Notes
[1. ] “It may as well be understood at the outset that this horrible crime so often and so persistently charged upon the “Mormon” Church and its leaders, was the crime of an individual, the crime of a fanatic of the worst stamp, one who was a member of the “Mormon” Church, but of whose intentions the Church knew nothing, and whose bloody acts, the members of the Church, high and low, regard with as much abhorrence as any out of the Church. Indeed, the blow fell upon the brotherhood with threefold force and damage. There was the cruelty of it, which wrung their hearts; and there was the strength it lent their enemies further to malign and molest them. The “Mormons” denounce the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and every act connected therewith, as earnestly and honestly as any in the outside world. This is abundantly proved and may be accepted as a historical fact. (Bancroft’s History of Utah, p. 544)
Chapter 45
The Army in Utah
1858–1862
Demoralizing Effects of the Army’s Presence
It was the part of wisdom for President Brigham Young and his associates to insist on the camp of the army being far removed from Salt Lake City. It was with reluctance that their commander complied with that request, which was enforced by the peace commissioners. Very little good came to the people of Utah from the presence in their midst, of an armed force, with all its attendant camp followers. It is true that the people benefited in a financial way. They were able to dispose of their products for ready cash and clothing; but they could have managed to live—as they did before the army came—without these advantages, which, of course, they were ready to receive.
There was no debauchery, no immorality or fear of thieves breaking in to steal, in the communities of the Latter-day Saints, before the strangers to their faith came in. With the army all these attendant evils were introduced. The worst element with the army was, of course, the camp following—the freighters and hangers-on, who were not subject to the rigid discipline of army regulation. Yet, much of the evil which resulted, can be traced to subordinate officers and men of the ranks. With many of these, moral rectitude was a thing unknown; and woe to the foolish creatures who, like flies caught in a spider-web, were lured into camp.
To add to the difficulties, many of the enlisted men filled their term of service and were discharged. Usually they were in possession of very little means, and if a balance of pay was due them, it was soon squandered. Such characters flocked to Salt Lake City and other towns, where they became a terror to the inhabitants. Because of this, it became necessary to increase the police force of Salt Lake City, at least four fold. Appeals were made to Governor Cumming to get him to use his influence to have the discharged men marched beyond the borders of the territory. The governor took the matter up with General Johnston, with the result that the condition was relieved in this respect to some small degree. However, the situation could not fully be controlled by these officers, and as long as Camp Floyd (later Crittenden) was occupied by the troops, demoralizing agencies were at work, and the people were constantly in a state of agitation.