In March 1858, Thomas Kane’s efforts to end the Utah War had been fruitless. a week with COL Albert Sidney Johnston and the U.S. Army on the plains of Wyoming. President James Buchanan had sent the Army to Utah, to remove Brigham Young as Governor and replace him with Alfred Cumming. This had led to a months-long armed standoff between the US Army and the Latter-day Saint militia. Sensing that he alone could work out a peace between the two sides, Thomas Kane raced to the Wyoming Wilderness, at personal expense and with no official authority, to throw himself between the Armies and negotiate a peace. But after months of grueling travel, personal danger, and several close calls with death, Thomas Kane had made no progress in convincing COL Johnston or his staff to de-escalate the conflict.
This would change on the night of March 16th, when Kane called on COL Johnston with an usual request. Kane asked for permission to pass through the Army’s defensive line to travel to the Latter-day Saint militia and deliver a sealed letter to Brigham Young. As one of the few outsiders that the Latter-day Saints trusted, Kane could cross through the Nauvoo Legion’s defenses without trouble, even though they had brought the U.S. Army campaign to a cautious halt. COL Johnston gave him permission. and so Kane armed himself with two pistols, took his brother’s rifle, mounted his horse, and headed west, passing through the Sentry Line and riding towards the Latter-day Saint militia.
On this episode, we explore Kane's secret message to Brigham Young, his close call with death as he survived an attempt on his life, his meeting with William Kimball where he proposed an audacious plan - Bring Alfred Cumming alone into Salt Lake City, leaving the Army without a mission or purpose, and set the stage for a lasting peace.
To learn more about the stories in this episode, please check out these (excellent!) sources:
For the materials and sources in this story, we owe a special thanks to Utah War historian William "Bill" MacKinnon - His two-volume set, "At Sword's Point: A Documentary History of the Utah War to 1858" is an extraordinary resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Utah War. It is available on Amazon and Google Books.
o Matthew J. Grow, “I have Given Myself to the Devil: Thomas L. Kane and the Culture of Honor,” 73 Utah Hist. Q. 4 (2005).
o Richard D. Poll, “Thomas L. Kane and the Utah War,” 61 Utah Hist. Q. 2 (1993).
o Elder Lance B. Wickman, “Thomas L. Kane: Outrider for Zion,” Ensign (September 2003).
Search Terms: Thomas L. Kane, Brigham Young, COL Albert Sidney Johnston, CPT Culvier Grover, MAJ Fitz John Porter, Governor Alfred Cumming, Utah War, Camp Scott, Fort Bridger, Wyoming History, Utah History, James Buchanan, Patrick "Pat" Kane, Elizabeth Kane, Echo Canyon, Mormon History, Latter-day Saints, U.S. Army, American West.
Note: During their lifetimes, a debate came up between Alfred Cumming and Thomas Kane on one side and Major Fitz John Porter on the other as to whether Cumming was heading off into the unknown or whether Brigham Young had invited him into the Salt Lake Valley. It seems clear that Young had not passed any message to Cumming (a good part of Kane's discussion with William Kimball was focused on what to do if Brigham Young did not agree) -- but Kane may have overplayed his hand in assuring Cumming he would be well received.