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The Utah War was a 19th century armed conflict between
Mormon
settlers in Utah Territory and the United States federal government. From 1857 to 1858, the settlers and the government battled for hegemony over
the culture and government of the state-to-be.
The Necessity of War
The Presidential Election of
1856 was a contest between James Buchanan of the established
Democratic party and John C. Frémont of the newly organized
Republican party. Buchanan eventually prevailed, but the credibility of the Democratic party had been shaken. The Republicans
charged the Democrats with being soft on the "Twin Relics of Barbarism"—polygamy and
slavery. To regain credibility for the Democrats, Buchanan needed to address the
charge, but was also concerned with maintaining the integrity of the union between the states. The only politically viable option
for Buchanan was to take the hard-line on polygamy and depose Brigham
Young as governor of the Utah Territory. Buchanan chose to appoint Alfred Cumming as the new governor
and ordered the U.S. Army to escort Cumming to the Utah Territory.
Troop Movements
The U.S. troops marching toward Utah were originally led by Gen. William S. Harney, but Harney was forced to return to
Kansas to deal with a conflict there. Because of the Harney's unavailability, Col.
Edmund Alexander was charged with the first detatchment of troops headed for Utah, only to later rendezvous with and relinquish
command to Col. Albert Sidney Johnston. The Nauvoo Legion, a Utah militia commanded by Lot Smith and under Young's leadership,
harassed the federal mission while under Alexander's command. It was only days after Col. Johnston took command of the combined
U.S. forces that he decided to settle in at the burned out remains of Fort
Bridger for the winter. In spring, reinforcements arrived to resupply and strengthen the military presence in Utah, but
negotiations were already underway. In 1858 Young accepted his replacement and peace returned to Deseret.
Timeline of Events
July 24, 1847: Mormon Pioneers found Salt Lake City as the
first city of Deseret - the Mormons' promised land.
February 2, 1848: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed by the U.S. and
Mexico, granting the region of Deseret to the U.S.
September 9, 1850: The Great Compromise of 1850 is signed into law, creating the Utah
Territory and appointing Brigham Young governor.
June 29, 1857: U.S. President James Buchanan declares Utah in rebellion of the U.S. government. Buchanan
appoints Alfred Cumming as
governor of Utah. Cumming is to be escorted by a regiment of the U.S. army, initially led by Col. Edmund Alexander.
July 18, 1857: Two Mormons, Porter Rockwell and Abraham Owen Smoot, learn of Buchanan's declaration in
Kansas City while on a mail run. The same
day, Col. Alexander and troops begin the jouney to Utah.
July 23, 1857: Rockwell and Smoot arrive in
Salt Lake City and inform Brigham Young of the government's plans.
August 28, 1857: Col. Johnston is
ordered to replace Gen. Harney in command of the U.S. troops.
September 11, 1857: A group of
Mormons in southern Utah (allegedly ordered by Colonel William H. Dame, directed by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac C. Haight, and led
by John D. Lee) attack and kill a group of traveling civilians in the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
September 15, 1857: Brigham Young calls out the Nauvoo Legion to fight the U.S. Troops if they enter Utah Territory.
September 18, 1857: Col. Johnston
and troops leave Fort Leavenworth, Kansas headed for Utah.
October 5, 1857: Lot Smith leads the Nauvoo Legion on a guerilla-style attack on the provision wagons of the U.S. Army. Fifty-two wagons are burned.
November 3, 1857: Col. Albert Sidney Johnston catches up with Col. Alexander and
replaces him as commander. Johnston orders the regiment to spend the winter in Fort Bridger and to delay the move to Salt Lake City until next spring.
March 23, 1858: Brigham Young implements the "Sebastopol Policy." All
faithful are ordered to move south to Provo and to prepare their homes in
Salt Lake City for burning.
April 12, 1858: The U.S. Army and Cumming
arrive in Salt Lake City. Brigham Young surrenders the title of governor
to Alfred Cumming.
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