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Tag Archives: The Utah War

Simpson’s Hollow

20 Tuesday Mar 2018

Posted by Jacob Barlow in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Historic Markers, Sweetwater County, The Utah War, Wyoming, Wyoming Historic Markers

2018-01-05 15.03.43

One of only three significant engagements of the Utah War, the incident at Simpson’s Hollow played a key role in the conflict. The Utah War (1857-1858) was the result of a lack of communication between the U.S. Government and the Utah Territory concerning Brigham Young’s power as governor of Utah and as head of the Church of Latter Day Saints. To resolve this conflict of interest, President Buchanan appointed a new governor, Alfred Cumming. However, fearing Utah’s citizens would not calmly accept the replacement of Young, Buchanan canceled mail service to Utah and sent out a military force of 2,500 men to safely escort Cumming to Salt Lake City. Captain Lew Simpson, for which the site is named, and his troops, were part of this military force sent to Utah on the Oregon Trail.

Upon notification of the approaching troops, Young and other Mormon leaders assumed, because they had not been notified of the administrative changes, that the army’s intent was religious persecution. Young deployed the Utah Militia, also known as the Nauvoo Legion, to slow the U.S. troops.

In October 1857, a wagon train under the command of Captain Simpson was surrounded by the Utah Militia and forced to surrender its wagons. The Militia, led by Lot Smith, released the livestock and burned all but one supply wagon, resulting in damages estimated at over $85,000. In addition to the incident at Simpson’s Hollow, the Militia burned two other wagon trains, forcing the entire army to winter near the recently burned Fort Bridger.

In the spring, Thomas L. Kane, long-time friend of the Mormons, negotiated a settlement that allowed U.S. troops to peacefully enter Salt Lake City. Young stepped down from his position and created a diplomatic relationship with Governor Cumming.

There are four historic markers here:

  • Burning Wagons
  • Simpson’s Hollow
  • Simpson’s Hollow
  • The Utah War

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2018-01-05 15.05.05

2018-01-05 15.05.09

Burning Wagons

20 Tuesday Mar 2018

Posted by Jacob Barlow in Uncategorized

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Tags

Historic Markers, Sweetwater County, The Utah War, Wyoming, Wyoming Historic Markers

2018-01-05 15.03.43

Brigham Young sent the Utah Militia, also known as the Nauvoo Legion, to harass the Federal troops and delay their approach. In the early hours of October 4th, Major Lot Smith of the Utah Militia and 40 men captured and burned two supply trains, totaling 52 wagons, west of here near the Green River.

The next day Smith and his men struck again near where you are now standing. Militiaman Newton Tuttle, wrote in his journal:

“Mond 5 We went on to the Sandy got breakfast then we went up to the road & found 24 waggons we burnt 22 of them & took 7 mules and 2 saddles we then went off from the road …”.

Wagonmaster Lewis Simpson led the supply train and ever since the wagon burning episode this little valley has been called Simpson’s Hollow.

Wagon train owners Russell, Majors, and Waddell valued the damage at more than $85,000. The only casualty of both wagon incidents was when one of Lot Smith’s men who was wounded by Smith when his pistol discharged accidentally.

The loss of three months rations and livestock, as well as an early, bitter winter stalled the army at Fort Bridger. The severe weather kept the militia and the army apart. During this lull in action, intermediary Thomas Kane negotiated a peaceful settlement of the conflict. In the spring of 1858, the army peacefully entered Salt Lake City and Alfred Cumming was installed as Utah Territorial Governor.

There are four historic markers here:

  • Burning Wagons
  • Simpson’s Hollow
  • Simpson’s Hollow
  • The Utah War

2018-01-05 15.04.13

2018-01-05 15.05.05

2018-01-05 15.05.09

The Utah War

20 Tuesday Mar 2018

Posted by Jacob Barlow in Uncategorized

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Tags

Historic Markers, Sweetwater County, The Utah War, Wyoming, Wyoming Historic Markers

2018-01-05 15.03.43

A Legacy of Distrust

In 1857, the Buchanan Administration faced a series of national challenges. Civil war loomed on the horizon, the New York stock market was in trouble, Federal troops were sent to quash unrest in Kansas and Washington D.C.

Mutual mistrust, suspicion, and poor communications between Washington and Salt Lake City had been festering for a decade. The perception in Washington was that church leader / Territorial Governor Brigham Young was challenging Federal authority in the territory.

President Buchanan decided to replace Young as Governor. Thinking his decision might meet with resistance, Buchanan dispatched 2,500 troops to Utah. They left Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in July marching 1,000 miles along the Oregon Trail. The commander, Brevet General Albert Sidney Johnston, did not reach the army until near Fort Bridger. In Utah, the territory was mobilized to resist “invasion.” Plans were made for a “scorched earth” defense.

A brief brush with Utah militiamen convinced acting commander Colonel F.B. Alexander to improve preparedness. The army and its supply trains were strung out along the trail for over 50 miles. Many supply trains had no military escort and were ordered to wait for soldiers before proceeding. For three such wagon trains, their escorts would arrive too late.

There are four historic markers here:

  • Burning Wagons
  • Simpson’s Hollow
  • Simpson’s Hollow
  • The Utah War

2018-01-05 15.04.06

2018-01-05 15.05.05

2018-01-05 15.05.09

California/Mormon/Oregon/Pony Express Trail.

The Utah War – Fortifying Echo Canyon

29 Monday Jan 2018

Posted by Jacob Barlow in Uncategorized

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Echo Canyon, Historic Markers, summit county, SUP, The Utah War, utah, Utah Militia, War

2018-01-05 07.37.33

The Utah War – Fortifying Echo Canyon

By October 1, 1857, 1,300 men of the Utah Militia were stationed in the Echo Canyon narrows, and by December, the Militia had grown to about 2,000 men. During that brief period (about 2 months for most of the men), the Militia constructed breastworks up on the sides of the cliffs, dug trenches, dammed the creek, built mounds, and constructed “Wickiup City,” which consisted of a few log houses and some tents, but mostly “wickiups” made of poles, willows, and grass with dirt roofs.

With the U.S. Army wintered down at Camp Scott in Wyoming, all but 58 of the Militiamen returned to their homes until the following spring of 1858. Those remaining were to guard the outpost and watch for further movement of the U.S. Army.

Fortifications:

  • Breastworks: Stone walls were built on ledges of the cliffs to protect Militiamen from enemy fire. They were constructed of uncut stones without mortar, 2- to 4-feet high. At least 14 visible breastworks are located in a 1⁄2-mile stretch.
  • Entrenchments: Three impassable military ditches were dug across the entire bottom of Echo Canyon. The trenches were 350 feet apart, and when filled with water, were 12 feet wide and 6 feet deep.
  • Dirt Walls: Between the ditches were parallel dirt walls, mounds, and breastworks of rocks and dirt for protection and movement of Militiamen.
  • Zigzag trench: A large, 500-foot-long, zigzag trench was built high on the south side of the canyon to protect Militiamen from enemy fire.
  • The dam: A 30-foot-wide and 16-foot-high dam was constructed 1⁄2-mile down the canyon from the last ditch for the purpose of backing up the creek. The Army was forced to travel directly below the cliffs so rocks could be dropped on them.

This is part of a cluster of S.U.P. Historic Markers, #185-A, 185-B, 185-C, 185-D located at the eastbound rest stop in I-80 in Echo Canyon.   For other S.U.P. Historic Markers see this page.

2018-01-05 07.37.45

2018-01-05 07.39.57

The Utah War – The Mormon Response

29 Monday Jan 2018

Posted by Jacob Barlow in Uncategorized

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Tags

Echo Canyon, Fort Bridger, Fort Supply, Forts, Historic Markers, summit county, SUP, The Utah War, utah, Utah Militia, War

2018-01-05 07.37.33

The Utah War – The Mormon Response

The U.S. Army was well along its way to Utah when Brigham Young learned it was coming. Church leaders held a council and decided to call out the Utah Militia. The first objective was to detain the U.S. Army in the Fort Bridger area over the winter. The second objective was to fortify Echo Canyon, and in the spring, stop the U.S. Army’s progress into Utah.

Major Lot Smith and others of the Utah Militia were dispatched to the area east of Fort Bridger to escort incoming Mormon immigrants and to disrupt the advance of the U.S. Army. While there, the Militia burned 74 U.S. Army supply wagons and their cargoes. They also burned Fort Bridger and Fort Supply, which were owned by the Mormon Church. Because of this opposition, the U.S. Army was forced to spend the winter at Camp Scott, which the army constructed near Fort Bridger.

The last 35 miles of the Army’s march from present- day Granger, Wyoming, to present-day Fort Bridger, Wyoming, were in a blinding snowstorm, with temperatures as low as minus 23° Fahrenheit. The Army lost 3,000 head of cattle, and 70 of 120 horses died. With such a shortage of horses, soldiers pulled the wagons 4 miles to gather wood needed for their fires.

This is part of a cluster of S.U.P. Historic Markers, #185-A, 185-B, 185-C, 185-D located at the eastbound rest stop in I-80 in Echo Canyon.   For other S.U.P. Historic Markers see this page.

2018-01-05 07.37.45

2018-01-05 07.39.48

The Utah War – U.S. Army Sent West

29 Monday Jan 2018

Posted by Jacob Barlow in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Echo Canyon, Historic Markers, summit county, SUP, The Utah War, utah, War

2018-01-05 07.37.33

The Utah War – U.S. Army Sent West

In May of 1857, President James Buchannan ordered a United States Army of 2,500 men to march to Utah. The army was commanded by Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston. His assignment was to quell reported difficulties between appointed government officials and Brigham Young, governor of the territory. The following spring, 500 additional soldiers were sent to join Colonel Johnston, giving him an army of 3,000 men to confront the Utah Militia. Sending the U.S. Army out west was a result of falsehoods concerning the conditions in Utah, lack of communication, and politics. Accompanying the army was Alfred Cumming, who had been appointed to replace Brigham Young as governor.

This is part of a cluster of S.U.P. Historic Markers, #185-A, 185-B, 185-C, 185-D located at the eastbound rest stop in I-80 in Echo Canyon.   For other S.U.P. Historic Markers see this page.

2018-01-05 07.37.45

2018-01-05 07.38.05

Simpson’s Hollow

29 Sunday Oct 2017

Posted by Jacob Barlow in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Historic Markers, Sweetwater County, The Utah War, Wyoming, Wyoming Historic Markers

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2018-01-05 15.03.43

Here on Oct. 6 1857 U.S. Army Supply wagons led by a capt. Simpson were burned by a Major Lot Smith and 43 Utah Militia Men.  They were under orders from Brigham Young, Utah Territorial Governor, to delay the army’s advance on Utah.  This delay of the army helped affect a peaceful settlement of difficulties.

The day earlier a similar burning of 52 army supply wagons took place near here at Smith’s Bluff.

There are four historic markers here:

  • Burning Wagons
  • Simpson’s Hollow
  • Simpson’s Hollow
  • The Utah War

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2018-01-05 15.05.05

2018-01-05 15.05.09

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