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Podcast transcript:
In the last episode, we gave a rather general overview of relations between Latter-day Saint pioneers and Native Americans in early Utah. In this episode, we’re going to dive a little deeper and talk about perhaps the single most controversial conflict between the Utah pioneers and Native Americans, called the Battle at Fort Utah or the Fort Utah Massacre.
The first Latter-day Saint pioneers settled in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, which at the time was a buffer zone between Native American tribes. In 1849, settlers looked beyond Salt Lake Valley and settled within Ute territory, which we know today as Provo, Utah. The local Timpanogos Utes were not particularly excited about the new settlement, and tensions began to rise.
In probably August of 1849, three settlers confronted a Ute named Old Bishop, who they claimed was wearing a stolen shirt. They tried to take the shirt, Old Bishop went for his bow to defend himself, and one of the settlers shot and killed him. To hide their crime, the settlers cut the body open, filled it with rocks, and sank it in the Provo River—but the Utes found the body.
Researcher Ryan Wimmer noted that “Due to the Mormon refusal to turn over the perpetrators, the Utes retaliated by stealing more livestock and corn, killing horses, shooting at Mormons in the fields, and threatening to drive the Mormons from the area.”
In early January 1850, the settlers wrote to Brigham Young about the increasing harassment and asked for counsel—though they left out the bit about the murder of Old Bishop. Brigham responded, telling the settlers to do a better job at guarding their cattle. He also wrote, “As to the idea of warring with the Indians and killing them, there is no necessity for it if you act wisely, and if you do kill them, you do it at your own risk.” He also told them, “Suppose an Indian steals a shirt, an ox, a horse or anything else, there appears to be a feeling in the minds of a few individuals to kill them for it on the spot. Suppose a white man commits precisely the same crime, or worse, do those individuals or any person feel like killing them for it. We leave you to answer this.”
The leader of the Provo settlers, Isaac Higbee, kept pushing. He told Brigham and other leaders that the Native Americans “threatened to kill more cattle and get other Indians to join them and help them to kill the settlers in that valley. They also said they wanted to fight and upbraided the settlers for cowardice because they would not fight: Brother Higbee further reported that the brethren in Utah Fort were agreed in asking the privilege of defending themselves and chastising the Indians.” Brigham and his council finally granted the settlers’ request—still ignorant of the murder of Old Bishop (a fact that Brigham later lamented).
As a quick aside, a few years after this conflict occurred, Brigham Young found out about the murder of Old Bishop. He remarked, “These facts, which were kept hid at the time, explain to me why my feelings were opposed to going to war with the Indians, to which I never consented until Brother Higbee reported that all the settlers in Utah were of one mind in relation to it.” It’s also important to note that Higbee report that *all the settlers* supported the conflict was simply not true.
But anyway, rewinding a bit — the day after granting the settlers’ request, Brigham also counseled with a representative of the U.S. government (Howard Stansbury) about the situation. Stansbury was glad Brigham had finally warmed up to the idea of checking Native Americans, and he offered Brigham whatever aid he could give. Stansbury later wrote that Brigham “was at first extremely averse to the adoption of harsh measures; but, after several conciliatory overtures had been resorted to in vain, he very properly determined to put a stop, by force, to further aggression….”
Ultimately, about 100 men from the Nauvoo Legion were sent to aid the Provo settlers “in quelling and staying the operations of all hostile Indians … exterminating such as do not separate themselves from their hostile clans, and sue for peace….” Brigham Young later wrote to the expedition leader, “If the Indians sue for peace, grant it to them, according to your discretionary judgment in the case. If they continue hostile, pursue them until you use them up. Let it be peace with them or extermination.”
Days before the fighting began, several peaceful Ute families sought refuge in the settler fort, “where they were fed and protected.” On February 8th, the militia split into two groups and attempted to surround the remaining Utes, who were camped out about a mile or two upstream from the fort near modern-day Maceys in Provo. The Utes were fortified on the riverbank and also about 50 yards east of the river in an abandoned cabin. Preliminary peace talks were interrupted when the Utes opened fire on the militia, and the fight was on. It’s unclear how many Ute warriors were involved. Estimates range from about 70 to about 110. The Utes had bows and rifles; the militia had rifles and at least one cannon.
The Utes held off the militia for the entire day. On day two, the militia shifted to more aggressive tactics. They built a V-shaped movable barricade that allowed them to advance more safely, and through a cavalry charge, they were able to take the cabin, pushing the Utes back to their fortifications on the river. About 18 militia members had been wounded by the end of the second day, and one man (Isaac Higbee’s son, Joseph) had been killed, along with several horses.
The next day, February 10th, was a Sunday, and the militia took a day of rest. A friendly Ute ventured out of the fort and reported back that the hostile Utes had abandoned their position in the night. Eight dead Utes had been left behind, including one woman who had been hit by cannon fire. The sick and wounded retreated towards Rock Canyon, while the main body went south.
On February 11th, groups of militia set out in pursuit of the retreating Utes. In Rock Canyon, several more Utes were found dead from wounds, exposure, or disease, including one of their leaders, Big Elk. The Ute women and children fled when they saw the militia approach. Big Elk’s wife is said to have accidentally fallen to her death while trying to escape. This is said to be how Squaw Peak got its name, which was renamed Khyv Peak in 2022. There was a small skirmish in the canyon. Several more Utes were killed, the militia took some women and children as prisoners, and about 13 Utes escaped over the mountains.
The Utes that fled south were overtaken near Table Mountain near the south end of the lake. About five more Utes were killed, and another 15-20 were taken prisoner with their families. What happened the next morning is unclear. At least one author asserts that “the Ute warriors were lined up for a mass execution,” Others assert that (quote) “the Indians tried to overpower the guards and were partially successful in retaking their arms. The fight was renewed as the Indians fled on the ice across the lake … In this affray, the remaining Indians were killed, and several of the militia’s horses.” (close quote) In either case, it was a massacre. Days later, army surgeon James Blake (part of the federal government’s entourage) had the heads of the deceased Utes at Table Mountain cut off with the intention of sending them to Washington for research.
It’s unknown how many Native Americans, in total, were killed in the conflict. Estimates range from as low as about 40 to as high as 102. The truth is probably somewhere in between. The Journal History of the Church reports that (quote) “the squaws and children prisoners were distributed among the citizens, clothed, fed, and taught to work.” (close quote) Many returned to their people once the weather warmed up. The Battle at Fort Utah is a tragic scene in Utah’s history. That said, relations between the settlers and Native Americans weren’t always bad. For a more general look at Brigham Young and the settlers’ approach to Native Americans, go check out episode 10 on this podcast (which is just the episode before this one). If you’ve already listened to that episode, consider leaving us a review to let us know how we’re doing, and have a great day!