History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

516
THE UTAH WAR.
It was now near midnight; but a few of the wagoners
were still gathered round the camp-fires, some of
them drinking and some smoking, when armed and
mounted men, as it seemed in endless procession,
noiselessly emerged from the darkness, their leader
quietly asking for ' the captain.' Most of the teamsters
were asleep, their weapons fastened to the awnings
of the wagons, and resistance was almost hopeless.
The captain of the wagoners, Dawson by name, stepped
forward, surrendered his charge, and bade his men
stack their arms and group themselves on a spot
pointed out by Smith, who dealt with the other trains
in like manner. Then, lighting two torches, the major
handed one of them to a gentile in his party, dubbed
Big James, remarking that it was proper for the gentiles
to spoil the gentiles. Riding from wagon to
wagon they set fire to the covers, which caught rapidly
in the crisp air of this October night. " By Saint
Patrick, ain't it beautiful!" exclaimed Big James; "I
never saw anything go better in my life." Dawson
meanwhile was sent to the rear of the trains to take
out provisions for his captors. When all the wagons
were fairly in a blaze, the Mormons rode away, telling
their panic-stricken captives that they would return
as soon as they had delivered the spoils to their comrades
near by, and instantly shoot any one who should
attempt to extinguish the flames. 5
with a few wagons belonging to the sutler of the tenth infantry, a few miles
behind the latter. Probably the colonel was for the moment misinformed as to
the train abandoned on the morning of the 4th. The destruction of the sutler's
wagons was perhaps wrought by Haight's party, as Smith states that they
were sent after the convoy of the tenth infantry. Otherwise I find no evidence
that this was the case.
5 Lot Smith's narrative, in TuUidge's Hist. S. L. City, 173-5, when stripped
of the braggadocio common to the saints militant—and thus I have given it
appears to be the best detailed account of this incident. The portions of it
which conflict with the testimony of United States officials I have omitted.
For instance, Smith says: 'His [Dawson's] orders to the train men were from
the commander at Camp Winfield, and were to the effect that the Mormons
were in the field, and that they must not go to sleep, but keep guard on thentrains,
and that four companies of cavalry and two pieces of artillery would
come over in the morning to escort them into camp.' The truth appears ±o
be, that Col Alexander knew nothing about the projected raid. In his report,
lit supra, he mentions that Van Vliet had assured him no armed resistance
would be offered if he did not proceed farther than Fort Bridger and Fort
—