| OCR Text |
Show 28 they held off their attackers for one day. They were dislodged and fled to the south and west sides of Utah Lake. The ill-fated Indians were pursued, and there many of them were killed. According to Mormon records, 27 of the Indians and one Mormon, Joseph Higbee, died in the encounter - The Indian women and children were held captive in Salt Lake City for the winter. Whether this was an act of charity or a matter of security is not clear. For the next two years, the Mormons were free from conflict with the natives of Utah Valley. This may have been attributable to the instructions given to the leader of the military force, Daniel H. Wells, who stated, "I was ordered not to leave that valley until every Indian was out of it."3 (See Appendix B). The determined fury of the Mormon attack upon the natives did not permanently restrain them, however. Because of the trade in horses, slaves and tribute that had been introduced into Utah by Hispanos from New Mexico and California, one of the Utes had achieved very important status by the time of the coming of the settlers. His name was Wakara-or, as the Mormon chroniclers had it-Walker. His relationship to the Mormons focused a very great amount of attention upon him when he and his people decided to resist the encroachment. The Walker War bears the name of this leader. The altercation which caused armed conflict to arise is unimportant. There were 3Ibid. , p. 310. |
