LDS
Church leader Brigham Young had spent church funds to the tune of 1.5 million dollars to "get rid" of the Timpanogos Nation. The following are excerpts from a document titled "Memorial of the
Legislative Assembly of Utah" which was prepared by the Legislature of
Utah in 1873 and sent to the United States Congress. It is a bill asking Congress for re-imbursement of expenses incurred by
Brigham Young's private militia, the Nauvoo Legion, for removal of the
Indian population in Utah territory between the years 1865 and 1873 known as the Black Hawk War.
41st Congress, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Mis. Do.
1st Session. No. 10.
Indian Depredations in Utah.
MEMORIAL
OF THE
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF UTAH TERRITORY,
For an appropriation to pay for Indian depredations and expenses
incurred
in suppressing Indian hostilities.
MARCH 22, 1869.—Referred to the Committee of Military
Affairs and
ordered to be
printed with the accompanying papers,' The Honorable the Senate and Souse of Representatives of the United
States
in Congress assembled:
Gentlemen: Your memoralist (researcher), the governor and
legislative assembly
of the Territory of Utah, would most respectfully represent to your
honorable body, that for the last three years we have had a vexatious
Indian war on our hands, the seat of which has been in Sevier, Piute,
and Sanpete counties, extending- more or less to the counties of
Wasatch,
Utah, Millard, Beaver, Iron, Washington, and Kane, rendering a strong
military force constantly necessary in the field. Colonel Irish, former
superintendent of Indian affairs, called on General Conner to protect
the settlements of this Territory from Indian depredations. The general
replied that if those depredations were committed upon any settlements
along the overland mail line he would protect them. t if on settlements
remote from said line he could not do it.
Colonel Head, present superintendent of Indian affairs, called on
Colonel Potter to protect the settlements of this Territory where Indian
hostilities existed. Colonel Potter sent east for instructions in the
case,
and received answer from General Sherman that we must rely you the
militia of the Territory. During this war Sevier and Piute counties
were abandoned by six extensive and flourishing settlements, it being
considered impracticable to defend them there; their removal was
effected at the loss of nearly all they had, their stock and teams being
mostly stolen and driven away by the Indians, and they were removed
by the citizens of Sanpete county. Likewise four settlements on the
borders of Sanpete county were broken up and removed at much expense
and loss. Also fifteen settlements in Iron, Kane, and Washington
counties,
besides two or three small settlements in Wasatch county.
In this war we have furnished our own soldiers, arms, ammunition,
transportation, cavalry horses, and supplies for the years 1805-0 and 7.
We have borne a heavy burden, and we ask for compensation and aid
as most of our citizens at and near the seat of this war have become
greatly reduced and impoverish thereby; and likewise the other
settlements
that have had to remove are more or less so.
We therefore ask your honorable body to appropriate one million five
hundred thousand dollars to compensate the citizens for their services,
transportation, and supplies, in suppressing Indian hostilities in the
Territory
of Utah during the years before named, or so much thereof as
"will cover these expenses, as per vouchers and testimonies now in the
adjutant general's office, which will accompany this our memorial, or
follow it at an early day. And your memoralist, as in duty bound,
will ever pray.
GEORGE A. SMITH,
President of the Council.
JOHN TAYLOR,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Ax^proved February 21, 1868.
CHARLES DURKEE,
Governor of Utah.
Recapitulation of expenses incurred by the Territory of Utah in the
suppression
of Indian hostilities in said Territory during the years 1855, 1866, and
1867.
1865.
Service rendered as per pay rolls $21, 191 76
Commissary supplies as per vouchers 6, 819 98
Quartermaster's supplies as per vouchers . . . : . 4, 453 50
Transportation as per vouchers 7, 518 00
,986 24
1866.
Service rendered as per pay rolls 431, 285 54
Commissary supplies as per vouchers 130, 545 86
Quartermaster's supplies as per vouchers 30, 832 43
Transportation as per vouchers 39, 795 00
632,458 83
1867.
Service rendered as per pay rolls 300, 112 19
Commissary supplies as per vouchers 102, 198 42
Quartermaster's supplies as per vouchers 23, 637 30
Transportation as per vouchers 22, 044 40
448, 592 31
1,121,037 38
Adjutant General's Office, Utah Territory,
Salt Lake City, February 8, 1869.
I certify that the above accounts are correct.
H. B. CLAWSON,
Adjutant General Utah Territory.
Indian depredations in Utah. 3
Executive Office, Utah Territory,
Salt Lake City, January 9, 1869,
I, Charles Durkee, governor of Utah Territory, do hereby certify that
the military service rendered by the militia of this Territory comprised
in the foregoing accounts as absolutely necessary, and was therefore
sanctioned and authorized by me at the times specified, and that the
accounts are just.
CHARLES DURKEE, Governor.
VOUCHERS FOE COMMISSARY SUPPLIES FOE 1865.
Utah Territory, Fairview, September^ 10, 1865.
The United States to Andrew Peterson, Dr.
September 10 to 25.—
491 pounds bacon, at 35 cents $171 85
To 370 pounds beef, at 10 cents 37 90
To 1,200 pounds flour, at 6 cents 72 00
To 135 pounds beans, at 11 cents 14 85
To 90 pounds rice, at 40 cents 36 00
To 90 pounds coffee, at 40 cents 36 00
To 145 pounds sugar, at 40 cents 58 00
To 8 gallons vinegar, at |1 8 00
To l0 1/2 pounds candles, at 50 cents 5 25
To 33"pounds soap, at 50 cents 16 50
To 45 pounds salt, at 5 cents 2 25
To 4 1/2 bushels potatoes, at |1 4 50
To 2 1/2j gallons molasses, at $2 5 00
Great Salt Lake City, October 10, 1865.
I certify that the above account is correct and just, that the above
bill of articles were purchased of Andrew Peterson and furnished to
Captain John L. Ivie's company cavalry on expedition against the Indians
in Sanpete and Sevier counties.
ALBERT P. ROCKWOOD,
Commissary General Nauvoo Legion.
Received, Great Salt Lake City, October 10, 1865, of Albert P. Rockwood,
commissary general, Nauvoo Legion four hundred and sixty eight
dollars and ten cents, in full of the above account.
ANDREW PETERSON
Utah Territory, Mount Pleasant City, July 20, 1865.
The United States to William Seely, Dr.
This 250 page document of itemized expenses clearly explains that Brigham Young paid his
military to, in his own words, "get rid of" the Indian peoples in Utah.
He was paying upwards of $300 per month for his military generals and
$16 a month for his troops, plus he paid for all needed supplies,
horses, and equipage all from church funds to do the governments job. But the most remarkable
insight from this document is that the United States Congress reimbursed
Brigham Young. so much for separation of church and state, except Utah
wasn't yet a state.
I found an original copy of this document in the museum in Fairview,
Utah. I have since learned that this document can
be viewed online in it's entirety.
When this itemized bill was submitted to Congress it was signed by
Apostle George Albert Smith and John Taylor.
See Extermination order
