Conflicts Brigham_Young

brigham young (seated near middle, wearing tall beaver hat) , exploring party camped @ colorado river in 1870

the degree of young s involvement in mountain meadows massacre, took place in washington county in 1857, disputed. leonard j. arrington reports young received rider @ office on day of massacre, , when learned of contemplated attack members of lds church in parowan , cedar city, sent letter directing fancher party allowed pass through territory unmolested. young s letter reportedly arrived on september 13, 1857, 2 days after massacre. governor, young had promised federal government protect immigrants passing through utah territory, on 120 men, women , children killed in incident. there no debate concerning involvement of individual mormons surrounding communities scholars. children under age of seven, cared local mormon families, survived, , murdered members of wagon train left unburied. remains of forty people later found , buried, , union army officer james henry carleton had large cross made local trees, transverse beam bearing engraving, vengeance mine, saith lord: repay , erected cairn of rocks @ site. large slab of granite put on had following words engraved: here 120 men, women , children massacred in cold blood in september, 1857. arkansas. 2 years monument stood memorial travelling spanish trail through mountain meadow. claim that, in 1861, young brought entourage mountain meadows , had cairn , cross destroyed, while exclaiming, vengeance mine , have taken little .