HivDORADO 85 



act by divine inspiration and a direct revelation from 

 God. ^^ 



A small band was organized called the "Alormon 

 Legion," and by the Gentiles the "Destroying An- 

 gels," that explicitly obeyed the orders of Brigham 

 Young, no matter what their character. The Mount- 

 ain Meadows massacre, where 132 emigrants, men, 

 women and children, were cruely butchered in 1858, 

 in Southern Utah, was subsequently proved to have 

 been by order of Brigham Young and his "apostles!" 

 The teams, wagons and other property of the murdered 

 emigrants were confiscated for the benefit of the church 

 of the Latter Day Saints. 1 believe the rank and file 

 of the Mormons are as honest, sincere and reliable as 

 the average members of any other sect, but in their re- 

 ligious zeal they were deceived by the leaders or 

 "twelve apostles." 



In 1857 they rebelled against the authority of the 

 United States, and President Buchanan sent an army, 

 under the command of General Albert Sidney John- 

 ston to bring them to terms. They arrived at Fort 

 Bridger and went into quarters to await the arrival of 

 the commissary stores and meat supplies, then in 

 their rear between the South Pass and Green river. 



The following are some of the experiences of the 

 "army of invasion," as related by an officer who be- 

 longed to one of the regiments at the time : 



"We arrived at Fort Bridger on the 23d day of No- 

 vember, while part of the supply train accompanying 

 the expedition, numbering at least 160 wagons, was be- 

 hind, delayed by heavy snows, entirely separated from 

 the command and forced to encamp about one mile 

 from each other on the Big and Little Sandy rivers. 



