What weapons were used by the Mormons at Mountain Meadows?

Answer 1

Mountain Meadows: To answer a question about the Mountain Meadows Massacre you first must get a understanding about what was happening in Utah at that time.

In July of 1857, a Army of 2,500 soldiers were ordered to Utah. Rumors spread that the Army was marching on the Mormons. Pres. Brigham Young fearing the worst, called out the militia and prepared for War. Young and the Mormon community feared renewed persecutions and possibly annihilation by a large body of federal troops. Fearing the worst, Young ordered residents throughout Utah territory to prepare for evacuation, making plans to burn their homes and property and to stockpile food and stock feed. Young also sent George A. Smith to the settlements of southern Utah to prepare them for action and to secure a southern route of retreat.

Gen. Johnston and his Army didn't help matters. Soldiers boasted of killing Mormons. An attempt to enter Utah in Nov. 1857 failed because of a blizzard. On November 21, 1857, Cumming (Utah's new Governor) sent a proclamation to the citizens of Utah declaring them to be in rebellion, and soon after, a grand jury was formed at Camp Scott, Wyoming, (near Fort Bridger) which indicted two Mormon prisoners, Brigham Young, and over sixty other members of the Mormon hierarchy for treason.Johnston awaited resupply and reinforcement and prepared to attack the Mormon positions after the spring thaw. In the spring of 1858 and additional 3,000 troops (totaling 5,500) were sent to meet up with the main column in Wyoming.

During the winter and spring of 1857-1858 incidents took place that helped confirm that the Mormon people were about to be attacked. Despite Young's efforts, Native Americans attacked Mormon settlements during the course of the Utah War, including a raid on Fort Limhi on the Salmon River in Oregon Territory in February 1858 and attacks in Tooele County just west of Great Salt Lake City. In sermons on August 16, and again one month later, Young publicly urged emigrant wagon trains to keep away from the Territory.

Now enter an emigrant train from Arkansas (Baker-Fancher party) enroute to California with about 120 members, coming into the Utah Territory during this turbulent time. The Baker--Fancher party chose to take the Old Spanish Trail, which passed through southern Utah (the route the Mormons planned to retreat). In early September of 1857 the emigrant train camped at Mountain Meadows near Cedar City, Utah. The emigrant train had created problems for the settlers along it's route southward through the Mormon settlements, enticing the Native Americans and boasting of going to California to get an Army from California and attack the Mormons from the West.

In the afternoon of Sunday, September 6, Haight held his weekly Stake High Council meeting after church services, and brought up the issue of what to do with the emigrants. The plan for an Indian massacre was discussed, but not all the Council members agreed it was the right approach. The Council resolved to take no action until Haight sent a rider, James Haslam, out the next day to carry an express to Salt Lake City (a six-day round trip on horseback) for Brigham Young's advice.

On September 7, 1857, the party was attacked by Mormon militiamen (led by John D. Lee) dressed as Native Americans and some Native American Paiutes. The Baker-Fancher party defended itself by encircling and lowering their wagons, wheels chained together, along with digging shallow trenches and throwing dirt both below and into the wagons, which made a strong barrier. Seven emigrants were killed during the opening attack and were buried somewhere within the wagon encirclement. Sixteen more were wounded. The attack continued for five days, during which the besieged families had little or no access to fresh water or game food and their ammunition was depleted. Meanwhile, organization among the local Mormon leadership reportedly broke down. Eventually fear spread among the militia's leaders that some emigrants had caught sight of white men, and had probably discovered who their attackers really were. This resulted in an order to kill all the emigrants, with the exception of small children.

Brigham Young received the rider, James Haslam, at his office on the same day. When he learned what was contemplated by the members of the church in Parowan and Cedar City, he sent back a letter stating the Baker-Fancher party be allowed to pass through the territory unmolested. Young's letter supposedly arrived two days too late, on September 13, 1857.

Although a Presidential pardon was given to all the inhabitants of Utah by Pres. Buchanan in 1858, eventually upon learning of the massacre of the emigrant train in Mountain Meadows an investigation was conducted. The Civil War stopped further proceedings until after 1865. Finally in 1870 arrests were made and trials conducted. John D. Lee's first trial was conducted on July 23, 1875, in which the jury became a 'Hung Jury' (no verdict). The second trial started on Sept. 13, 1876 in which he was convicted and sentenced to death.

John D. Lee was executed by firing squad in 1877.

Now your answer: Guns and knives.