The population of the Utah territory increased thirty thousand in the decade preceding 1860, and it continued to grow. Utah’s diversity included many from England, Scandinavia, and other European countries, bound together by a compelling faith.

There were elders spreading the Mormon gospel throughout Europe. England was an exceptionally fertile land for new converts. Thousands were waiting for their turn to cross the ocean and the prairies in order to reach the land of Zion, where the beginning of the end was seen on the horizon.

Brigham Young was a powerful civil and religious figure. He did not hold slaves and considered the system a curse to the masters. He did not wish to feed, clothe, and provide healthcare for his workers. He paid what he considered to be a fair wage.

Consequently, when the celebrated newspaper editor and publisher, Horace Greeley, asked Young his views on slavery, he responded: “Slavery here would prove useless and unprofitable.” It may help to further understand Young’s position if you realize he married his housekeeper, laundress, farm cook, cheese maker, etc. Why buy a slave and pay expenses when the Lord has commanded to marry, marry, marry?

The leaders of the church had been forecasting doom from the pulpit for many months. The Mormons had long known of the calamities that were coming to the nations as a consequence of their rejection of the gospel. “The day is not far distant when the United States Government will cease to be, and that the Union… will be no more.” This entire group of people was waiting for the end of time and a new beginning.

That December, 1860, President Buchanan’s “Message to Congress” included his summation of the need to bring Utah under submission. Weeks earlier, Young told a meeting of bishops: “You may think I’m hard, but all I ask is that the Bishops and people see the things of God and His Kingdom as I do.” The church was thoroughly controlled by the way the leader saw things. Obedience to the word of the leaders was paramount for every Saint.

While the war went on in the States, Brigham Young and the Mormon leaders were more concerned with the missionary work progressing in Europe, as well as the emigration efforts. Brigham and his elders spent large swaths of time communicating about the adoption of a state constitution aimed at admission to the Union. This topic was rejected by the government over and over again. The Saints were determined to continue to apply for statehood until it was granted.

On December 7th, the new territorial governor, John W. Dawson, arrived in Salt Lake City. He gave a lengthy talk where he was critical of the Mormons. Afterward, he urged payment of twenty-seven thousand dollars owed in federal taxes. All federally owned property was exempted. Since Indian title had not yet been settled, the exemption included all land in the Territory. Still, the government expected its money.

The last day of the year, Governor Dawson, after nineteen days of service, suddenly returned to his Indiana home. Before reaching his destination, he was badly beaten. Church historian Orson F. Whitney states: “It is a fact that Governor Dawson made indecent proposals to a respectable lady of Salt Lake City, and fearing chastisement at the hand of the relatives, hastily departed.” By the end of January 1861, the two associate justices also left the city.

The Civil War began in April of 1861. It was not expected to last the year. Consequently, 1862 opened on a note of discouragement and anxiety. The nation was concerned with the outcome of the war. What happened in Utah was no longer prominent in the minds of people.

Early in 1862, Brigham Young began threatening and blaming the government. He accused James Buchanan of committing treason by levying war against Utah and by sending an army. He threatened: “If armies are again sent here, they will find the road up to Jordan a hard road to travel.”

Then, the Saints declared their willingness to throw off the Federal yoke and assume the right of self-government. It was all talk. There was little evidence Utah, if rejected from statehood, would seriously have considered going on its own. Statehood would not belong to Utah until 1896, although most books, including this one, have paragraphs, and pages devoted to the Saints seeking statehood. Young, undoubtedly, was aware the main obstacle to public acceptance of statehood for Utah was the polygamy issue.

The flames of the Civil War increased. Young warned it would be increasingly difficult to obtain manufactured goods from the east. He urged the people to prepare, grow, and manufacture what they would consume, which had always been their way of life. Mormons were frugal.

Brigham Young, from time to time, reiterated his Indian policy. He wrote to Orson Hyde in Sanpete County on March 8th: “Indians in the area are a poor miserable race! Prudence counsels that they be dealt with on our part in the mildest, most forbearing and liberal manner that the circumstances and relative conditions of both parties will permit.” True to form, Young took a pragmatic and logical approach. In the next pages, the chapter discusses the desire to become a state once again. Needless to say, there were no prospects of this desirable event. Additionally, a significant part of western Utah, including the gold mines in the Humboldt Mountains, were annexed to Nevada.

On July 1, 1862, President Lincoln signed an act that banned bigamy in federal territories and limited church and non-profit ownership in any territory in the United States to fifty thousand dollars. This act targeted polygamy, as well as the property dominance of the church, and passed thirty-seven to two. These acts, considered a dead letter in the law books, would not change daily life in Utah.

On July 7, the newly appointed governor, Stephen S. Harding, arrived in Salt Lake City. Two new territorial judges, Chales B. Waite and Thomas J. Drake, joined Chief Justice John Kinney. The newly elected officials, and Brigham Young, took the stand and spoke to the people under the bowery on Pioneer Day. Brigham Young took the opportunity to expound on the patriotism of the Mormons. Governor Harding announced he came as a messenger of peace and claimed to have no religious prejudices to overcome. He was warmly received by the citizens of Utah.

Utah’s only direct military participation in the Civil War began in the spring of 1862 and continued through late summer. Acting Governor Fuller ordered the Utah Militia to guard the mail, the stage, the transcontinental telegraph, as well as the emigrants themselves. Indians were becoming more hostile. They destroyed several mail stations between Fort Bridger and the North Platte, burned coaches, stole stock, and killed stage drivers, as well as emigrants along the trail. Colonel Robert T. Burton and Lott Smith of the Utah Militia found deserted mail stations from Green River to Deer Creek, with stock and other property missing or stolen. At Ice Spring Station they found twenty-six sacks of mail, mostly ripped open and scattered over the prairie.

It was a harsh venture. The men plowed through ten feet of new snow, pushed through seemingly impassable roads, and rebuilt washed-out bridges. They were clearly the best men for the task, as they knew their country well and had some relations with the Indians. The company disbanded August 14th, a little over three months later.

Utah was about to receive a new garrison of federal officers to guard and protect the communication lines and the overland trails. Colonel Patrick Connor had relatively extensive military experience. On August 6th, he assumed command of the Military District of Utah which comprised the Territories of Utah and Nevada. Although many expected Connor and his several hundred troops would move into the old Camp Floyd, Connor had other plans, partly urged on by the federal officers who felt a need for the military presence closeby. Connor selected a commanding position up the bench above the city which he named Camp Douglas, looking down on the city and within sight of the Lion House and the Bee Hive House, both Brigham Young’s residences.

Connor marched his men right through the heart of the city. He felt a show of strength was imperative. The men stopped at Governor Harding’s residence. Not a cheer or a jeer greeted the men. Every crossing was occupied by spectators, and windows, doors, and roofs had their gazers. The sidewalk by the mansion was thoroughly packed. As the days passed, Connor and his men were hard at work preparing their camp and its twenty-five hundred acres before the coming of winter. Brigham was tolerant but openly wished: They will dwindle away.

Periodically, the Indians would threaten the overland mail or there were reports of outbreaks in certain areas. Some troops stayed at camp while others were sent out to repair stations or subdue the savages. Connor was confident he occupied every necessary position on the Overland and controlled the entire line from the Ruby Valley to Ham’s Fork. The year 1862 ended with a standoff between Connor, his men, and the President of the Church, Brigham Young.

Governor Harding, who had been so well received, Was becoming suspicious of the Mormons. He felt sure his correspondence was being read by church leaders. He felt the people were disloyal to the government. He had heard Brigham Young speaking from the pulpit, inculcating in the minds of the Saints that the government was of no consequence. The Mormons had an idea of what was coming with the end of time. After the Civil War, when both sides became exhausted, the Saints would quietly enjoy the possession of the lands and all that was left of the ruined cities and desolated fields. The Saints would reign. This had been prophecy since Joseph Smith claimed it was revealed to him.

The governor began to take a strong stand against polygamy. Regarding the anti-polygamy law passed by Congress the judge said: “I am aware that there is a prevailing opinion that the act is unconstitutional. Therefore, those in high places have no regard for the law and do not honor it. The individual citizen,” the governor insisted, “has no right to deny any law or statue.” Harding also called for a revision of the Utah statues and voting by secret ballot instead of having voters sign ballots. His speech caused a great stir among the Mormons.

All through the autumn of 1862-63 reports came in of Indian troubles in Utah. Army patrols went out constantly from Camp Douglas. The most numerous, powerful, and troublesome were the Shoshone Indians. Lives had been lost, vast numbers of horses, cattle, and mules had been stolen, and much property had been destroyed. Chief Washakie was apprehensive of a general Indian outbreak. A number of the Shoshone warriors were now renegades.

In January, Colonel Connor sent a company of California Volunteer Infantry northward with two howitzers and twelve cavalrymen with fifteen supply wagons. Connor later caught up and then passed the infantry, artillery, and wagons, about four miles from the Shoshone camp. The ravine where the Indians were encamped was open only to the south and branched off another and longer ravine through which flowed Battle Creek. When the Indians retired into the entrance of the ravine, the troops charged. A large number of men fell dead and several fell mortally wounded. The Indians fired with deadly effectiveness. As bravely as they fought, they could not withstand the indomitable will and bravery of the troops. The squaws and children surrendered.

Back in Salt Lake City, a solemn funeral was held. Sixteen riderless horses draped with black blankets led the procession. The day was cold and raw, yet a large number of citizens were present.

After the ceremony, Colonel Connor complained: “No assistance was rendered by the Mormons, who seemed indisposed to divulge any information regarding the Indians and charged enormous prices for every article furnished to my command.” Still, some records describe the aid given by the Mormons to the wounded and frozen soldiers after the battle. Some soldiers were taken into homes in Logan and fed and allowed to warm themselves by the fire.

Governor Harding, continued to make an uproar: “The Mormons work cunningly in an almost supernatural way upon the superstitions of an ignorant, credulous, and dependent people….to make them believe that the only rightful authority to govern rested in the Prophet’s hands by the special gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Brigham Young was preparing for war. Mormon workmen were engaged in manufacturing fixed ammunition for various types of arms. Brigham’s agents were strenuously trying to get the troops removed from Utah. A formal petition was sent to President Lincoln asking him to remove the officials. A counter petition signed by Connor and many of his officers urged the President to retain Harding and the judges. Harding himself assured he would not leave or resign until President Lincoln removed him.

As the months progressed, the torrent of words on both sides did not abate nor did the provocative actions, though these were generally trivial. The Mormons mounted a telescope on top of Young’s residence and watched Camp Douglas carefully, Distrust was the word for the day. By the end of March, Colonel Connor was informed he had been appointed brigadier-general. That night, Young and Connor’s troops heard the sound of the cannon from Camp Douglas as well as military music. This was a reason for some to celebrate. For the moment, there were no thoughts of war or hate.