Timeline of the Utah Mormon War

This is basically a simplified summary of the Wikipedia article, but more detailed than the timeline on the page.

Super interesting history, so let’s dive in!

1. Mormons arrive to the isolation of Utah in summer of 1847
2. Gold discovered in California in 1848, trails which are used by thousands of migrants pass through Mormon territory
3. Mormons want to formalize their territory as a U.S. state, and not a territory in 1849 (territories typically had appointed officials from D.C., and Mormosn wanted to be represented by Mormons)
4. U.S. creates Utah Territory in 1850, but President Millard Fillmore appoints Brigham Young as governor as a compromise.
5. President James Buchanan disliked the semi-theocratic nature of Utah, most notable examples being
   • Most government positions corresponded in rank to church callings.
   • People were encouraged to use ecclesiastical channels instead of civil channels to resolve disputes
   • There was talks of creating a kingdom seperate from the U.S.
   • The church had a paramilitary called the Danites
6. Many government appointees had bias against Mormons (mainly because of polygamy), and treated them poorly.
7. From 1851-1857 some government officers felt unsafe and said that Mormons were murderous, treasonous, thieves, destroyed court documents, harassed federal officers, constantly slandered the federal government. They cited these reasons for leaving their appointments to go back east. Some citing that Brigham Young had complete control over the government and begged the president to remove him from power. This included the terrotorial Chief Justice.
8. In 1852 Dr. John M. Bernhisel, Utah’s Mormon delegate to Congress, urged Congress for an imparial investigation to be held before decisions were made.
9. The Mormon Reformation of 1856 spurred everyone to double down on their dedication towards the church, which freaked some government employees out.
10. Dr. John M. Bernhisel again in 1857 urged Congress for an imparial investigation to be held before decisions were made.
11. May 13, 1857 Missionary and apostle Parley P. Pratt is murdered by the jealous ex-husband of his 12th polygamous wife. This increased xenophobia in Utah.
12. James Buchanan decided not to wait for an investigation in mid-1857. He decided to replace Brigham Young as governor and send 2,500 troops to Utah to enforce the laws. He would be sending the replacement governor, Alfred Cumming, with the troops.
13. Buchanan seriously dropped the ball on how he handled this situation. On 18 July 1857, U.S. Army Captain Stewart Van Vliet is sent ahead of the troops coming from Kansas. He delivers a letter ordering the state to have accommodations ready for U.S. troops, but not mention why they were coming. It also didn’t state that Brigham Young had been replaced as governor. This caused a further distrust, and Stewart Van Vliet reported back saying that the Mormons may raid from the trails.
14. The natural assumption was that the United States intended to fight the Mormons. So Brigham Young addressed the Mormons on July 24, 1857 (Pioneer Day) of the situation and Mormons began to prepare to defend themselves, but had no desire to fight. Brigham Young also ordered residents to prepare to evacuate the area, implying the Mormons would again emigrate elsewhere. All missionaries were recalled. All Mormons were encouraged to consolidate in Utah.
15. Brigham Young declares marshal law on 5 August, but does so quietly and does not enforce it.
16. Brigham Young reaffirmed alliances with the Native Americans, even if they were strained at the time.
17. August 1857 Brigham Young re-activates the Nauvoo Legion with Daniel H. Wells in command. All able-bodied males between 15-60 were conscripted. Their orders were to delay and harass the troops, but not actually fight them. This would buy the Mormons more time to prepare for either defensive battle or evacuation.
18. August 1857 Brigham Young asks Thomas L. Kaine, a man with political power, for help mediating the situation.
19. Stewart Van Vliet returns to Salt Lake City on 8 September and reveals the U.S. Army’s purpose of being there, 2-3 months after the Mormons had indirectly heard the news. Brigham Young was worried that the government was blaming him in particular for the destruction of the federal judge that had testified against him and that they had come to arrest him, and he’d suffer the same fate as Joseph Smith. Stewart Van Vliet assured him they had no intention of arresting him. Despite the Mormons trusting Stewart Van Vliet, they were not put at ease by his assurances. Brigham Young assured him that Mormons really didn’t want any of this to end in bloodshed.
20. Stewart Van Vliet realized that the Mormons would treat him nicely, but wouldn’t help him get the supplies he needed for the army that was quickly approaching.
21. During this time, there was a lot of hysteria and xenophobia about invaders among the Mormons because of the impending arrival of the U.S. army’s troops. They beleived people had come to be destroyed. Unfortunately, the Baker–Fancher emigrant wagon train passed through southern Utah during this time. The Nauvoo Legion had been made aware that Brigham Young had declared Marshal Law, and decided to enforce it. This band was were looking for a fight. While dressed as Southern Paiutes to disguise themselves, a part of The Nauvoo Legion lead by Isaac C. Haight and John D. Lee attacked the emigrants on 7 September, 1857. A sieze lasted until 11 September, 1857, and the emigrants surrendered because they were low on provisions. During the seize, this party of the Navoo Legion had it’s leadership chain deteriorated. The Nauvoo Legion lead by John D. Lee agreed to safely escort them out of Utah as long as they gave up their livestock and firearms, and the emigrants agreed. The men were seperated from the women and children. On an order, the Mormon escort turned and massacred them all.
22. Stewart Van Vliet told Brigham Young that he would stop the troops from entering, and set out on 14 September 1857 to do so. He told the troops that Mormons didn’t want to fight, but didn’t want the troops there either. The Mormons slow them down as much as they could, and the Mormons would rather burn their crops and homes and find a new settlement than fight the troops. Van Vliet went on to D.C. to report back. He was also accompanied by Dr. John M. Bernhisel. He advocated for the government to withdraw.
23. On 15 September 1857, the day after Stewart Van Vliet left Salt Lake City, Brigham Young publicly declares marshal law. In his declaration he forbade any federal troops or officers from entering Utah for any reason whatsoever and that the Mormons were ready to fight to enforce that decree. It also forbade anyone else from entering or exiting Utah without a Utah officer’s consent (including those headed to California or Oregon).
24. Mormon militia finally start harassing the U.S. troops in late September 1857. They cause brushfires to stampede their cattle and horses and burn supply trains.
25. On 15 October 1857 the U.S. army had 100 men on mules charge the militia, firing over 30 bullets, but injuring no one.
26. Echo and Weber Canyons, the easiest way to access the populated areas of Northern Utah, were blocked by the Mormon Militia. They built fortifications, dug rifle pits, and dammed streams and rivers for a battle at that location in the spring.
27. Mormons continued to train a militia while also starting to evacuate families.
28. Troops tried to find another way into the populated areas, but were caught in a blizzard in late October 1857.
29. On 21 November 1857 Alfred Cumming, Brigham Young’s replacement for governor, issued a proclamation that Utah was rebelling against the U.S. and that Brigham Young and 60 others were wanted for treason.
30. Several attempts starting in late December 1857 are made to reach Utah by river, but all are unsuccessful. Mormons spread rumors among the Native Americans that were near the ships that the U.S. Army was there to take their land, which created negative feelings towards the Army and incentivized further alliance with the Mormons. There were also a few spies sent aboard these ships, which allowed anyone to board. They weren’t good spies and were caught.
31. December 1857 President James Buchanan rebukes Utah for rebellion in his State of the Union address, and ask Congress to send even more troops to Utah. Thomas L. Kane (whom Brigham had contacted months earlier) contacts President James Buchanan to offer to mediate the situation. After speaking, the president is worried that the Mormons would win such a war. He agreed to pardon the Mormons if they agreed to let the federal officers do their jobs. He granted Kane unofficial permission to mediate.
32. Kane headed to Utah right away. He sailed to Panama, cross the isthmus via the Panama Railway, took a ship to San Francisco, then a ship to San Pedro (Los Angeles). He was met by Mormons who escorted him to Utah. They traveled through San Bernadino and Las Vegas to Salt Lake City. He arrived in 1858.
33. Kane convinced Brigham Young to accept the President’s deal. Brigham Young expressed that if the president had been clear from the beginning there wouldn’t have been a crisis in the first place.
34. In early March 1858 Kane tell the U.S. troops that the crisis is over. He persuades Alfred Cumming to come back with him without military escort. On their way back to Salt Lake City, Mormon militia line the canyon, giving the appearance that the Mormons were much more strong than their militia was at the time.
35. Brigham Young is removed as governor, and Alfred Cumming became a moderate voice for the Mormons, and advocated for Mormon rights on multiple occasions.
36. Thomas Kane heads back home
37. Brigham Young still feared persecution, and didn’t want the army in Utah. In the Spring of 1858, an additional 3,000 troops were sent to strengthen the army there. In early spring/late winter of 1858 Brigham Young decided to have all Mormons migrate because of this fear. He told everyone in Utah to maintain all roads in case they needed them for escape. Brigham Young considered moving to Bitterroot Valley in Montana, but the path there was blocked by the Bannock and Shoshone Natives. Between March-July 1858 30,000 people boarded up their homes and headed south. Some men stayed behind to burn everything if necessary. Mormons carried food, machinery, equipment, and church records and books. During this time the Salt Lake Temple’s foundation was covered to look like a plowed field. Alfred Cumming begged the Mormons to stay. Brigham Young said they’d only stay if the troops left.
38. In February 1858 Congress was putting a lot of pressure on President James Buchanan to remove the troops from the area. Senator Sam Houston (yes, that Sam Houston) basically said it was bullshit that the Mormons were being treated this way. There was talks of writing bills allowing the Mormons to legally fight off the troops.
39. In April 1858 the president sent a peace commission, which arrived in Utah in June 1858. The commission re-iterated the earlier promise to pardon them if they were to submit to government rule, including letting the troops into the territory. The commission assured that they would not interfere with their religion. They implied that their presence would no longer be necessary once the new governor had been sworn in, other than to “keep the indians in check” and to ensure emigrants to California were safe.Buchanan was more gruff with his message to Utah, however. He basically said that this was their last chance to not be charged with treason, and that the troops were going nowhere until they show they’ll obey the government.
40. In June 1858 Brigham Young and the Mormons thought Buchanan was a dick and that they never really rebelled, but they accepted the pardon.
41. The army arrived in Salt Lake City in June 1858. The leaders of which were extremely hostile towards the Mormons, and openly said they would like to kill them all. by July they had built Camp Floyd, which was far enough away that everyone was happy. These troops ended up staying until 1861 when they were recalled for the Civil War.
42. In early July 1858 Mormons began to return back to their homes. Because of the evacuation, food including livestock (which had been culled) and crops (which were rather unplanted or unattended) was short in the winter of 1858. Food supply didn’t return to Normal for about a year. Poverty resulted for several years after the evacuation. Settlements that had been abandoned in the surrounding areas in modern-day Idaho, Nevada, and California were not returned to.
43. Because of the wagons the Nauvoo Legion had burned, mail carriers went bankrupt. This lead to the creation of the streamlined Pony Express.
44. As tensions arose between the North and the South, Republicans passed anti-bigamy laws in 1862, which were aimed at the Mormons. Any remaining troops in Utah were told not to enforce it, as to keep the Mormons neutral in the inevitable Civil War.
45. After the Civil War more and more people headed west, which lead to Mormons no longer being isolated. Utah eventually had less and less Mormons in elected offices.
46. Mormons and the federal government don’t get along on the basis of polygamy for many years, but that’s another story for another time.

TL;DR: Utah was a semi-theocracy and the federal government didn’t like that. They removed Brigham Young as governor. They believed the Mormons to be hostile, so they sent a couple thousand troops to enforce this transition. The Mormons weren’t told of the power change, and only heard about the troops. Mormons thought they were being attacked, so prepared for evacuation and to defend themselves. The federal government thought that the Mormons were gearing up for war. It was looking like a full-scale war was going to happen. Brigham Young declared Marshal law and prevented the troops and new federal officers from entering Utah, and a standoff happened over the winter. The miscommunication was figured out in the spring, but Brigham Young still didn’t trust the troops, so had 30,000 people evacuate to the south. The president said the troops would still fight if the Mormons didn’t submit to government rule, and said he’d pardon them for “rebellion” if they did. The Mormons agreed, and the troops were stationed far enough away that everyone was happy.