New evidence uncovered by scholars researching the mountain meadows massacre shows that regional leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in southern utah had greater culpability in the event than previously acknowledged by most lds authors. The event was the apex of decades of violence, mistrust, and. They were camped near what is the presentday town of enterprise when they were besieged by what they thought were indians. A stoic rock cairn is all that remains to remember one of the more brutal instances of frontier treachery in american history. A love story set during a tense encounter between a wagon train of settlers and a renegade mormon group. Jan 30, 2018 this utah massacre site is among the most haunted places in the nation. Mountain meadows massacre site nearly 120 settlers were murdered at the site in 1857, during the utah war, by members of the utah territorial militia. Collected legal papers, initial investigations and indictments, and mountain meadows massacre. From the beginning, accounts have been confused and muddled about why it happened, who ordered it, and what might have provoked it. Only 17 children were allowed to liveall under the age of 7.
It was produced by eric young with dave chase, jan walker and larinda wenzel and distributed through the studio, inc. Mountain meadows massacre 187576 called the darkest deed of the nineteenth century, the brutal 1857 murder of 120 men, women, and children at a place in southern utah called mountain meadows remains one of the most controversial events in the history of the american west. Sep 05, 2015 heart of the matter, shawn mccraney giving a detailed report of the mountain meadow massacre by brigham young and the church of jesus christ of latterday sa. Legacy of the mountain meadows massacre, a documentary film by brian patrick 2004. Haight, as the highest in religious authority and the one in command of the military organization in the town, was in charge of this indignation meeting. Before then, it had been a part of mexico although, in practice, it was ruled by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and their president brigham young. Carleton, special report on the mountain meadows massacre. The reformation might have had a spiritual goal, but it fueled a fanaticism that led to the tragedy at mountain meadows. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows has generated considerable controversy since it was first published in 2002oct. Worried that a federal army might be sent to the territory, the mormon. Part ii, the dilemma of blame, salt lake tribune, march 14, 2000 that which we have done here building a monument to victims of the m. So, unwelcomed, the wagon train headed past cedar city and camped at mountain meadows, a popular stop on the trail. Mountain meadows massacre encyclopedia of arkansas.
This massive slaughter claimed nearly everyone in the party from arkansas and is the event referred to as the mountain meadows massacre. Records, history, monuments, information and links on the september 11, 1857 massacre at mountain meadows of more than 120 arkansas emigrants while traveling through utah on their way to california. It was produced by eric young with dave chase, jan walker and. The victims of the massacre were from arkansas and were members of the fancher wagon train. Warner brothers and later, rumor has it, paramount optioned the rights to turn juanita brooks the mountain meadows massacre into a movie despite historian dale l. Let me quote from brooks, mountain meadows massacre, pgs. Mountain meadows massacre mountain meadows massacre. Sep 11, 2008 the mountain meadows massacre is the worst event in latterday saint history, says richard turley, assistant historian of the lds church and coauthor of massacre at mountain meadows. The massacre, in 1857, was one of the most explosive episodes in the history of the american westnot only were 120 men, women and children killed, but the. Mountain meadows massacre memorial veyo, utah atlas. That all changed with the darkest incident of the mormon war, the atrocity known as the mountain meadows. The utah mountain meadows massacre site is among the most. The mountain meadows massacre site in washington county, utah, marks the location of the september 11, 1857, massacre of 120 emigrants by militiamen associated with the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The church of jesus christ of latter day saints made a distressing discovery while restoring a monument to the victims of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre in southwest utah.
An impartial look into the mountain meadows massacre and film, september dawn, from will bagley, western historian and author of blood. September dawn is a 2007 canadianamerican western drama film directed by christopher cain, telling a fictional love story against a controversial historical interpretation of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre. On september 11, 1857, a wagon train of 120 immigrants bound for california were slaughtered under a white flag by utah mormons in one of the worst massacres in american history. A story set against the mountain meadows massacre, the film is based upon the tragedy which occurred in utah in 1857. The attacks began on september 7, 1857, and culminated on september 11, 1857, resulting in the mass slaughter of the emigrant party by members of the utah territorial militia from the iron county district and. Selected trial records and aftermath, are now available from the university of oklahoma press and amazon. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 remains one of the most controversial events in the history of the american west, and it is called the darkest deed of the 19th century. The mountain meadows massacre church of jesus christ. The massacre of the missouri and arkansas wagon party in 1857, on route to utah, where mormons had later settled almost 20 years later after leaving missouri, in the mountain meadows, a count of 120 men, women, and children were killed who were from arkansas and missouri carroll county.
Until september 1857, the mormons had been the victims of violence more than its purveyors. Mountain meadows massacre descendants this site is. With only god left as a witness the new york times. In 1857, when the mountain meadows massacre occurred, utah and the united states were on the brink of war utah had only been an american territory for seven years. Himelfarb the church of jesus christ of latter day saints made a distressing discovery while restoring a monument to the victims of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre in southwest utah. The mountain meadows massacre happened on september 11, 1857. Sep, 2016 the mountain meadows massacre of 1857 remains one of the most controversial events in the history of the american west, and it is called the darkest deed of the 19th century. Morgan qualifying it as the least likely candidate for a movie among the books published in 1950. See more ideas about oregon trail, history and mountains. The attacks began on september 7 and culminated on september 11, 1857.
If any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats. On september 11, 1857, a wagon train of 120 immigrants. The mountain meadows massacre occurred on friday, september 11, 1857 in mountain meadows, utah, several miles south of enterprise in washington county along the old spanish trail. Mountain meadows massacre november 30, 1999 by luscinia brownhovelt and elizabeth j. Mountain meadows massacre descendants video september. The mountain meadows massacre is a 2001 documentary film about the mountain meadows massacre. Discover mountain meadows massacre memorial in veyo, utah.
Carleton, may 25, 1859 message of the president of the united states. This utah massacre site is among the most haunted places in the nation. In compliance with a resolution of the senate, information in relation to the massacre at mountain meadows, and other massacres in utah territory may 1860 reports. Filmmaker christopher cain movie september dawn examines controversy surrounding socalled mountain meadows massacre, 1857 attack. Utah newspapers 18571932 reports government special report on the mountain meadows massacre by major j. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 and the trials of john. May 11, 2017two new volumes contribute to understanding the mountain meadows massacre the volumes, titled mountain meadows massacre. On september 11, 1857, one of the most horrific massacres in u. September 11, 1857, was the date of utahs darkest, most disturbing day. Though the movie may have been made to set the record straight, it seems more. Utah newspapers 1857 1932 reports government special report on the mountain meadows massacre by major j. The victims were a group of emigrants mostly from arkansas who were traveling by wagon train north to south through utah on their way to california.
Mountain meadows massacre 1857 massacre frank kirkmans. The mountain meadows massacre descendants site is dedicated in loving memory to our ancestors who died in the massacre at mountain meadows, utah september 711th, 1857. As a wagon train of westwardbound settlers makes its way across southern utah, a confrontation with a congregation of mormons soon leads to deadly consequences for all involved. On september 11, 1857, horror sweeps over a wagon train in the southern mountains of utah. A love story set during a tense encounter between a wagon train of settlers and a. Called the darkest deed of the nineteenth century, the brutal 1857 murder of 120 men, women, and children at a place in southern utah called mountain meadows remains one of the most controversial events in the history of the american west. For more than a century, their bodies lay buried beneath the soil, along with a terrible, dark secret. Does the film september dawn about the mountain meadows. One hundred and twenty men, women, and children are brutally murdered. On september 7th, 1857, the wagons reached a grassy area called mountain meadows.
Such is the historical backdrop for september dawn, a bloody retelling of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre, when members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormons killed about 120 settlers who were on their way to california. Rating it the worst film of 2007, movie critic roger moore wrote. The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows in southern utah. The mountain meadows massacre occurred on september 11, 1857, and resulted in the deaths of 120 pioneers on their way to california. The mountain meadows massacre is the worst event in latterday saint history, says richard turley, assistant historian of the lds church and coauthor of massacre at mountain meadows. This site is created and maintained for the express purpose of helping those interested in understanding and research of the event known in history as the mountain meadows massacre of 1857. May 26, 2014 both have been attributed to religious fanaticism, though it could be argued that the mountain meadows massacre was less about religious fanaticism and more about extreme paranoia. Largest collection of records and information on the mountain meadows massacre on the internet.
In 1857, conflict between the mormon leadership and utah and the federal government reached the boiling point. There, some 200 paiute warriors, encouraged by the mormons, attacked. The dilemma of blame christopher smith the salt lake tribune, 314 2000. Before they could reach their destination, a party of mormons and indians attacked them while they camped on a plateau known as mountain meadows in southern utah. As a wagon train of westwardbound settlers makes its way across southern utah, a confrontation with a congregation of mormons soon leads to deadly. In its retelling of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre, september dawn takes a. In 1857, the fancherbaker wagon train was making its way across the utah territory when it was attacked by paiute indians. With marina atherton, david chambers, nick hamilton, john stewart. Heart of the matter, shawn mccraney giving a detailed report of the mountain meadow massacre by brigham young and the church of jesus christ of latterday sa. Johnson, and lajean purcell carruth on september 11, 1857, a group of mormons aided by paiute indians brutally murdered some 120 men, women, and children traveling through a remote region of southwestern utah. The aftermath of mountain meadows history smithsonian.
In april 1857 a californiabound wagon train estimated at 40 wagons, 120 to 150 men, women, and children, and as many as 900 head of beef cattle, in addition to draft and riding animals, assembled near the crooked creek, approximately four miles south of presentday harrison, arkansas. He concludes that brigham young knew that the attack was imminent and. Godless frank griffin family mormon massacre true story. As frank implies in his story, only very small children were. In april 1857, near harrison boone county, 120 to 150 settlers, mostly arkansans, started a journey toward the promise of a better life in california. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 today i found out. A utah massacre and mormon memory the new york times. The movie september dawn was based on the events at mountain meadows and was released in time for the 150year anniversary of the event. The leader of the wagon train was my 3rd great uncle alexander fancher. The killing was done in a tranquil utah field, under a banner of truce and friendship. New facts on guilt in mountain meadows massacre deseret news. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows will bagley. The mountain meadows massacre is one of the most controversial moments in utah history. Since the wagon master, alexander fancher, and i, are direct, blood relatives my sirname is fancher, i researched, and know what historically happened to the wagon train during the mountain meadows massacre.
The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant wagon train, at mountain meadows in southern utah. The attacks began on september 7 and culminated on september 11, 1857, resulting in the mass slaughter of most in the emigrant party by members of the utah territorial militia from the iron county district, together with some southern paiute native americans. May 18, 2002 new evidence uncovered by scholars researching the mountain meadows massacre shows that regional leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in southern utah had greater culpability in the event than previously acknowledged by most lds authors. Mountain meadows massacre of 1857 utah outdoor activities. It was a murder of 120 men, women, and children, ordered and planned by southern utahs mormon settlers members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Director christopher cain takes an upclose look at the devastation wrought by religious fanaticism with this romantic drama set against the backdrop of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre. A series of attacks was staged on the bakerfancher wagon train around mountain meadows in utah.
On september 11, 1857, a wagon train of 120 immigrants bound for california. A movie about an infamous mormon massacre that is oldfashioned. Mountain meadows massacre descendants video september dawn. Mountain meadows massacre of 1857 the vintage news.
Through the actual testimony of a young girl who survived, interviews with descendants, and forensic investigations. Mountain meadows massacre library comes to prescott prescott enews by lewis lamaster monday, 25 august 2008 mountain meadows massacre survivors weekly stockton democrat, sunday, 5 june 1859 mountain meadows massacre. Mountain meadows massacre utah, united states 1857. Immediately following the regular church service, a special meeting was called of the stake high council. Both have been attributed to religious fanaticism, though it could be argued that the mountain meadows massacre was less about religious fanaticism and more about extreme paranoia. Visitor information mountain meadows, utah national historic landmark. This paper describes a little known but highly influential massacre of a christian or gentile wagon train heading for california in 1857 which had to pass through mormon territory known as utah today. Brigham young 1 the mountain meadows massacre stands without a parallel amongst the crimes that stain the pages of american history.
Mountain meadows massacre 1857 massacre frank kirkman. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 and the trials of. I will say after having read a book and watching this movie, this movie is inaccurate and purposley and unneccessarily antimormon and biased. At least 120 people were slaughtered sparing only 17 or perhaps 18 children thought too young to remember the details, partly because killing anyone under the age of 8 is strictly forbidden. All of the travelers died except for seventeen children, who were taken into. The movie, september dawn, closely tells the story of what happened to the fancher baker wagon train on september 11, 1857. With jon voight, trent ford, tamara hope, terence stamp.
For a more complete, documented account of the event, readers are referred to the forthcoming book massacre at mountain meadows. Powerful mormon political and financial figures put an end to the project. Today, the site of the mountain meadow massacre is said to be haunted. Mormon mountain meadows massacre11 sept 1857 democratic.