Conflict in UtahThe Utah War

Utah Territory

• U.S. government appointed half of the government posts in Utah.

• Most non-Utahns got along with the Utahns.• Some did not

Rumors

• Some federal government workers that didn’t get along with the Mormons took rumors of rebellion back to D.C.

• Judge William Drummond spread rumors of corruption, an Indian/Mormon alliance and plans to take over the U.S. government

President James Buchanan

1857• President Buchanan

sends troops from Kansas to Utah.

• Troops are led by Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston

• Bring Alfred Cumming: Brigham Young’s replacement as governor

Utah prepares for war

• Utah militia swells from a few hundred to over 5,000 soldiers

• Why were Utahns so quick to raise an army if they were innocent?

Echo Canyon

Lot’s Army

Winter 1857

• Johnston’s army is stopped in Wyoming by heavy snow and freezing temperatures.

• Stop at Fort Bridger, Wyoming and wait for Spring

Buchanan’s Blunder

• People in Washington question President Buchanan’s decision to send an army to Utah without investigating the situation.

Move South

Thomas Kane

Camp Floyd

• Established by Johnston’s army• Brought the “Wild West” to Utah• Brought supplies to Utahns as the soldiers

sold their Eastern supplies for very low prices.

Civil War

• In 1861 the Civil War started and Abraham Lincoln called Johnston’s army back to the East.

• Johnston’s army (2,500) was ¼ of the total of the U.S. army.

• 98 of Johnston’s army became generals for the Civil War. 50 for the South. 48 for the North.

Utah War Result

• Utah War brought soldiers, merchants, suppliers, miners and railroaders to Utah.

• Gave Utah a bad reputation in East.• Made gaining statehood more difficult.