The Utah War, 1857

After being forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in 1846 the members of the Church of Jesus Christ, referred to as the Mormons, were determined to find a new home far from the grasp and influence of any outside interest. When they arrived in Valley of the Great Salt Lake, in what was then Mexican territory, they thought they had found just such a place. That circumstance changed quite rapidly. With the end of the war with Mexico, in 1848, Utah became a Federal Territory. -------------------------- Brigham Young became the new Territorial Governor. However a collection of government bureaucrats were soon dispatched to look after Federal interests including a Federal Judge. Old biases soon arose. Anti Mormon, anti polygamy sentiments were soon in full bloom. Judge Drummond led the dissent sending back reports to Washington of “Mormon” disobedience and disregard for federal authority. -------------------------- In response to these allegations and without bothering to conduct a thorough investigation and without consulting his Territorial Governor, Brigham Young, President Buchanan’s administration made the decision to dispatch federal troops and a new Governor to Utah. The goal was to firmly establishing Federal authority. The administration thought this would be a straightforward proposition. The troops would march west and take up residence in Utah just like they had in other territories with life going on just as usual. They even sent representatives west to buy supplies from the Utahan’s and make arraignments for an army encampment. ------------------------ The people in Utah took a different view of the proposition. Given the fact that there had been no consultation or prior warning they took the view that the oncoming Army was to be an army of occupation. They had the fear that they were about to suffer a repeat of the persecution they had suffered in Nauvoo. ----------------- With this in mind they made the determination to try and stop or delay the oncoming army. The hope was that they could gain time to peacefully resolve the conflicting points of view. -------------------- The Federal effort was set in motion with this order from Winfield Scott Commanding General of the US Army. ------------------- “Headquarters of the Army, May 28, 1857------------ Orders having been dispatched in haste for the assemblage of a body of troops at Fort Leavenworth, (Kansas) to march thence to Utah as soon as assembled. The general-in-chief, in concert with the War Department, issues the following instructions, to be executed by the chiefs of the respective staff departments, in connection with his general orders of this date:------------- “1- The force-2d dragoons, 5th infantry, 10th infantry and Phelps’ battery of the 4th artillery- to be provided with transportation and supplies, will be estimated at not less than 2,500 men. ----------------- 2- -------- will assign to this force a full compliment of disbursing and medical officers ------------ 3- About 2,000 head of beef cattle must be procured and driven to Utah. Six months’ supply of bacon, for two days in the week, must be sent ---- desiccated vegetables in sufficient quantity to guard the health of the troops for the coming winter. ---------- Winfield Scott” ------------------------------- A new Governor, Alfred Cummings, and a slate of federal officials would join up with the Army on the trail. -------------------- News that the Army had marched out of Fort Leavenworth reached the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1857 as the Saints were in the midst of celebrating the anniversary of their entry into the valley. ------------------- An article in the city charter granted for Nauvoo was the right to raise a militia. It was called the Nauvoo Legion. Soon after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley the decision was made to reinstitute the Nauvoo Legion. The commanding officer of the Legion was Daniel Wells, Second Councilor in the First Presidency of the church. Each local community raised a militia unit. Theses local militias were organized into military districts. In addition the Church raised several cavalry units that acted as a standing army for the Territory as a whole. These various units were assigned the task of dealing with the Indian conflicts that soon arose. Brigham Young also dispatched select units from the “standing army” to protect the Church’s interest in the surround area and along the immigrant trail. --------------------- When the leadership of the Church made the decision to act in opposition to the approaching threat it was primarily to the units of the standing army that they turned to. Order No-3 setting in motion the Mormon response was issued on August 13, 1857. (See documents) -------------------- Order No-3 detailed the Nauvoo Legion units that were to take to the field. It assigned, James Cummings and Robert Burton to take command. ------------------- Of all of the men order into service with Order No-3 only 125 immediately took to the field. Later on other units were dispatched to occupy key points on the immigrant trail. Key among them was Echo Canyon on the Utah Wyoming border. One of those original 125 men was Charles E Griffin. In his autobiography he noted that the 75 men of the Life Guards based in the Salt Lake Valley gathered at the tithing yard across from Temple Square on the 14th. ------------------------ “I returned to the City where I found the company settled. We camped there that night and next morning the 15th of Aug 1857 we started East.” ------------------- The Muster Roll for Charles’s unit recorded that he showed up for duty with his own horse and saddle as well as a packsaddle. It recorded that he reported with 3 blankets, a rifle, a pistol as well as ¾ pound of lead and 200 percussion caps. The rifle was probably a Harpers Ferry Model 1841, or something similar, the pistol a Colt Dragoon. ---------------------- Robert Burton had overall command of the Life Guards. The first major stopping point on the journey east was the famous way station Fort Bridger, Wyoming. There they were joined by 50 men sent from Provo. It was these 125 men who were to face the oncoming Federal Army. -------------------- At Fort Bridger and nearby Fort Supply, which had been built by the members of the Church, they gathered grain and other resources, which, they loaded, on the accompanying wagons. They traveled east crossing the Green River, on past the Big Sandy, across South Pass before dropping down into Rock Creek. Along the way they established supply depots. They also left men behind who would form a rapid express service delivering news to and from the front. ------------------- 5 miles beyond Rock Creek they establish a forward base on Strawberry Creek, which, gave them a commanding view of the trail. Leaving their supply wagons behind Robert Taylor and about 50 men, including Charles E Griffin, with their pack animals traveled on to Devil’s Gate, Wyoming arriving August 31, 1857. There they established a base camp. Sending patrols further east they made contact with the oncoming army just east of the Platt River near present day Casper, Wyoming. -------------------- Thus began the cat and mouse game between the opposing forces. The Guards set about gathered information on the makeup and disposition of the Federal units and their supply train that was stretched out along the immigrant trail. Robert Taylor sent men into their camps under false colors in order to measure their resolve and purpose. ---------------------- The Legion slowly retreat back to their base at Strawberry Creek keeping the Federals under constant observation. The decision was then made to send the supply wagons back to Fort Bridger. The remaining men, free from the encumbrance of the wagons, made the determination to begin a more proactive resistance. When the leading unit of the Federal Army stopped to camp at Pacific Springs west of South Pass the decision was made to raid the camp and drive off as much livestock as possible. They were joined by another unit that had taken the field lead by Orrin Porter Rockwell. --------------------- In the dark of the night the Legion raiders thundered through the 150 wagons that made up the Federal Camp firing their pistols in the air and making as much racket as possible. Further back up the trail a second raiding party attacked the artillery battery. The Pacific Springs raiders drove off the majority of the mules used to pull the wagons. It was the first open conflict between the opposing forces. Charles E Griffin in his autobiography describes his participation. As the mules were being driven off a quick thinking bugler blew the call for feeding the livestock. The army mules stopped their flight and returned to their camp expecting to be fed. Thus ended the first open battle of the Utah War. -------------------- Orrin Porter Rockwell, acting as a rear guard, had stopped on the trail and dismounted. The horses ridden by he and his companions joined the Federal mule herd in their rush back to the waiting grain sacks leaving a dumfounded Rockwell afoot. Rockwell had to steal mounts from the Federal camp that night before he could rejoin the Legion forces. ---------------------- Robert Taylor slowly withdrew his command to Fort Bridger. At Fort Bridger a council of war was held with the commanding officers of the Nauvoo Legion. The decision was made to begin a very active opposition. ----------------- General Daniel Wells issued the following order. ----------------- “Use every exertion to stampede their animals and set fire to their trains, burn the whole country before them and on their flanks, keep them from sleeping by night surprise. Blockade the road by falling trees or destroy river fords where you can. ------------------ Watch for opportunities to set fire to the grass on their windward so as if possible to envelope their trains, Leave no grass before them that can be burned.” ----------------- Units led by Lot Smith, William Hickman and Orrin Porter Rockwell joined Robert Taylor’s remaining men. The starting action was to burn Fort Bridger and the nearby Fort Supply to deny their use to the approaching Army. The Legion cavalry units then began to carryout General Wells order with a will. They burned wide swaths of grass. They raided the supply trains and animal herds. -------------------- Lot Smith led the most famous of the raids when he captured by bluff a whole supply train and burned it to the ground. Of the event he wrote ----------------- “We cooked a feast for the Coyotes”. ----------------------------- The Legion became so successful in disrupting the forward progress of the Army that in addition to their other defensive measure the Federal commanders organized a 100-man force mounted on mules that was given the specific task of taking the fight to the raiders. For the first time in the conflict combatants were fired on. The mules proved no match for the Legion Calvary who were mounted on some of the best horseflesh in the west. The Legion Calvary continued to raid at will. --------------------- The Legion was so effective in their delaying tactics that the Federal Army was prevented from entering the Salt Lake Valley that year. They were forced into winter camp at what was left of Fort Bridger. They called their encampment Fort Scott. They stopped because they simply did not have enough livestock left to pull their wagons. What was left of their mules and oxen, after their camps were raided by the Legion, could not find enough grass to keep up their strength. 1500 of the cattle sent along for food were found in the Salt Lake Valley that next spring rustled by the roving horseman. The Federal Army did not even have enough mules left to pull the wagons sent out for wood for their encampment. The soldiers instead pulled the wagons. The Federal Army spent a cold hungry winter at Fort Scott. ------------------ Later on that fall Robert Burton’s command was ordered back to Salt Lake City for rest and refit. Charles E Griffin was among a handful left behind to keep the express service between the front lines and the rear working. ------------------------- Charles was eventfully ordered home only to be recalled to lead a resupply effort back to the troops manning defensive positions in Echo Canyon and beyond. -------- Early the next spring Charles took the future church President, Joseph F Smith, with him on a reconnaissance mission checking on the encamped Federal Army. ------------ During that winter common sense prevailed. An agreement settling the conflict was reached. The Nauvoo Legion was granted full immunity. The newly appointed Governor, Alfred Cummings, was welcomed to take his seat in Salt Lake City. ----------------- On June 26, 1858 General Albert Sidney Johnson marched his troops into the abandoned Salt Lake City. The Federal Army took up permanent residence at Camp Floyd and the new Territorial Governor began his administration. The Utah War had reached a conclusion. ------------------------------ As a final action Brigham Young called on Orrin Porter Rockwell to hand pick a small unit and travel east along the immigrant trail and measure the Army’s compliance with the agreement to bring an end to their blockade. One of the men he picked was Charles E Griffin. ------------------------------- Of Charles E Griffin and the Utah War we can truly say, first in and the last to leave. ------------------------- An interesting side note of the conflict was the letters exchanged between Brigham Young and the Federal Commanders. Given the number of livestock liberated by the Mormon raiders I find this letter particularly amusing. ------------------------- “I am informed that among the mules that have come into our community is a small white one belonging to you, and a favorite of yours. The mule in question arrived in poor condition, and learning this was a favorite with you, it gives me pleasure to inform you that I immediately caused the mule to be placed in my stable where it is well fed and cared for and is held subject to your order: But should you prefer leaving it in my care during the winter it will probably be in better plight for your use upon returning to the east in the spring”. ------------------------------------------ Charles Emerson Griffin’s unit was the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Regiment in the Standing Army. The Regimental commander was Colonel Robert T. Burton. The Battalion Commander was Major Howard Egan. The commander of the 2nd Fifty was Captain D. D. McArthur. Charles’ unit was the 1st Ten of the 2nd Fifty. ------------------- Charles Emerson Griffin / Albert Bailey Griffin / Samuel / Samuel / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documents; ------------------------- 1- Nauvoo Legion General Staff --2- Order No-3—3-Muster roll of the 1st 50---4- Muster roll of the 2nd 50--- 5- 1st Ten of the 2nd 50.