History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

INDIAN TROUBLES. 309
this settlement was given the name of Fort Utah.
Within the space enclosed by the stockade was a
mound, the top of which was levelled, and on a platform
built thereon were mounted several twelvepounders
for the purpose of intimidating the Indians.
But the Indians were not to be thus intimidated. In
the autumn they began to steal the grain and cattle
of the white men, and one of their number being killed
while in the act of pilfering, hostilities broke out and
the fort was soon in a state of siege.
Indeed, ill feeling on the part of the Indians had
begun to show itself the previous year. Vasquez and
Bridger wrote to Brigham on the 17th of April, 1849,
that the Utes were badly disposed toward Americans,
and that chiefs Elk and Walker were urging the Utes
to attack the settlements in Utah Valley. The
brethren were advised to protect themselves, but
if the Indians were friendly, to teach them to raise
grain, and "order them to quit stealing." Brigham
was persuaded that Bridger was his enemy, and expressed
the conviction that he and the other moun-
taineers were responsible for all the Indian trouble,
and that he was watching every movement of the
Mormons and reporting to Thomas H. Benton at
Washington. 11 Alexander Williams and D. B. Huntington
were empowered by the council to trade exclusively
with the Indians on behalf of the community.
On the 31st of January, 1850, Isaac Higbee, of
Fort Utah, reported at Salt Lake that the Indians
of Utah Valley had stolen fifty or sixty head of cattle
or horses, threatening further depredations, and asked
permission to chastise them, which was granted. General
Daniel H. Wells then called for volunteers from
the militia, and on the 4th of February Captain
George D. Grant started with a company for Utah
Fort, followed soon after by Major Andrew Lytle.
11
'I believe that old Bridger is death on us, and if he knew that 400,090
Indians were coming against us, and any man were to let us know, lie would
cut his throat. . .His letter is all bubble and froth. . .Vasquez is a different
sort of man.' Hist. B. Younrj, MS., 1S-49, 77.