On september 11, 1857, a group of travelers passing through utah were killed on their way to california. She writes, the church leaders decided to sacrifice lee. The aftermath of mountain meadows history smithsonian magazine. Mountain meadows massacre mountain meadows massacre. Articles featuring the mountain meadows massacre from history net. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows has generated considerable controversy since it was first published in 2002oct. The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant. Records, history, monuments, information and links on the september 11, 1857 massacre at mountain meadows of more than 120 arkansas emigrants while traveling through utah on their way to california. Horrible massacre of emigrants the mountain meadows. Historians applaud ldsapproved book on mountain meadows. The attacks began on september 7 and culminated on september 11, 1857, resulting in the mass slaughter of most in the emigrant party by members of the utah territorial militia from the iron county district, together with some southern paiute native americans. The mountain meadows massacre was a mass slaughter of the fancherbaker emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows, utah territory, by a local mormon militia and members of the paiute indian tribe on september 11, 1857. A new book, massacre at mountain meadows, tries to explain what. Resisting this tendency to oversimplify the past, novak explores mountain meadows as a busy and dangerous intersection of cultural and material forces in antebellum america.
The massacre, in 1857, was one of the most explosive episodes in the history of the american westnot only were 120 men, women and children killed, but the united states and the church of jesus christ of latterday saints almost went to war. By all counts, juanita rose above the cynicism in producing such a great work. In 1990, on a hill in the mountain meadows, the state of utah erected a memorial honoring the arkansas emigrants. Mountain meadows massacre 1857 massacre frank kirkman. Stewart lee udall, the mountain meadows 1990, from a poem written by udall, a descendant of john d. He concludes that brigham young knew that the attack was imminent and, according to legend, sent the message brethren, do your duty. Leaving his wife and children safe in arkansas, milum was traveling alone when he joined the fancher wagon train in fort smith, arkansas in late march 1857. A new book, massacre at mountain meadows, tries to. Juanita brooks must be commended for writing as thorough a history of the mountain meadows massacre as she has. This was my first indepth study of the mountain meadows massacre. Alexander fancher, and in due time set out for the journey across the plains and the rocky mountains to california.
In her riveting book, sally denton makes a fiercely convincing argument that they were. The mountain meadows massacre 1950 by juanita brooks was the first definitive study of the mountain meadows massacre juanita brooks, a mormon historian trained in historical methods, was discouraged from studying the incident, and she suffered some ostracism from fellow mormons after its publication. The aftermath of mountain meadows the massacre almost brought the united states to war against the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, but only one man was brought to trial. The attacks culminated on september 11, 1857, with the mass slaughter of most in the emigrant party by members of the utah territorial militia from the iron county district, together with some paiute native americans. All of the travelers died except for seventeen children, who were taken into. I was amazed to see the event took place on 9111857. On september 11, 1857, some 50 to 60 local militiamen in southern utah, aided by american indian allies, massacred about 120 emigrants who were traveling by wagon to california. For a century and a half the mountain meadows massacre has shocked and distressed those who have learned of it. In the book, brooks demonstrated convincingly that the mormon militia was responsible for the massacre, and that john d. There were a lot of things that happened that led to this horrible end. Lee, and read at the reinterment of victims bones at mountain meadows, september 1999 it was spring of 1857. The events in this book show a combination of environment, psychology, miscommunication and some other aspects that make the mountain meadows massacre a more complicated event then what some individuals give it.
Massacre at mountain meadows offers the most thoroughly researched account of the massacre ever written. Speaking at the sesquicentennial of the massacre on 11 september 2007, president henry b. The mormon war was just starting and buchanan had sent an army to quash the mormon rebellion. Rev of william wise book massacre at mountain meadows.
The aftermath of mountain meadows history smithsonian. The mountain meadows massacre is one of the most controversial moments in utah history. The book concerns the 1857 mountain meadows massacre in southern utah, and is the latest study of the subject. The mountain meadows massacre church of jesus christ. The mormons denounce the mountain meadows massacre, and every act connected therewith, as earnestly and as honestly as any in the outside world. Managing director, family and church history department. Denton is a talented writer, but mormon historians found her book an easy target. This massive slaughter claimed nearly everyone in the party from arkansas and is the event referred to as the mountain meadows massacre. In april 1857, near harrison boone county, 120 to 150 settlers, mostly arkansans, started a journey toward the promise of a better life in california.
Mountain meadows massacre utah, united states 1857. Drawn on september 11, 1857, a band of mormon militia, under a flag of truce, lured unarmed members of a party of emigrants from their fortified encampment and, with their paiute allies, killed them. I knew very little about the incident previous to reading this book and now i feel much more aware of the conditions within the mormon church as well as in the state of utah, etc. During the past two decades, descendants and other relatives of the emigrants and the perpetrators have at times worked together to memorialize the victims. Book provides an unflinching look at mountain meadows massacre copied to clipboard the new book, massacre at mountain meadows, published by oxford university press, is not a church production but was coauthored by mormon historians ronald w. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 and the trials of john. A biocultural history of the mountain meadows massacre novak, shannon a on. From the beginning, accounts have been confused and muddled about why it happened, who ordered it, and what might have provoked it. The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows in southern utah. In the spirit of frankness and healing, turley has teamed with glen leonard, director of the museum of church history and art, and ronald walker, a professor of history at the joseph fielding smith institute for lds history at brigham young university, to produce a book tragedy at mountain meadows he said will deal with previously. An 1889 account of the mountain meadows massacre legends. Leonardfor their book, massacre at mountain meadows.
Once again the monument fell to disrepair, this time because of weather and poor construction. This book is written by three lds historians who claims that they had the full support of their church in writing about this incident. My favorite book on the mountain meadows massacre is one written by josiah f. Prattill feeling against the emigrantsalleged outragestheir arrival at mountain meadowsthey are attacked by indiansa flag of truceplan of the massacresurrender of the emigrantsthe butcheryburial of the slainthe survivors. Mountain meadows massacre, church history topics mountain meadows massacre in september 1857, a branch of territorial militia in southern utah composed entirely of latterday saints, along with some american indians they recruited, laid siege to a wagon train of emigrants traveling from arkansas to california. The mountain meadows massacre was the first work to fully document mormon involvement in the massacre. Be the first to ask a question about the mountain meadows massacre. Mountain meadows massacre, church history topics mountain meadows massacre in september 1857, a branch of territorial militia in southern utah composed entirely of latterday saints, along with some american indians they recruited, laid siege to a wagon train of emigrants traveling from arkansas. A book of narrow but dramatic interest, massacre at mountain meadows contains the most complete historical record of one of the bleakest events in the history of the mormon settlement of the west. What is the mountain meadows massacre mountain meadows.
The mountain meadows massacre was the largest civilian massacre in our countrys history. The couple had two children, alfred and martha, born just before milums illfated trip to utah. After reading michael richan on the event in one of his river books i had to read the true story on the event. Instead, youngs military strategy and rhetoric made it conceivable for his followers in southern utah to commit one of the most treacherous and unusual mass murders in american history. Also, in an effort to bring to light the details of the event, latterday saint leaders opened the churchs archives to the authors of the 2007 book massacre at mountain meadows. A biocultural history of the mountain meadows massacre. Before they could reach their destination, a party of mormons and indians attacked them while they camped on a plateau known as mountain meadows in southern utah. As historian will bagley noted, lee reconstructed his chronology to distance himself from the initial attack and provided blistering attacks on the men who testified against him. There are several books written on this very subject but we recommend the book massacre at mountain meadows by ronald w. The mountain meadows massacre has long stained brigham youngs reputation and that of his church, partly because young afterwards showed little indication of. History of utah, 15401886, by hubert howe bancroft. The descendants made it clear to the government that the monument needed to be repaired or replaced. For a century and a half the mountain meadows massacre has. Mountain meadows massacre monument at carrollton carroll county.
Yet events surrounding the upcoming sesquicentennial appear primed to bring more attention to the massacre than it has had since the death of brigham young. Here are five facts surrounding the mountain meadows massacre we should all understand. A very sad book of the deaths of so many people at the mountain meadows massacre. Today, some massacre victims descendants and other relatives are latterday saints. American massacre by sally denton the mountain meadows massacre by juanita brooks white flag americas first 911 by wayne capurro american history revised. Dec 26, 1976 rev of william wise book massacre at mountain meadows.
Book provides an unflinching look at mountain meadows massacre. Although unremarkable to look at, the mountain meadows massacre monument has an inscription that pulls no punches, describing how 140 settlers left the area, camped at mountain meadows in utah, and were then attacked by indians directed by mormons. Josiah gibbs, author of the 1909 book lights and shadows of mormonism, recalled that a prominent salt lake editor said, the mountain meadows massacre is an incident that should be forgotten, for the sake of peace in utah. The mountain meadows massacre leave a comment carroll county by arkansas genealogy in the spring of 1857 an emigrant train was organized in northwestern arkansas, and principally in carroll county, by capt. The mountain meadows massacre has continued to cause pain and controversy for 150 years. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Mountain meadows massacre mormonwikia fandom powered. In september 1857 a group of mormons in southern utah killed all adult members of an arkansas wagon train that was headed for california. Leonard was also the director of the museum of church history and art in salt lake city, utah. The mountain meadows massacre in public discourse is a digital history project that examines public discourse surrounding the mass murder of 120 arkansas emigrants by mormon settlers in southwest utah in september 1857, and how the creators of these texts represented the event and its aftermath. The 26th annual lecture revisiting the massacre at. Revisiting the massacre at mountain meadows by glen m. Mountain meadows massacre encyclopedia of arkansas.
The readership of this book owes a great deal to brooks great contribution to historical scholarship. This incident is referred to as the mountain meadows massacre. An american legend and a monumental crime, on attack on wagon train by pahute indians and mormons. The mountain meadows massacre audiobook by juanita. Mountain meadows massacre 1857 massacre frank kirkmans. The survivors mountain meadows massacre descendants. September dawn book by carole whang schutter burying the past documentary by brian patrick.
Throughout the book, the authors paint finely drawn portraits of the key players in the drama, their backgrounds, personalities, and roles in the unfolding story of misunderstanding, misinformation, indecision, and personal vendettas. This event is known in history as the mountain meadows massacre. Meadow massacre memorial a transcription of the mmm memorial monument. Juanita brooks was a wonderfully brave woman to have composed this book at a time when the massacre was commonly thought of as either having never happened, or simply an indian massacre. The muchanticipated book by three senior lds historians about the mountain meadows massacre is a detailed, thorough exploration of the horrific crime told in a compelling narrative, but it still omits crucial contextual elements of the story and certainly wont end all debate that was the conclusion of three historians who have read a version of massacre at mountain meadows by ronald. The book covers the subject of mountain meadow massacre that took place in sept 1857 where 120 white settlers of a wagon train passing. The group responsible for the tragedy was mormon settlers who were living in utah at the time.
Gibbs not only interviewed some relatives of the murder victims but also talked at great length with frank e. Mountain meadows massacre central, utah monument facebook. A series of attacks was staged on the bakerfancher wagon train around mountain meadows in utah. The actual events of that fateful day, however, remain relevant for church members around the world. Its not just about mmm, but about how and why the mormons made it happen. My husband and i just finished reading a book about the mountain meadows massacre and today we visited the sacred site. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 and the trials of. The mountain meadows massacre stands as one of the darkest events in mormon history. That volume was an original attempt at exposing the massacre and its coverup and resulted in the 1961.
Few people know the extent of the mormon colonization of what is today the western united states, mexico, and even canada. The mountain meadows massacre by juanita brooks goodreads. The history of the massacre has often been treated as a morality tale whose chief purpose was to vilify or to glorify some collective body. Few historians have attempted to dissect the mountain meadows massacre without coming away with polemic bias or ignorance. House of mourning is a bold experiment in a new kind of history, the biocultural analysis of complex events. In 1857 an army of roughly 1,500 united states troops was marching toward utah territory, with more expected to follow.
The book provided an important history of early mormonism as well as offering lees somewhat selfserving account of the events leading to the mountain meadows massacre. Meadows in 1857, honor those who died, preserve the site, and build understanding with others. Massacre at mountain meadows is a book by latterday saint historian richard e. In 1945 the historian fawn brodie wrote a controversial biography of joseph smith, no man knows my history, for which she was excommunicated, and it encouraged juanita brooks to write her benchmark 1950 book, mountain meadows massacre. The title of the book is the mountain meadows massacre.
Friends of the mountain meadows association home facebook. An arkansas emigrant party arrives at salt lake cityassassination of parley p. The massacre almost brought the united states to war against the. For a more complete, documented account of the event, readers are referred to the forthcoming book massacre at mountain meadows. The victims, most of them from arkansas, were on their way to california with dreams of a bright future.
On the sabbath they rested, and at the usual hour one of them conducted divine service in a large tent, as had been their custom throughout the journey. New facts on guilt in mountain meadows massacre deseret news. Lee, the only militiaman executed, was effectively a scapegoat. Gibbs, ed 1910 by the salt lake tribune publishing co. Resisting this tendency to oversimplify the past, novak explores mountain meadows as a busy and dangerous intersection.
Harrison, arkansas vengeance is mine, i will repay, saith the lord. Mountain meadows massacre 1857 massacre frank kirkmans mountain meadows massacre site mountain meadows massacre. Leonard for twentyeight years, juanita brooks served on the board of state history, an advisory group to the utah state historical society. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows, by will bagley, university of oklahoma press, 2002, p. Juanita brooks book, the mountain meadows massacre is an early historical attempt to explain why this horrible event happened. Her colleagues on the board and the societys directors valued. Meadows massacre marion co families margaret butler offers information on the marion co families who were on the wagon train. The new book, massacre at mountain meadows, published by oxford. So today, we at lds living seek both to memorialize the massacres victims and provide our readers with a factual understanding of the tragedy. Mountain meadows massacre monument, harrison, arkansas.
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