LITMIR.BIZ

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food. At certain seasons of the year they obtain from the tributaries of both the Salt Lake and Lake Utah, a considerable quantity of fish, which they take in weirs or traps, constructed of willow bushes. Those that we saw were branches of the Shoshones or Snakes, and from the large and warlike tribe of Utahs, which latter inhabit a large tract of country to the southward. They are known among the traders by the designation of 'snake-diggers,' and 'Utes;' those of the latter tribe, which inhabit the vicinity of the lakes and streams and live chiefly on fish, being distinguished by the name of 'Pah Utahs,' or 'Pah Utes,'—the word Pah, in their language, signifying water.

      "While engaged in the survey of the Utah Valley, we were no little annoyed by numbers of the latter tribe, who hung around the camp, crowding around the cook-fires, more like hungry dogs than human beings, eagerly watching for the least scrap that might be thrown away, which they devoured with avidity and without the least preparation. The herdsmen also complained that their cattle were frequently scattered, and that notwithstanding their utmost vigilance, several of them had unaccountably disappeared and were lost. One morning, a fine fat ox came into camp with an arrow buried in his side, which perfectly accounted for the disappearance of the others.

      "After the party left Lake Utah for winter quarters in Salt Lake City, the Indians became more insolent, boasting of what they had done—driving off the stock of the inhabitants of the southern settlements, resisting all attempts to recover them, and finally firing upon the people themselves as they issued from their little stockade to attend to their ordinary occupations. Under these circumstances, the settlers in the Utah Valley applied to the supreme government, at Salt Lake City, for counsel as to the proper course of action. The President 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 aggressions, which, if not resisted, could only end in the total destruction of the colony. Before coming to this decision, the authorities called upon me to consult as to the policy of the measure, and to request the expression of my opinion as to what view the Government of the United States might be expected to take of it. Knowing, as I did, most of the circumstances, and feeling convinced that some action of the kind would ultimately have to be resorted to, as the forbearance already shown had been only attributed to weakness and cowardice, and had served but to encourage further and bolder outrages, I did not hesitate to say to them that, in my judgment, the contemplated expedition against these savage marauders was a measure not only of good policy, but one of absolute necessity and self-preservation. I knew the leader of the Indians to be a crafty and bloodthirsty savage, who had been already guilty of several murders, and had openly threatened that he would kill every white man that he found alone upon the prairies. In addition to this, I was convinced that the completion of the yet unfinished survey of the Utah Valley, the coming season, must otherwise be attended with serious difficulty, if not actual hazard, and would involve the necessity of a largely increased and armed escort for its protection. Such being the circumstances, the course proposed could not but meet my entire approval.

      "A force of one hundred men was accordingly organized, and, upon the application of President Young, leave was given to Lieutenant Howland, of the Mounted Rifles, then on duty with my command, to accompany the expedition as its adjutant: such assistance also was furnished as it was in my power to afford, consisting of arms, tents, camp-equipage, and ammunition.

      "The expedition was completely successful. The Indians fought very bravely, but were finally routed, some forty of them killed, and as many more taken prisoners; the latter, consisting principally of women and children, were carried to the city and distributed among the inhabitants, for the purpose of weaning them from their savage pursuits, and bringing them up in the habits of civilized and Christian life. The experiment, however, did not succeed as was anticipated, most of the prisoners escaping upon the very first opportunity.

      "On the 22nd of February, about three p. m., a slight shock of an earthquake was felt in the southern part of the city, the vibrations being sufficient to shake plates from the shelves and to disturb milk in the pans."

      The historical importance of the first Indian expedition of this Territory, which was the beginning of the organization of the Utah militia, calls for the following supplementary pages to Captain Stansbury's report.

      The organization of a militia for the protection of these colonies in an Indian country was an imperative necessity, and to Daniel H. Wells, who had already distinguished himself in military affairs, was given the task of creating it, and the rank of Lieutenant-General was conferred upon him by the Governor.

      The first company organized was under the command of Captain George D. Grant, who was afterwards Brigadier-General. They were called " Minute Men," a name which soon became famous in the Indian service throughout Utah. The company originated in Great Salt Lake City, and from time to time it was called out to the relief of those colonies which were sent from the parent colony to explore and populate the country. The first engagement of any importance was on the spot where the city of Provo now stands; there had, however, occurred a slight affray at Battle Creek, at which Colonel John Scott commanded, but none were killed on either side.

      On the call by Governor Young for one hundred mounted men General Wells immediately dispatched a company of fifty under the command of Captain George D. Grant. Among the subordinate officers were William H. Kimball, James A. Little, James Ferguson and Henry Johnson, the two latter having been officers in the Mormon Battalion; and among the privates were such men as Robert T. Burton, Lot Smith, Ephraim Hanks, Jesse Martin, Orson Whitney, and others who afterwards figured prominently in the Utah militia.

      The second fifty was forwarded under the command of Captain Lytle, who was an officer in the Mormon Battalion.

      The company under the command of Captain George D. Grant started from Great Salt Lake City on the 7th day of February. The men marched all night in the snow for the purpose of coming upon the Indians unawares. The weather was intensely cold; from ten to twelve inches of snow covered the entire Utah Valley. They arrived early in the morning of the 8th, having suffered severely on the march from the inclement weather.

      The Indians had fortified themselves on the Provo River. They were encamped in a bend of the river bottom, under a low bluff, from which the ground receded to the river. All this bottom, at that time, was covered with willow brush and cottonwood timber, some of the latter having been cut down by them to construct their fortifications.

      These Indians were of a warlike tribe, under the command of Old Elk, and not of the lower class of which Stansbury speaks. There were about seventy warriors, possessing arms equal to those of the expedition sent out against them,—their arms having been obtained from the mountaineers, traders, and settlers. Their squaws and children were sent into the canyons, while the warriors thus strongly fortified awaited the attack. They also held possession of a double log house. The settlers had retired to the shelter of their fort, but some of them joined the assailants on their arrival and did effective service in the defense of their city.

      Thus fortified, the Indian warriors kept the militia at bay till the evening of the second day, before the latter obtained any decided advantage. Meantime the Indians had killed one and wounded five or six. They frequently sallied out from their entrenchments, delivered their fire, then quickly retreated to the brush. At length Lieutenant Howland, of Stansbury's command, suggested a moveable battery, which was forthwith constructed of plank, laid up edgewise on the top of runners, over which were thrown camp blankets and buffalo robes.

      This battery was handled by the assailants effectively and pushed towards the Indian line of defense. On the afternoon of the second day, a small company of cavalry (sixteen in number) was ordered by Captain Grant to make a charge upon the Indian quarters, and especially to get possession of the log house, previously referred to, from which the Indians had greatly annoyed the men. The little company of cavalry made a dashing charge, but were met with such a volley of fire, wounding two or three of their number, that the impetuosity of the charge was for a moment checked, but Burton and Lot Smith, dashing on, succeeded in riding their horses into the passage that divided the rooms of the double log house, of which they took possession, the Indians having deserted it at the onslaught. The Indians, recovering from the surprise of the charge, fired on the remainder of the detachment

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