The 26th annual lecture revisiting the massacre at mountain. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 and the trials of john. It was a tragic event in mormon history many thought best forgotten. The detailed mormon planning of the murders how they. The mountain meadows massacre was made in 1912 and september dawn was made in 2007. A recent movie and a documentary have further fueled public interest in the massacre. Horrible massacre of emigrants the mountain meadows. Two days after the massacre, brigham youngs messenger finally arrived at mountain meadows with the orders to let the wagon train pass.
The mountain meadows massacre is one of the most controversial moments in utah history. Beller baker, 25 mary lovina, 7 wards of george and manerva baker melissa ann beller, 14 david w. The event was the apex of decades of violence, mistrust, and fear. Personally this link gives a very concise summary of the events.
Many other scripts have been put forward, only to be shut down by the morman church. Juanita brooks, a mormon, gave the incident its first thorough treatment in decades with her book the mountain meadows massacre in 1962. It was produced by eric young with dave chase, jan walker and. In september 1857, a wagon train passing through utah laden with gold was attacked. In utah, governor cumming is unwilling to press prosecution, which he sees as futile. This is a category for images that are related to the events surrounding the mountain meadows massacre, which occurred in the state of utah in the western united states. This massive slaughter claimed nearly everyone in the party from arkansas and is the event referred to as the mountain meadows massacre. For the decade prior the emigrants arrival, utah territory had existed essentially as a theocracy led by brigham young. The mountain meadows massacre church of jesus christ. Brigham young and the mountain meadows massacre wikipedia. Frank kirkmans mountain meadows massacre site victims list marker on dan sill hill. Without admitting guilt or involvement, the mormons have assisted the descendants of the tragedy with the building of memorials in addition to maintaining the site, which is a step in the right direction. May 11, 2017two new volumes contribute to understanding the mountain meadows massacre the volumes, titled mountain meadows massacre. Mountain meadows massacre 1857 massacre frank kirkmans.
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. The library of congress does not own rights to material in its collections. The massacre has been portrayed in several plays, and in a 2007 motion picture, september dawn. Monument at mountain meadow on dan sill hill over looking the rock cairn. The mountain meadows massacre was the first work to fully document mormon involvement in the massacre. Mountain meadows massacre descendants tell the story of the tragedy as clips from the film illustrate their narrative. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints was restored from jesus christs ancient church in 1830. Historical documentary of the mountain meadow massacre. For many years the mountain meadows massacre was a taboo subject among mormons. Mountain meadows massacre descendants this site is. The 26th annual lecture revisiting the massacre at. Mountain meadows massacre archaeology magazine archive.
All together, about 140 souls of men, women and children, were taken. American massacre gives motivation to analyze information and is also useful when criticizing plots. It was a crime committed without cause or justification of any kind to relieve it of its fearful character. A gggreat granddaughter of brigham young tells of family secrets.
Lessons from the mountain meadows massacre youtube. Collected legal papers, initial investigations and indictments, and mountain meadows massacre. Heart of the matter, shawn mccraney giving a detailed report of the mountain meadow massacre by brigham young and the church of jesus christ of latterday sa. The juanita brooks lecture series presents the 26th annual lecture revisiting the massacre at mountain meadows by glen m. According to wikipedia and the plaques at the site, the mountain meadows massacre involved a mass slaughter of the fancherbaker emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows in the utah territory by the local mormon militia in september 1857.
Mountain meadows massacre mountain meadows massacre. Over time, cummings became convinced that the threats to the territorys peace of an aggressive inquiry into the mountain meadows massacre, in his mind, outweighed the benefits. The mountain meadows massacre occurred on september 11, 1857, during a time when the lds church was. Part ii, the dilemma of blame, salt lake tribune, march 14, 2000 that which we have done here building a monument to victims of the m. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 and the trials of. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Legacy of the mountain meadows massacre, a documentary film by brian patrick 2004. Lee spoken at his execution for the mountain meadows massacre march 23, 1877. Baker, 52 abel, 19 john beach, 21 william cameron, 51 martha cameron, 51 tillman, 24 isom, 18 henry, 16 james, 14 martha, 11 larkin, 8 william camerons. Lee, the only militiaman executed, was effectively a scapegoat. The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant. In september 1857 a group of mormons in southern utah killed all adult members of an arkansas wagon train that was headed for california. Amidst this, two young loverstobe, one a mormon and the other one of the. A series of attacks was staged on the bakerfancher wagon train around mountain meadows in utah.
Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows, by will bagley. Lee remained a fugitive until november 1874 and went on trial for murder the next year. At mountain meadows, deep in southern utah, a group of mormon militiamen slaughtered 120 unarmed nonmormon emigrants. The mountain meadows massacre is the worst event in latterday saint history, says richard turley, assistant historian of the lds church and. The mountain meadows massacre occurred 11 september 1857, when 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. May 24, 2003 and while it might not be a major tourist destination, for a century and a half the massacre at mountain meadows has been the focus of passionate debate among mormons and the people of utah. These efforts have had the support of president gordon b.
Mountain meadows massacre, utah infamous crime scenes on. List of victims murdered by mormons at mountain meadows, utah on september 11, 1857. For the best research on this very important, yet skipped over topic, please see some of the links below as well as a book called the mountain meadows massacre, by juanita brooks, or blood of the prophets. Legacy of the mountain meadows massacre 2004 and the mountain meadows massacre 2001. Opinion a utah massacre and mormon memory the new york times. To everyones surprise, it scooped up the bones of 28 massacre victims, and with it unearthed a new controversy see mountain meadows massacre, november 30, 1999. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. Background on the mountain meadows massacre church newsroom. Depositions 1860 depositions by relatives and friends of the mountain meadows massacre victims deposition of brigham young july 30, 1875. The mountain meadows massacre is a 2001 documentary film about the mountain meadows massacre. This was at the beaver dams between mountain meadows and the muddy and 50 miles from the meadows. Mountain meadows massacre timeline exploring mormonism. The mountain meadows massacre took place just a year after the handcart rescue.
But the stain of the mountain meadows massacre was not so easily erased. Baker reportedly found nothing relating to the massacre, clearing the way for the construction of the new monument. It was a crime committed without cause or justification of any kind to relieve it of its fearful character when nearly exhausted from fatigue and thirst, the men of the caravan were approached by white men, with a flag of. The mountain meadows massacre stands without a parallel amongst the crimes that stain the pages of american history. Primary sources on the mountain meadows association website what is a primary source.
Pushing to open again free emigration on the south route, cummings took pleasure in announcing on may 11, the road is now open. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. Jun 27, 2008 back home i watched the excellent film about the mountain meadows massacre called september dawn. During the past two decades, descendants and other relatives of the emigrants and the perpetrators have at times worked together to memorialize the victims. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. The best detailed account of the horrors and aftermath of the mountain meadows massacre. 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 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. Mountain meadows massacre page 2 legends of america. The church of jesus christ of latter day saints made a distressing discovery while restoring a monument to the victims of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre in southwest utah. The aftermath of mountain meadows history smithsonian.
The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows in southern utah. In the book, brooks demonstrated convincingly that the mormon militia was responsible for the massacre, and that john d. On september 11, 1857, a band of mormon militia, under a flag of truce, lured unarmed members of an emigrant company from their fortified encampment and, with some paiute indians, killed them. If you ever have the opportunity to discuss the book with others, you will be able to clearly tell their views, as you have taken the. Captain john jacktwitty baker lead a wagon train of arkansas immigrants to california in 1857. This is a category about a place or building that is listed on the national register of historic places in the united states of america. On august 3, 1999, a backhoe began digging the foundation. The massacre has also been of subject of several film documentaries including, burying the past. Academy awardr winner jon voight, terence stamp and trent ford star in this film based on the true story of the mountain meadows massacre the brutal.
The mountain meadows massacre victimized several groups of emigrants from the northwestern arkansas region who had started their treks to california in early 1857, joining along the way and becoming known as the bakerfancher party. It cleared up many misconceptions and stated the facts plainly. Managing director, family and church history department, ensign, september 2007president youngs express message of reply to haight, dated september 10, arrived in cedar city two days after the massacre. God almighty couldnt convict the butchers unless brigham young was willing. It was produced by eric young with dave chase, jan. One of the most controversial and highly debated events is the mountain meadows massacre. The question of whether the attack was carried out by local paiute indians or by a renegade sect of the mormon chur. Richard turley and emily utt discuss both events and. A group of settlers, traveling on wagons, was murdered by the native mormons. The mountain meadows massacre occurred 11 september 1857, when some 50 to 60 local militiamen in southern utah, aided by american indian allies. The question of whether the attack was carried out by local paiute indians or by a renegade sect of the. The children who died in the mountain meadows massacre. The mountain meadows massacre was a horrible atrocity, and the conduct of some mormons involved in it was deplorable. The real west mountain meadows massacre tv episode 1993.
The mountain meadows massacre descendants site is dedicated in loving memory to our ancestors who died in the massacre at mountain meadows, utah september 711th, 1857. He and hatch were frightened at this sign, were afraid of robbers, and did not stop, even for water, until they reached the santa clara, 20 miles off. 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. The mountain meadows massacre has continued to cause pain and controversy for 150 years. At pine valley, near mountain meadows, they first heard of the massacre. Mountain meadows massacre on or about september 11, 1857, a caravan of travelers from arkansas were massacred on this site. It was produced by eric young with dave chase, jan walker and larinda wenzel and distributed through the studio, inc. An impartial look into the mountain meadows massacre and film, september dawn, from will bagley, western historian and author of blood of the prophets.
Massacre at mountain meadows mountain meadows massacre. On or about september 11, 1857, a caravan of travelers from arkansas were massacred on this site. 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. The mountain meadows massacre site in washington county, utah, marks the location of the september 11, 1857, massacre of 120 emigrants by militiamen associated with the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Carleton, special report on the mountain meadows massacre. Beller baker, 25 mary lovina, 7 wards of george and manerva baker melissa ann beller, 14. Notice of reunion of the survivors of the mountain meadows massacre new york times, new york city, new york, october 10, 1893. Managing director, family and church history department. From the beginning, accounts have been confused and muddled about why it happened, who ordered it, and what might have provoked it.