Mountain Meadows Massacre Historical Accounts
The Mountain Meadows Massacre stands as a chilling testament to the volatile atmosphere of the American West in the mid-19th century. It represents a confluence of religious fervor, escalating tensions between settlers and Native American tribes, and the brutal realities of westward expansion. The events that unfolded in September 1857 at Mountain Meadows in southern Utah resulted in the deaths of an estimated 120 men, women, and children, members of the Fancher-Baker wagon train, who were traveling from Arkansas to California. This article delves into the historical accounts surrounding this tragic event, offering a glimpse into the contemporary reports and evolving understanding of the massacre.
The immediate aftermath of the Mountain Meadows Massacre was shrouded in conflicting narratives and deliberate misinformation. Early reports, often filtered through the lens of prevailing biases and limited information, painted a confusing picture of the events. News outlets struggled to piece together the truth from fragmented accounts and rumors circulating across the vast distances of the American West.
One of the earliest reports, published in the Los Angeles Star on October 3, 1857, relayed a "Rumored Massacre on the Plains." This initial account, based on information from Judge Brown of San Bernardino, spoke of a wagon train of 25 families, comprising 95 individuals, allegedly massacred between Salt Lake City and the California border. The report mentioned that only the children were spared, picked up on the ground and taken to San Bernardino. The Star expressed skepticism about the rumor’s authenticity, highlighting the lack of concrete details and verifiable sources.
A week later, on October 10, 1857, the Los Angeles Star published a more detailed, yet still incomplete, account under the headline "Horrible Massacre of Arkansas and Missouri Emigrants." This article reported the slaughter of over one hundred people near Santa Clara Canyon, described as being near the rim of the Great Basin, about 300 miles from Salt Lake City. The report attributed the massacre to Native Americans, specifically stating that only 15 infant children were saved and later purchased from the Native Americans by Mormons in Cedar City. This narrative, which initially dominated public perception, claimed the emigrants had poisoned an ox carcass and water sources, leading to the deaths of several Native Americans and triggering a retaliatory attack. The article leaves the readers with the question of assigning the true cause of the event.
The Daily Alta California, a prominent San Francisco newspaper, also covered the Mountain Meadows Massacre, providing updates and perspectives from various sources. These reports, published throughout October and December 1857, reflected the growing public concern and the escalating accusations directed towards the Mormon community. The article "The Immigrant Massacre" of October 17, 1857, continues to report the story and then on October 27, 1857, "Murders At Mountain Canon Confirmed", the Daily Alta continued to disseminate information about the tragedy as it became available.
The San Francisco Evening Bulletin published several articles in late October and early November 1857 that covered The Federal Government and the Mormons, and the Mormon Murderers. These articles reflected the growing animosity between the federal government and the Mormon community, linking the massacre to broader political and religious tensions in Utah Territory. These articles provide insight into the growing mistrust and accusations leveled against the Mormon community in the aftermath of the massacre.
Amidst the accusations, the Western Standard, a Mormon publication in San Francisco, offered a contrasting perspective. On November 6, 1857, the paper published an article titled "Killing of Immigrants – Mormons Falsely Accused," defending the Mormon community against allegations of involvement in the massacre. This article presents the Mormon perspective, claiming the community was being unfairly blamed for the actions of Native American tribes. The Western Standard sought to counter the prevailing narrative and portray the Mormon community as victims of prejudice and misrepresentation.
As time passed, more detailed accounts and investigations began to emerge, gradually revealing a more complex and disturbing truth about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. In May 1859, Brevet Major J.H. Carleton of the United States Army compiled a "Special Report Of The Mountain Meadow Massacre," offering a more comprehensive investigation of the events. Carleton’s report, based on interviews with witnesses and survivors, implicated local Mormon leaders in planning and executing the massacre, challenging the earlier narrative of sole Native American culpability.
Further corroboration of Mormon involvement came from the surviving children of the massacre. An article in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin on May 31, 1859, reported that the "Surviving Children of the Murdered Fix the Crime upon the Mormons." These children, who had witnessed the events firsthand, provided crucial testimony that contradicted the initial accounts and pointed towards the involvement of Mormon settlers.
The Mountain Meadows Massacre gained national attention, as exemplified by an article in Harper’s Weekly on August 8, 1859, titled "The Massacre At Mountain Meadows." This article brought the tragedy to a wider audience, further fueling public outrage and demanding accountability for the perpetrators. The growing awareness of the massacre and the increasing evidence of Mormon involvement put immense pressure on the authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
Decades after the massacre, accounts from survivors and individuals connected to the events continued to surface, providing further insights into the motivations and circumstances surrounding the tragedy. In September 1875, the Daily Arkansas Gazette published the "Statement of one of the Few Survivors," Nancy Sophrona Huff Cate. Cate’s account offered a personal perspective on the massacre, detailing the horrors she witnessed and providing valuable information about the identities of the perpetrators.
Hubert Howe Bancroft, a prominent historian of the American West, included an account of the Mountain Meadows Massacre in his 1889 publication. Bancroft’s account, based on extensive research and interviews, provided a detailed narrative of the events, further solidifying the historical understanding of the massacre and its significance in the context of westward expansion.
In the 20th century, survivors like Mrs. Betty Terry shared their experiences, as documented in the Arkansas Gazette in September 1938. These personal narratives added a human dimension to the historical record, reminding readers of the immense suffering and trauma endured by the victims and their families.
Other accounts, such as Martha Elizabeth Baker Terry’s personal recollection and Rebecca Dunlap Evans’s narration in the Fort Smith Elevator in August 1897, contributed to the growing body of evidence and perspectives on the Mountain Meadows Massacre. These accounts provided valuable details about the lives of the emigrants, their journey west, and the events that led to their tragic demise.
Sara Frances "Sallie" Baker Mitchell’s "The Mountain Meadows Massacre: An Episode on the Road to Zion," published in The American Weekly in September 1940, offered a poignant reflection on the massacre as a symbol of the conflicts and tragedies that marked the westward expansion of the United States. Mitchell’s account highlighted the human cost of religious extremism and the devastating consequences of violence and prejudice.
These historical accounts, spanning decades and originating from diverse sources, paint a complex and multifaceted picture of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. They reveal the evolution of understanding surrounding the event, from the initial rumors and conflicting narratives to the gradual uncovering of the truth and the eventual acknowledgement of Mormon involvement. The accounts also serve as a reminder of the importance of critical analysis, historical context, and the pursuit of justice in the face of tragedy.
The Mountain Meadows Massacre remains a controversial and sensitive topic, sparking ongoing debates and discussions about its causes, consequences, and historical significance. By examining the historical accounts surrounding this tragic event, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of the American West and the enduring legacy of violence and prejudice in the nation’s history.