On 26 June 1858, COL Albert Sidney Johnston ordered his troops forward, marching them towards Salt Lake City. For over a year, they had endured cold, hunger, and grueling marches. Now, as they entered Salt Lake City, they found it abandoned -- other than a few Soldiers of the Nauvoo Legion, who stood ready to set the city ablaze if Johnston’s Soldiers began rampaging. How did Johnston’s Army feel about this ambiguous end to a year-long campaign? How did Latter-day Saints deal with uncertainty amid Army patrols and evacuation orders? And how effective were these military measures, when the spirited young men and women of Pioneer Utah wanted to be together?
On this episode, we explore:
○ Johnston's Decision to March to Salt Lake City before he could be reinforced -- and all the glory for a successful campaign stolen -- by General William S. Harney.
○ The Nauvoo Legion's efforts to evacuate the city and prepare it for burning.
○ How the young men and women of pioneer Utah creatively defied evacuation orders, armed sentries, and patrols, to be together.
○ Johnston's march through Salt Lake City, despite the taunting appearance of BG James Ferguson and the Nauvoo Legion Cavalry.
○ Mixed reactions -- both of disappointment and awe -- at entering Salt Lake City.
○ Loud complaints of New York Times correspondent James Simonton at the distance that the Latter-day Saint women maintained from both him and the Army -- and one obvious reason why that Simonton seemingly overlooked.
○ The end of the Utah War and tribute to Thomas L. Kane of Pennsylvania.
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.
Search Terms: Thomas L. Kane, Brigham Young, COL Albert Sidney Johnston, New York Times, James Simonton, James Ferguson, Governor Alfred Cumming, Utah War, Camp Scott, Fort Bridger, Wyoming History, Utah History, James Buchanan, Mormon History, Latter-day Saints, U.S. Army, American West, Romance, Courtship, and Marriage in Pioneer Utah, Polygamy, Monogamy.