This thread discusses the Content article: Mountain Meadows redux

Say it ain't so!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 I thought it was those ruthless Indians that slaughtered men women and children? One question if BY did not allow the slaughters to happen why did he "send word" down south to let them pass safely? Half truths only cause more questions to be asked.

Just another dark chapter in our country's history. We all probably have ancestors guilty of grievous crimes, but I am glad to see it is not swept under the rug. Having this book written by mormons helps. This massacre is just as bad as what the rest of our ancestors did during slavery, trail of tears, Indian wars, Chinese slave labor for the railroads, and so forth.

utocoman wrote:
This thread discusses the Content article: Mountain Meadows redux

Say it ain't so!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 I thought it was those ruthless Indians that slaughtered men women and children? One question if BY did not allow the slaughters to happen why did he "send word" down south to let them pass safely? Half truths only cause more questions to be asked.

Perhaps those questions can lead to more answers.

The book is an interesting read.

With access to an advanced working copy, I came to a couple of conclusions.

The Indians were, in my opinion, more involved than Will Bagly, author of Blood of the Prophets, would like to believe. They, however, certainly were not involved in serious numbers and did not have the weapons or ammunition necessary to even consider attacking the train on their own.

The circumstantial evidence is clear enough that Brigham Young should have been indicted as a principal in creating the atmosphere in which the mass murder could take place, and as an accessory after the fact in covering up the extent of the LDS involved in it.

Of interest is the downplaying of James Gemmell's account that he was present when BY told others that if he in charge of the Nauvoo Legion, he would destroy the immigrant wagon train.

Of interest is the tortuous handling by the LDS authors of the evidence by Bagley and Juanita Brook (The Mountain Meadow Massacre) to avoid an indictment of Brigham Young's complicity.

Nonetheless, even though knowing that BY would be found innocent of ordering the massacre by the authors, I still found the work a good read.

It is not, however, the definitive book on the tragedy. Bagly and Brooks read together give a much clearer narrative of what probably occurred.

It is true the Indians had very little to do with this horrible event in history, other than stating they did not want anything to do with it, according to the story's Paiute Elders have kept alive for over 150 years and what the highly criticized movie September Dawn emphatically states and shows.

Wren, I found your post very interesting and am motivated now to get the book and read it. Thank you for your well thought out post.

James