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The ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL, Part 2 of Chapter 9 of B L O O D A T O N E M E N T
by OGDEN KRAUT
Reports came back to the Mormons that the Army intended to make war. It could mean more devastation than any mob had ever caused. One report said:
The United States are sending 2500 infantry, besides Col. Sumner’s dragoons, which are to rendezvous in Great Salt Lake City this winter, 100 teamsters, the worst description of men, picked up on the frontiers, which are more to be dreaded than the soldiers. They are making great calculations for “Booty and Beauty”. (Parowan Historical Record, Aug. 7, 1857)
On the other hand, Brigham Young was taking a much milder approach to the situation. He wanted no war nor bloodshed. “Blockade the road, set fire to their trains, burn the whole country before them, keep them from sleeping, BUT TAKE NO LIFE,” Brigham ordered. What a different attitude than that of the president of the United States. Who was the warmaker? Who proposed to shed blood? Who acted in haste, without reason or responsibility and was taking a “savage” stand against innocent people?
