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Show GUILTY OR NOT GUILTYf 521 ere, the company of emigrants passed through Cedar City. George A Smith then First Councilor in the Church and Brigham Young's right- hand man came down from Salt Lake City, preaching to the different settlements. I, at that time, was in Washing-ton County, near where St. George now stands. He sent for me. I went to him, and he asked me to take him to Cedar City by way of Fort Clara and Pinto settlements, as he was on business, and must visit all the settlements. We started on our way up through the canon. We saw bands of Indians, and he ( George A. Smith) remarked to me that these Indians, with the advantage they had of the rocks, could use up a large company of emigrants, or make it very hot for them. After pausing for a short time he said to me, " Brother Lee, what do you think the brethren would do if a company of emigrants should come down through here making threats? Don't vou think they would pitch into them?" I replied that " they certainly would." This seemed to please him, and he again said to me, " And you really think the brethren would pitch into them?" " I certainly do," was my reply; " and you had better instruct Colonel Dame and Haight to attend to it that the emigrants are permitted to pass, if you want them to pass unmolested." He continued: " I asked Isaac ( meaning Haight) the same question, and he answered me just as you do, and I expect the boys would pitch into them." I again said to him that he had better say to Governor Young, that if he wants emigrant companies to pass without molestation, that he must instruct Colonel Dame or Major Haight to that effect ; for if they are not ordered otherwise, they will use them up by the help of the Indians. The confession then tells of the councils in which the destruction of the emigrants was decreed ; the gathering of the Mormon militia, and the siege down to the time treachery was decided upon, and con-tinues as follows : The plan agreed upon there was to meet them with a flag of truce, tell them that the Indians were determined on their destruction; that we dare not oppose the Indians, for we were at their mercy ; that the best we could do for them ( the emigrants) was to get them and what few traps we could take in the wagons, to lay their arms in the bottom of the wagon, and cover them up with bed- clothes, and start for the settlement as soon as possible, and to trust themselves in our hands. The small children and wounded were to go with the two wagons, the women to follow the wagons and the men next, the troops to stand in readiness on the east side of the road ready to receive them. Shirtz and Nephi Johnson were to conceal the Indians in the brush and rocks till the company was strung out on the road to a certain point, and at the watchword " Halt! do your duty ! " each man was to cover his victim and fire. Johnson and Shirtz were to rally the Indians, and rush upon and dispatch the women and larger children. It was further told the men that President Haight said that if we were united in car-rying out the instructions, we would receive a " celestial reward." I said I was willing to put up with a less reward, if I could be excused. " How can you do this without shedding innocent blood?" Here I got another lampooning for my stubbornness and disobedience to the priesthood. I was told that there was not a drop of innocent blood to the whole company of emigrants, and was also referred to the Gentile nation who refused the children of Israel passage through their country when Moses led them out of Egypt that the Lord held that crime against them; and that when Israel was strong the Lord commanded Joshua to slay the whole nation, men, women, and children. " Have not these people done worse than that u to us? Have they not threatened to murder our leaders and Prophet? and have they not boasted of murdering our patriarchs and prophets, Joseph and Hyrum? Now talk about shedding innocent blood !" They |
