Utah War History of Utah

disputes between mormon inhabitants , federal government intensified after church of jesus christ of latter-day saints practice of polygamy became known. polygamous practices of mormons, made public in 1854, 1 of major reasons utah denied statehood until 50 years after mormons had entered area.

after news of polygamous practices spread, members of lds church viewed un-american , rebellious. in 1857, after news of possible rebellion spread, president james buchanan sent troops on utah expedition quell growing unrest , replace brigham young territorial governor alfred cumming. expedition known utah war.

as fear of invasion grew, mormon settlers had convinced paiute indians aid in mormon lead attack on 120 immigrants arkansas under guise of indian aggression. murder of these settlers became known mountain meadows massacre. mormon leadership had adopted defensive posture led ban on selling of grain outsiders in preparation impending war. chaffed pioneers traveling through region, unable purchase badly needed supplies. disagreement between of arkansas pioneers , mormons in cedar city led secret planning of massacre few mormon leaders in area. scholars debate involvement of brigham young, there conclusive evidence did not sanction attack. 1 man, john d. lee, ever convicted of murders, , executed @ massacre site.

express riders had brought news 1,000 miles missouri river settlements salt lake city within 2 weeks of army s start march west. fearing worst 2,500 troops (roughly 1/3 army then) led general albert sidney johnston started west, brigham young ordered residents of salt lake city , neighboring communities prepare homes burning , evacuate southward utah valley , southern utah. young sent out few units of nauvoo legion (the utah militia consisted of men between 16 , 60, 8,000–10,000 men), delay army s advance. majority sent mountains prepare defenses or south prepare scorched earth retreat. although army wagon supply trains captured , burned , herds or army horses , cattle run off no serious fighting occurred. starting late , short on supplies, united states army camped during bitter winter of 1857–58 near burned out fort bridger in wyoming. through negotiations between emissary thomas l. kane, young, cumming , johnston, control of utah territory peacefully transferred cumming, entered eerily vacant salt lake city in spring of 1858. agreement young, johnston established army @ fort floyd 40 miles away salt lake city, southwest.