the second at
Heber City, Wasatch County, August 12th to ItftU,
1911, the 3rd at Springville, Utah County, August
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 335
•illllllMlllllllllllllllllltllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMI
20th to 23rd, 1912, and twenty-four annual camp-
fires have been held in Utah County.
Camp-fires have also been held in other coun-
ties in the State where sufficient veterans reside.
This year, A. D., 1918, the State Organization is com-
posed of: Joseph M. Westwood of Springville, Utah
County, Commander-in-Chief ; Rudolphus N. Bennett
of Mount Pleasant, Sanpete County, First Vice-
Commander; Joel Andrew Johnson of Provo, Utah
County, Second Vice- Commander and Peter C. Peter-
son of Ephraim, Sanpete County, Third Vice-Com-
mander; Peter Gottfredson of Springville, Utah Co.,
as Adjutant-General, Israel E. Clegg, Sr., of Spring-
ville, Quartermaster General; George Harrison of
Springville, Chorister, and Henry Moyle of Alpine,
Chaplain ; Dr. Seymour B. Young of Salt ! j?ke City
is commander of the Salt Lake Department; Judge
John E. Booth of Provo, Commander of Utah County
Department; Rudolphus N. Bennett of Mount Plea-
sant, Commander of Sanpete County Department,
and Orson P. Lee of Monroe, Commander of Sevier
County Department, James D. Shanks, Commander,
Wasatch County Department. Some other counties
have local posts.
REUNION AT MANTI, JOHN LOWRY STATES
CAUSE OF BLACK HAWK WAR.
The occasion of the present re-union being op-
portune, in order to correct an erroneous impression
that has become wide-spread as to what precipated
the Black-Hawk War. I take this opportunity or
means of placing the facts before the world.
But first let me state that I came here as a
pioneer, and took part in the first battle fought with
336 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
she Indians under command of Col. John Scott. And
I have in one way or another been associated with
almost every Indian trouble in the early history of
this region. I served as Indian interpreter for years
in Manti, and have passed through many close places
in dealing with the red men. At times having been
surrounded by them when I knew that one word,
look, or action would have cost me my life in the
event that I showed fear. A man who betrayed cow-
ardice might be killed without any consideration,
but a brave man was always approached with con-
sideration. Among them were some strange tradi-
tions and peculiar notions in relation to their spirit-
ual life, they served Satan, not God, the idea being
to placate the power bent on doing injury. The el-
der Brother (God) was good, and never harmed any-
one, but Satan was served through fear. For in-
stance, should a white man write the name of an
Indian on a slip of paper and give it out that it would
be sent to Satan, the Indian would sacrifice his life
if necessary to get possession of it. In 1864 a
small band of Indians were wintering at Gunnison,
many of them died, and they found reason for their
trouble in conclusion that the Mormons had written
their names and sent them to Satan. And he had
caused death to come upon them. So in their coun-
cils they were directed by their Chief to stop the
sickness among them by killing (Mormons) in re-
taliation. In February Black Hawk informed me
what the Indians were going to do when the snow
went off." They would kill the Mormons and eat
Mormon beef. I immediately went to my Bishop
with the information. He thought, as did many
others, that it was just Indian talk and amounted to
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 337
nothing ; but the Indians told me several times what
they intended to do, and so I went the second time
to the Bishop, My story was received by his saying
t ' There are not enough of them. ' * I then told him
that it did not matter how few the number as long
as they entertained the idea that it was the wish of
Satan, they would accomplish their purpose regard-
less of results to them. Shortly after I learned they
were killing cattle. I had some cattle on the range
myself, and in my search for them I found the skull
of an ox which I had owned. I operated a grist mill
at the time and the Indians would come there for
grinding, and I remember that it was about the sixth
of March that I informed them that I had found the
skull of my ox and asked them why they had killed
it, as I had always been a friend to them, as had the
Mormon people, generally. I talked to them in such
a way that they agreed to pay me for the animal
which had been killed by fetching me a horse, and
they did so next day. I agreed to meet with them at
Manti about the eighth of April and talk the matter
over of their killing our cattle. Accordngly the
council took place. It appeared the difficulty would
be settled amicably, but a certain young Indian pre-
sent whose father had died during the winter contin-
ued to halloo and make demonstrations, saying that
he would (eat Mormon beef) and kill " Mormons "
when the snow went off. I told him a time or two
to stop and permit me to finish my talk. Just then
some one called out "lookout, he is getting his ar-
rows !" I rode up to him and turned him off his
horse, and pulled him to the ground. The bystanders
interferred and we separated. I had fully exposed
what they intended to do. The next day as our
338 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
Illimtllll!
people were out hunting cattle a man named Peter
Ludvigsen was killed. I have always taken the posi-
tion that that talk with the Indians "showed their
hand. ' ' I believe they started hostilities sooner than
they would have done had not the incident above
mentioned occurred. But the trouble would have
come just the same. I am confident many lives were
saved, because it put the people on their guard. The
chief, Black Hawk told Charles Whitlock of Eph-
raim, the same thing as had been told me concerning
the intention of the Indians. These are facts as to
the starting of the Black Hawk Indian depredations.
In those early days its was at times imperative that
harsh measures should be used. Hamilton killed an
Indian dog, and whipped some Indians too, but that
didn't start a war; I threw an Indian out of my
house and kicked him off the place, and no war
came of it. We had to do these things, or be run
over by them. It was a question of supremacy
between the white man and the Indian.
I have patiently borne the stigma placed upon
me, for I knew the facts, and to those who still
persist in looking upon me as guilty of precipitat-
ing the Black Hawk War I will say this, that I ap-
peal from their decision to a higher court — Our
Creator, who will ultimately judge all men.
Signed, John Lowry.
Stamped with — Commissioners of Indian War
Records Seal.
Indians in Grass Valley, Piute County, Utah
did not want to go to the Uintah Reservation to live.
At the time the U. S. Government set apart the
Uintah reservation as a home for the Utah Indians
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 339
MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1IIIIIIII1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM
some Indians living in Thistle Valley, Sanpete
County, and a few in Grass Valley, Piute County,
were very much opposed to going to live permanently
on the Uintah Reservation. Soldiers, Indian Agents
and white traders were not esteemed by these In-
dians and they so stated.
President Brigham Young instructed President
Albert K. Thurber and George W. Bean^to visit
these Indians and take them under their watchcare.
Some of the Indians in Thistle Valley moved to
Grass Valley ; some also came up from Escalante and
others came over from Wayne County to live at
Greenwich in Grass Valley, Piute County, Utah.
After the death of A. K. Thurber and George W.
Bean about A. D. 1900, William H. Seegmiller, then
president of the Sevier Stake of Zion, in reflect-
ing over the situation of the Grass Valley Indians,
concluded that in years to come the Indians there
might feel that as their friends we had neglected
them and did not inform them of the advantages
that they might obtain in lands, money, blankets,
clothing, farming implements, cattle, horses, educa-
tion, etc., should they go to the Uintah Indian Reser-
vation. Elder Francis M. Lyman, an Apostle, who
had under his care these Indians was consulted about
the matter, and of the welfare of these Indians, he
consulted with Jos. L. Rawlins, then a Senator from
Utah in Congress, 1893 to 1903 who presented the
matter to the Committee of Indian affairs in Con-
gress, who informed him that the Indians not on
the reservation in Utah might still be enrolled with
the Uintah Indians and receive the same advantages
as those at Uintah had received, an instructed Presi-
dent Seegmiller to secure the services of the best
340 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
Indian interpreter he could get, and with him go
over to Grass Valley and clearly inform the Indians
there of the benefits that would come to them, if
they would go to Uintah and enroll themselves with
the Indians there. President Seegmiller had George
Hatch informed the Indians that he and Archibald W
Buchanan would be over on a certain date and want-
ed a meeting with them, as he had important mat-
ters to present to them for consideration.
The Indians assembled in the stack yard of
John Hatch close to the Indian village near Green-
wich. The Indians were sullen and said, they were
members of the Mormon Church and why did we — ,
their old friends, want to drive them away to
the Reservation? Did the Mormons want to get
their land from them and make homes for
themselves! They would rather starve here and
eat dirt than go to the Reservation and have their
squaws defiled and their generations cut off by de-
cease, than to get money, land, blankets, etc., by
going to the Reservation. They threw away (tarab-
bied) their Mormon friends, but would not go to
the Reservation.
Interpreter Buchanan then told them we did
not want to remove them to the Reservation; we
wanted to be their friends as always, and for them
to choose whether they would go or remain.
If they wanted to go to the Reservation and
could see a benefit in it, well and good, but if not,
to feel that we were their friends and would not
force them to go.
President Seegmiller spoke to the Indians in
a kind and fatherly way and said, they were to
choose their course whether to go or stay, and in
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 341
time to come he did not want them to reproach their
"Mormon" friends for not informing them ^hat
they could get by going to the Reservation. He de-
sired that they should assimilate the conduct of their
"Mormon" friends, quit their begging and farm
industriously, fence their farms, build houses, raise
horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, etc., make gardens, go
to meetings on the Sabbath day, send their child-
ren to the District School and to the Sabbath school,
and thus become independent and sustain them-
selves.
After this was made clear to them by the visit-
ors to their understandings, they seemed pleased,
took us back (cotch tarriby) to be their friends al-
ways, a great shaking hands was had and we and
the Indians were all (tic-a-boo) friends and have
been ever since.
GRASS VALLEY INDIANS IN 1914.
Peter Gottfredson, who has been collecting the
history of the Indians in Utah, writes interestingly
of a recent visit to the Grass Valley Indians at Koo-
sharem, Mr. Gottfredson says in part :
"I visited their Sunday school class. It con-
sists of about twenty members. The teacher is Louis
Hatch, who is sustained as missionary to the Indians
by the authorities of Sevier Stake. He is the son
of George A. Hatch, who occupied the position of
Indian Missionary for many years and who was
greatly beloved by the Indians. The elder Hatch
died four years ago. At his death the Indians
grieved very much, many of them crying at his
342 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
funeral. It was at their own request that a son of
George A. Hatch was appointed to have charge
of them.
Wappus, a venerable Indian of Koosharem,
says that he was twelve years old when Brigham
Young and his company came to Utah. Wappus is
now blind. Many Indians lose their eyesight due
to the fact, it is said, that they are in the smoke
of their wickiups so much of the time. When a
boy, Wappus went with his father to see the white
men. He was formerly of Thistle Valley, but sold
his farm there and placed his money in a Richfield
Bank.
"A much older Indian than Wappus, is "Chick-
ney shootem" or "Old Tom," as he is otherwise
known, he is the oldest Indian in the colony and is
said to be more than one hundred snows. "
There are about forty Indians in the settlement.
Some of them own their land, holding patent, and
paying taxes, others have filed on land, but have not
yet proved up their claims. Some of the Indians
own horses, cattle, wagons, buggies and farm ma-
chinery. Last fall eight sewing machines were
purchased by the Indians there. A number of the
younger squaws are quite expert with the machines.
The Indians of Koosharem do not like to talk
of the Indian troubles of early days, and they don't
think that the re-unions of the Indian war veterans
are a good thing. They say their people have quit
fighting, are living as the whites do, and that the
old troubles should be forgotten. Nor do the In-
dians want to go to the Reservation. A few days
ago "Indian Pete" asked me why I was writing
about the Indians. I told him that perhaps I would
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 343
make a book, and he seemed to fear that my pur-
pose was to complain against the Indians, so that
they would have to leave their farms and go to the
Keservation to live. I am hoping to gain their
confidence, so that I shall be able to get more infor-
mation about them. I have arranged to get some
photographs of them.-"
KANOSH KOOSHAHEM INDIANS BEAR DANCE.
Peter Gottfredson. well know compiler of In-
dian war history, gives the following account of a
unique celebration recently held by the Kanosh and
Koosharem Indians:
The Kanosh Indians under Chief Andrew Hong-
kub, and the Koosharem Indians under Chief Walker
Ammon, celebrated a ten days "Bear Dance " re-
union between Richfield and Elsinore, Sevier County
from March 7th to 17th. The legend on which the
bear dance is based is an old one. It refers to two
Indians who went hunting in the mountains. While
they were out a heavy storm came up and they got
lost. In roaming around they ran upon a bear's
den. The bear was away and the two Indians sought
shelter in the cave. Being hungry, they helped
themselves to the nuts and other provisions which
bruin had stored up for the winter.
"One Indian decided to remain in the den the
rest of the winter, but the other found his way back
to the village. The bear returned to her den and
made friends witn the Indian who was there.
"In the spring, when the snow was gone and
the grass was getting green the Indians in the vil-
lage went out in search of their brother who had
344 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
been gone so long. They came to the cave, where
they saw the Indian, the she bear and a cub, danc-
ing joyously at the return of spring. "
"As observed now, the bear dance celebration
is in part is a religious rite to show thankfulness that
another winter has been survived, that summer is
again at hand and all is well. It is a custom for
friendly tribes to come together to renew friend-
ship and cordiality.?*
"In the bear dance the squaws form in lines
opposite the musicians, two by two holding hands.
With a chant, accompanied by the instrumental
music, the lines step forward four steps, then the
same distance backward, ending each advance and
retreat with a kind of springing movement. One of
of the squaws from each pair step out and touches
a male Indian, who becomes her partner in the
dance. Then she goes back and joins the other
squaw, repeating the advance and retreat steps as
before. The partner next steps forward and per-
forms a chase in front of the women. Then he places
a hand on the shoulder of either squaw, all the while
keeping step with the music. The squaws separate
and let the buck into line with them locking'arms, the
male with his back towards the music, the forward
and backward steps are repeated and kept up until
the music stops. It is considered a breach of man-
ners for any of the dancers to stop before the music
ceases.
"The orchestra consists of four Indians, a tin
tub, bottom upward, and notched sticks. Each In-
dian places one end of a notched stick on the tub,
to provide resonance, and see-saw up and down along
the notches with another. The dancing is kept up
INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS 345
Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll II IIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIII
each afternoon and each night until towards mid-
night. There is not much moving around camp dur-
ing the forenoon.
"Seventy-six Indians took part in the Kanosh-
Koosharem celebration, and hundreds of visitors
went to the camp and witnessed the dance.
"After a good deal of persuasion, the chiefs per-
mitted photographer R. D. Adams to take a number
of pictures. Most Indans are shy of a camera.
BILL AWARDING MEDALS TO INDIAN
WAR VETERANS.
An act providing for a Medal of Honor for each
of the Indian War Veterans for actual service in
suppressing Indian hostilities in Utah during the
years 1850 to 1872 inclusive.
Sec. 1. — The Governor and Secretary are here-
by authorized to procure a Medal for each of the
Veterans of the Indian Wars who actually served
in suppressing Indian hostilities in Utah during the
years 1850 to 1872 inclusive.
Sec. 2. — The design of said Medal shall be such
as may be determined upon by the Governor and
Secretary of State. And shall be made of Bronze,
and shall be attached to and suspended by a red,
white and blue ribbon. Upon the back of each medal
shall be inscribed the name of the Veteran entitled
to receive it, when completed and at such times as
may be expediant. And after the presentation of
proper evidence and proof of actual service in sup-
pressing Indian hostilities between the years 1850
and 1872 inclusive, by each claimant to the Governor
and the Secretary of State, a medal shall be pre-
346 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
sented to each of said Indian War Veterans. Or
in case of his death to his nearest relative.
Sec. 3 — For the purpose of this act is hereby-
appropriated out of the moneys in the State Treas-
ury not otherwise appropriated the sum of Five
Hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be
necessary. To be disbursed upon the warrant of the
State Auditor when duly authorized by the State
Board of examiners.
Approved this 9th day of March, A. D. 1905.
LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATES $50,000.00 TO
INDIAN WAR VETERANS.
An act providing for services rendered in the
Indian Wars of the Territory of Utah.
And making an appropriation for such services.
And providing for the method of proving such
services, and payment of said funds.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Utah.
Sec. 1st, — That the veterans who performed ac-
tual service in any of the Indian wars of the terri-
tory of Utah, in the regular Militia of the Territory,
or if he be dead, then his widow shall receive from
the State of Utah, compensation as follows :
1st. For expeditionary service while in the
field away from home, (a) Cavalry, Infantry. Bug-
lers, Teamsters and Musicians, at the rate of forty
dollars ($40.00) per ironth. (b) For use and risk
of horse at the rate of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per
month.
2nd. Home guard service. Cavalrymen and In-
fantrymen at the rate of twenty dollars ($20.00) per
INDIAN DEPBEDATIONS 347
month. The foregoing schedule for services shall
govern without regard to the rank in which the per-
son served. Provided that no person shall be paid
for services for which he has heretofore received
payment. And provided further that in no case
shall payment he made to any one for a period ex-
ceeding one month. And provided that the provis-
ions of this act shall not apply to any person who
has been granted a pension from the United States.
And provided further, that payments hereunder shall
not be held to bar further payments in the future for
services longer than one month as shown by the re-
cords herein after mentioned.
Sec. 2. — The affidavits of services in Indian
Wars in the Territory of Utah on file in the office
of the Adjutant General of the State of Utah shall
be deemed conclusive proof of services therein res-
pectfully mentioned. Such affidavits having been
compiled by the Commissioners of Indian War Rec-
ords as authorized heretofore by the Governor and
Legislature of the State of Utah.
1st. Upon filing of proof of identity by any
person rendering such service with the Adjutant
General. He shall immediately list such person,
showing the amount due hereunder.
At the end of ninety days the Adjutant General
shall disburse said funds on a prorata basis, paying
to each his proportionate amount of the sum here-
by apportioned.
Sec. 3. — Identification may be made as follows :
1st. Of the rendering the service, By certifi-
cate of such person attested by two responsible wit-
nesses.
2nd. Of a widow of the person rendering the ser-
348 INDIAN DEPEEDATIONS
vice when the proof was filed by the widow, The
certificate of said Widow attested by two responsi-
ble witnesses.
3rd. Of a Widow of the person rendering ser-
vice when such person has died since the filing of
proof of service: By certificate of such Widow at-
tested by two responsible witnesses or by certified
copy of marriage record of the Widow to the de-
ceased.
Sec. 4. — There is hereby appropriated out of any
money's in the State Treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated, the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars. For
the purpose of carrying into affect the provisions of
this act. The State Auditor shall draw his warrants
on the State Treasurer in favor of the Adjutant-
General for the sum hereby appropriated.
The Booth Bill asked for $321,837.00 to pay the i
Veterans for services. Affidavit of service made
under the provisions of Chapter (55) Laws of Utah
1909.
1917. LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATES $25,000,00 to
INDIAN WAR VETERANS.
APPROVED MARCH 2, 1917.
H. B. No. 33 By Mr. Ray
An act providing for an Indian War Veterans '
Fund, making an appropriation therefor, and pro-
viding for the method of disbursement of said fund.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Utah:
Section 1. There is hereby created a fund to
be known as the Indian War Veteran's fund; said
fund to consist of any money appropriated by the
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS 349
State for the purpose set out in this act, and any
money appropriated or advanced by the Government
of the United States for disbursement among Indian
War Veterans, or persons herein mentioned, and
any other funds donated or acquired for said pur-
poses.
Sec. 2. There is hereby appropriated from the
general funds of the State, not otherwise appropria-
ted, the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,
000.00), to be placed to the credit of vthe Indian War
Veteran's Fund.
Sec. 3. The State Board of Examiners is here-
by authorized and empowered to disburse the Indian
War Veterans ' fund to Veterans who have perform-
ed actual service in any of the Indian Wars of the
Territory of Utah while such veterans were mem-
bers of the regular militia of the Territory, or to the
wives or widows of such veterans, as compensa-
tion for the services of such veterans.
Sec. 4. The State Board of Examiners shall ex-
amine into and investigate the merits of the claim
of any person applying for a share of the Indian
War Veteran's Fund. The findings of the said State
Board of Examiners in regard to these matters shall
be final.
If, in the opinion of the State Board of Exam-
iners, any person applying for a portion of the
Indian War Veterans' fund shall be entitled there-
to, the State Board of Examiners shall determine
the amount to be disbursed to such person, and
upon such determination the State Auditor shall
draw his warrant upon the State Treasurer for such
amount in favor of the person so entitled ; Provided,
however, that no disbursement in excess of the
350 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS
amount of money available in said fund shall be
made.
Sec. 5. This Act shall take effect on approval.
Approved March 2nd. 1917.
64TH CONGKESS. H. R. 655
IST SESSION
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBKUABY 19, 1916.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Pen-
sions.
AN ACT.
The Act to pension the survivors of certain
Indian wars from January 1, 1859, to January, 1891,
approved March 4, 1917, grants a pension of $20 per
month to surviving officers and enlisted men, and
$12 per month to the surviving widows of said of-
ficers and enlisted men, who served in the campaign
in the Black Hawk Indian War in Utah from 1835
to 1867, inclut'iv*
The Smoot amendment, which makes it pos-
sible for the Black Hawk War Veterans to prove
their service and grants them a pension without pre-
vious recognition or payment for said service by
Government, reads as follows :
* ' That when there is no record of service or pay-
ment for same in the War Department, the appli-
cant may establish the service by satisfactory evi-
dence from the muster rolls on file in the several
State or Territorial archives : And provided further,
That the want of a certificate of discharge shall
DEPREDATIONS 351
not deprive any applicant of the benefits of this
Act."
That applicant for pension must establish his
service, or the service of her husband, in accord-
ance with the terms of this amendment. The name
of the soldier, the name of the company and the
company and the date and length of service given in
the application must conform to the records found in
the State archives. Provided that the surviving wid-
ows of said officers and enlisted men shall have
married said survivor prior to the passage of this
Act; provided, that such widow has not remar-
ried: Provided further, That if any certain one
of said campaigns did not cover a period of thirty
days, the provisions of this Act shall apply to those
who served during the entire period of said cam-
paigns ; Provided further, that where there is no rec-
ord of enlistment or muster into the service of the
United States in any of the wars mentioned in this
Act, the record of pay by the United States shall
be accepted as full and satisfactory proof of such en-
listment and service : And provided further, That all
contracts heretofore made between the beneficiaries
under this Act and pension attorneys and claim
agents are hereby declared null and void.
Sec. 2. That the period of service performed by
beneficiaries under this Act shall be determined by
reports from the records of the War Department,
where there is such a record, and by the reports
from the records of the Treasury Department show-
ing payment by the United States where there is
no record of regular enlistment or muster into the
United States military service.
Sec. 3. That section forty-seven hundred and
352 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
sixteen of the Revised Statutes, relative to loyalty
during the Civil War, is hereby repealed so far as
the same relates to this Act or to pensioners under
this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives February
16, 1916.
Attest: South Trimble, Clerk.
(Approved March 4th, 1917.)
(The Italics are Senator Reed Smooth's amend-
ments.)