ENPages That Mention Arkansas
July 28, 1875 deposition of George A. Smith
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in the year 1854 at Parowan or elsewhere, attended a council where Wm. H. Dame, Isaac C. Haight or others were present to discuss any measures for attacking or in any manner injuring an emigrant train from Arkansas, or any other place, which is alleged to have been destroyed at the Mountain Meadows in September 1854.
Deponent further saith that he never heard or knew anything of a train of emigrants, which he learned afterwards by rumor was from Arkansas, untill he met said emigrant train at Corn Creek on his way north to Salt Lake City, on or about the 25th day of August 1854.
Deponent further saith that at Corn Creek he encamped with Jacob Hamblin, Philo T. Farnsworth, Silas S. Smith, and Elisha Hoops and there for the first time he learned of the existence of said emigrant train and their intended journey journey to California.
Deponent further saith that having been absent from the Territory for a year previous, he returned in the summer of 1854 and went South to visit his family at Parowan and to look after some property he had there and also visit his friends, and for no
July 30, 1875 deposition of Brigham Young
002
3rd
State the condition of affairs between the Territory of Utah and the Federal Government in the summer and fall of 1857?
4th
Were there any United States Judges here during the summer and fall of 1857?
5th
State what you know, about trains of emigrants passing through the Territory to the West, and particularly about a company from Arkansas en route for California passing through this City in the summer or fall of 1857.
6th
Was this Arkansas company of emigrants ordered away from Salt Lake City by yourself, or any one in authority under you?
7th
Was any counsel or instructions given by any person to the citizens of Utah not to sell grain to or trade with the emigrant trains passing through Utah
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the ostensible design of destroying the Latter-day Saints, according to the reports that reached us from the East.
4th
He saith:-
To the best of my recollection there was no United States Judge here in the latter part of 1857
5th
He saith:-
As usual emigrant trains were passing through our Territory for the West. - I heard it rumored that a company from Arkansas en-route to California had passed through the City.
6th
He saith:-
No. -not that I know ofI never heard of any such thing, and certainly no such order was given by the then Acting-Governor.
7th
He saith:-
Yes.- Counsel and advice was given to the citizens not to sell grain to the emigrants to feed their stock, but to
July 30, 1875 deposition of Brigham Young (same as that filed on August 2, 1875)
003
emigrants passing through the Territory to the West and particularly about a company from Arkansas, en route for California, passing through this City in the summer or fall of 1857?
Answer
He saith:-
As usual emigrant trains were passing through our Territory for the West. I heard it rumored that a company from Arkansas en route to California had passed through the City.
6th
Was this, Arkansas company of emigrants ordered away from Salt Lake City by yourself, or any one in authority under you?
Answer
He saith:-
No not that I know of - I never heard of any such thing, and certainly no such order was given my the then acting Governor.
7th
Was any counsel or instructions by any person to the citizens of Utah not to sell grain to or trade with the emigrant trains passing through Utah at that time, if so what were those instructions? and counsel?
Answer
He saith:-
Yes, - Counsel and advice was given to the citizens not to sell grain to the emigrants to feed their stock; but to let them have sufficient for themselves if they were out. The simple reason for this was that for several years our crops had been short
004
and the prospect was at that time that we might have trouble with the United States army then en route for this place, and we wanted to preserve the grain for food. The citizens of the Territory were counseled not to feed grain to their own stock. No person was ever punished or called in question for furnishing supplies to the emigrants within my knowledge.
8th
When did you first hear of the attack and destruction of this Arkansas company at Mountain Meadows in September 1857?
Answer
He saith:-
I did not learn anything of the attack or destruction of the Arkansas company until sometime after it had occurred, then, only by floating rumors.
9th
Did John D. Lee report to you at any time after this massacre what had been done at that massacre, and if so, what did you reply to him in reference thereto?
Answer
He saith:-
Within some 2 or 3 months after the massacre he called at my office, and had much to say with regard to the Indians, their being stirred up to anger and threatening the settlements of the whites, and then commenced giving an account of the massacre. I told him to stop as from what I had already learned by rumor. I did not wish my feelings harrowed up with a recital of details.
