From the Utah Territorial Militia Records, 1849-1877. No 0010-0020, Feb 1-10 1850, Orders. Series 2210, Box 1, Fld 3.

Pg 4:

Feb 1850

To go up the Provo Kanyon –

Pg 6:

Head Quarters Nauvoo Negion

Major Generals Office Feb. 4, 1850

Special Order No 7

Capt Geo D. Grant

You will please to ascertain the – number of Men that you have with you that you can depend upon for this proposed Expedition and send a correct account of the same also the amount of Horses provisions &c and what amount of any surplus, and send the account of the same by the bearer.

We consider that Capt. Lytle had better join you at your present Location, where you can be well employed in sending out your men to procure horses and supplies for the expedition until he arrives.  You will make an early rally that we may be advised at as early a period as possible, use your authority in procuring what ever is necessary, as it is considered highly important that another company should follow as soon as possible.

Most Respectfully

Daniel H. Wells

Major General

Pg 8: Copy of pg 6, re-written by H.B. Clawson.

Pg 10:

Head Quarters Nauvoo Legion

Major General Office, G.S.L. City, Feby 5^th, 1850

Special Orders No 9

To Major J.P. [Harmons???]

You are hereby ordered to collect to the men and horses & Waggons, and Provisions for men and animals, as shall be necessary, and forward the same to the detachment now on the March against the Utah Indians, as fast as the same shall be collected.  Keep an accurate account of supplies received and expended and report the same to my office as soon as practicable.

Daniel H. Wells.

Major General

A true copy of the original – Attest W.J. Appleby

Pg 12:

Feby 5^th, 1850

Camp near Bishop’s Crosby’s House

Sir

I have the honour to report to you the state of the command as it is at present.  The command consist of 76 Officers and privates with the addition of 12 for the use of the pieces, there are 83 horses including saddle, team horses, & mules, of the 76 men above 6 of them are teamsters, all the men are armed and equiped for service.  As to the Provisions, we have 860 lbs of flour, about 15 bushels of wheat which is to be ground, which is equivalent to 15 days rations for 88 men.  We have 70 bushels of grain which is only equivalent to 8 4 days rations for 83 horses.  We can obtain beef enough for the Campaign.  We will be short of grain, we ought to have more and at the rate of 70 bushels for 4 days from the 9^th of Feby.  We may be able to obtain from 10 to 15 horses more.  No more to report at present.

I have the honour to be

Very Respectfully

Your Obt Servt

Geo W. Howland

[??] Adjt of the Command

To

Major General

Daniel H. Wells

Nauvoo Legion

Pg 14-15:

Utah Fort

Feb 8^th, 1850

Sir,

I have the honor to state to you an account of our proceedings and also the state of the command as regards provisions, &c.  We started from the Fort this morning in order to give the Indians battle, the command was divided as follows: three parties were sent out on horseback one under command of Sr Little, one under command of Sr Kimball and the third under command of Sr Ferguson, these parties were sent out as out guards to prevent the Indians from escaping should they be driven from there position, 2 parties were sent out on foot as skirmishes to drive them from their position, and the [?] cannon were sent out for the same purpose.  The indians were strongly fortified and displayed a great amount of skill in selecting their position, they had torn down Mr Bean’s house in order to make breastworks, and fortified themselves in a ditch which was some feet below the natural surface of the ground, this ditch was in the midst of thick under brush and trees and we were not able to get any advantage of them whatever.  Capt Grant the commanding Officer reconoitered their position in nearly every way, in fact every way possible but we could get no place where we could take them with our fire.  The balls flew pretty thick from them but with little effect. We have not been able to ascertain how many of the indians were killed but we think three or four and several wounded as trails of blood were seen in several places.  Among one wounded was Mr Samuel Carn, he was wounded severely but not dangerously.

[pg 15 is a copy of pg 14]

[pg 16] Mr Albert Miles the same.  Mr Stevens was wounded slightly, two or three others with spent balls, which merely bruised the skin.  We are going at them again tomorrow, it is not known how many there are, but it is supposed that the indians from Spanish Fork and south of the lake have joined them.  The Cannon could not be used with any effect.

As to provisions we have enough or can get it here.  But we want more forage.  It is estimated that we shall want 100 bushels of Grain.  The snow is so deep here that there is no grazing for the animals, and there is very little hay here.  The express will come back and let us know what time we will have the wagons at the summit and we will send sleighs to meet them there and help them along.

I forgot to mention that we had one of the red faces as prisoners, and Captured six horses and one colt.

It is generally wished by the Officers here that you were present in order to help us along, we have plenty of men, as many as could be used conveniently.

I have no more to state,

I have the honour,

Very Respectfully to be

Your Obediant Servt

Geo W Howland

Lieut Adjt

To Daniel H Wells

Major Genl

Nauvoo Legion

P.S. It is to be hoped that the grain will reach us soon, as we are nearly out.  G.W. H.

Pg 18:

Head Quarters Nauvoo Legion

Major Generals Office G.S.L. City, Feby 9/50

Special Orders No 10

To Capt G.S. Grant

Dear Sir:  Your expressed forwarded by Miles Weaver and Joseph Clark arrived here this forenoon, giving me intelligence of your battle yesterday with the Utah Indians, of which I was axious [sic] to hear, and tender my thanks for the same.  I would enferr upon you to preserve your men if possible, under all circumstances that are compatible with duty.  You state that your cannon could not be brought to bear upon them.  I would therefore suggest the propriety of erecting a battery upon wheals under cover to screen your men from their arriving and bring the same to bear upon them if possible.  Take no hostile Indians as prisoners, those friendly and sue for peace, take them under guard and place them in the Fort, well guarded and at no time leave the Fort unprotected.  If you have a surplus of Horses, more than are necessary, assort out the best, and return the others to this place, as you will want your feed for these, necessary to be retained.

Keep a vigilant watch upon the Indians and let none escape but do the work up clean, as you have commenced, and are engaged in it.  I have forwarded three teams to day, loaded with corn, which will arrive by to morrow evening, at the Mountain, and I wish you to send up some teams to meet them, and take their loads into Fort and let those teams sent by me to day return, unless it is necessary to retain them, and send back the Teams, with weaker ones.

I expect to send as much corn to morrow as you will need perhaps, until the work is done.  What I forward you to day will supply you until more arrives.  I have no more to add, only what I have reiterated before, be vigilant, be careful, and preserve the lives of your men.  I should be happy to be with you but duty requires my presence here.

Daniel H. Wells

Major General

Pg 20: Copy of pg 18.

Pg 22:

Head Quarters, Nauvoo Legion

Major General Office G.S.L. City, Feby 9^th, /50

Special Orders No 11

To Capt John Brown

Sir: I am credibly informed that Indians were seen last evening driving off cattle in the vicinity of Willow Creek belonging to the white Inhabitants of this valley.  In order to put a stop to further depredations, you are hereby ordered to raise forthwith, a dozen or fifteen, active and efficient mounted men to patrol the road between the Cotton Woods, and the mountains leading to Utah fort, to protect cattle, guard the Teams, and keep a vigilant eye to all stragling Indians, treating all hostile ones and those committing depredations, as the circumstances of the case may justify.

Daniel H. Wells

Major General

P.S. I am well aware you have lately returned from a laborious and toilsome expedition – but believing you to be always on hand, and one worthy the task, I have requested the above.

D.H.W.

U.T.

Pg 24-25:

Fort Eutah

Feb. 9^th, 1850

Sir

As the request of a Council was that another express should be sent to the City.  I have the honour to make a statement to you in the name of Capt. Grant & others, an account of the day’s proceedings.  The indians are not yet routed, that are near the Fort, there are still some left, but it is not known how many.  To day we had some very hard fighting, with the loss of one life (Joseph Higbee) he was shot through the neck.  Mr Alexander Williams was shot through the shoulder, but not dangerously. [Jabus?] Knowland was shot through the cheek and nose, not in danger. (Mr Flynn slighty), three horses killed, four wounded, among the wounded was Sr Kimball’s.  (The fire was kept up on the enemy for sometime, when the command was given by Capt Grant to Srs Kimball & Ferguson to charge on a house (Mr Beans) which was within a few yards of the Indian camp.  They made a great charge, and took the house in the charge, one man (mr Flynn) was slightly wounded, no others suffered.  We had to batteries made in the shape of the letter A put on sleds into which 12 men got and approached near the enemy all the time keeping up a hot fire, but could not get into their Camp.  Some of the inhabitants of the Fort feel as if they should leave or abandon the place altogether, were the Command to be withdrawn without routing the enemy – and some do not seem to care whether they are routed or not, as they are going to the Gold [pg 25] mines in the spring. “They never have had any trouble with the indians and do not intend to.” I am directed to state for Capt Grant that he would like to have you come to the Fort.

We are going to try them again tomorrow and see if we cannot route them altogether, by force or stratagem.  Our men from the city are very much discouraged on account of the manner some of the inhabitants of the Fort act, it seems to put a damper on their courage and patriotism.  It would have been far better for them to have gone and encamped close by the indians, than to have gone to the Fort and heard such remarks as “I had sooner the indians should have my cattle than to kill them for you to eat,” and “I want them to go to California with,” such remarks as these are not calculated to inspire our men at all.

As I have nothing further to state as regards the expedition, I will now close and forward.

Very Respectfully

Your Obt Servt

Geo W. Howland

Lit Adjt

To Daniel H Wells

Major General

Nauvoo Legion

Pg 28-27 [best read in that order]

Camp Southern termination of Utah Lake

Feby 16^th, 1850

General Order No [?]

I. Captn Ebenezer Hanks, Barney Ward, and Isaac Brown will proceed forthwith from this point with an express for the settlements in the San Pete and to the balance of the exploring company on or near the Sevier River, that they may be all notified of our proceedings against the Indians in the Utah valley and return with the exploring party if they can find a route practicable for this season of the year, if not, return at their pleasure and report themselves to Head Quarters Great Salt Lake City.

II.  Captn Lytle with fifteen men will proceed from this point across the lake, following around the western side thereof and return across the ice to Fort Utah this evening.

III. Capt Lomereax with his company will proceed immediately down the Spanish Fork carefully reconnoitering as it is reported there a few lodges of indians in that vicinity and join the company with the cannon up that point and proceed to Fort Utah this evening and report himself to Lt. Col. Lytle.

IIII. Serg. Standage will proceed on the Lake in time to meet Capt. Lomereaux and return to the Fort this evening the wagons containing provisions will proceed to our encampment at Spanish fork and await our arrival.

V.  Sergt Whitney will hold himself in readiness with the cannon at his present encampment to proceed to Summit Creek if it should prove necessary.

VI.  Capt Grant with the remainder of the forces will return to the fort by way of Summit Creek Petitnit and arrive at Spanish Fork this evening.

[pg 27]

VII.  All parties except those sent on expresses will carefully examine, search for and route the Indians wherever they may find them, proceeding in the most cautious manner, and if they should find Indians and cannot vanquish them with out too much risk and exposure they will remain and watch at a safe distance sending to the Fort for supplies and reinforcements and on no consideration let them escape.

VIII. If those Indians in Rock Canon still hold out upon Lt Coll Lytles return to that place he will proceed with Capt Lamereaux and the Canon to attack them.  First placing sufficient men with supplies on the ridges at safe distance to cut off their retreat.

Daniel H Wells

Maj Gen Nauvoo Legion

To Prest Brigham Young

Commander in Chief &c

The forgoing is a copy of the orders published this morning which will explain in brief our intentions at present.  On yesterday in accordance with our arrangements we proceeded to thoroughly reconnoiter and explore these mountains on the East side of this portion of Utah Lake it appears the remainder of the Indians have left the mountains and gone in an easterly direction towards Summit Creek which we intend to explore on our return with Capt Grants compy if we meet with no detention we shall arrive at our encampment on Spanish Fork to night and at Fort Utah tomorrow and as soon as we can bring these Indians in Rocky Canon to a [b??ing?] return to our homes  We purpose leaving a small force at the fort until further instructions  Capt Lamereax succeeded in destroying the Indians that were found on the Petetnit none of his men receiving any injury the Indians are getting badly used up and badly frightened we think they will be willing to behave themselves hereafter at least we hope so we have neather time nor paper to make further report at present, we remain your friend as ever

Daniel H Wells

Maj Gen