Many people are unaware of a significant part of U.S. History that occurred between 1865 and 1872 in and around Sevier County, Utah. On a trip with my kids to go skiing in Colorado, we took I-70 through Southern Utah. I know of this history, because my grandmother was born in this area of the world, and the people that lived in this area were an interesting bunch indeed. As we stopped at a gas station in Salina, Utah I saw many ranchers and other locals stopping in small store there. I got to thinking about the history of the area and just what went on over 100 years ago.
Nearby this little grocery store is a monument to the Blackhawk War between 19 combined Indian tribes and early Mormon settlers. The tale is one of tragedy, heartbreak, revenge, and heroism on both sides. Both sides of the conflict had good intent initially, both attempted on numerous occasions to work out agreements with each other. However both sides had the same problem.
The Mormon settlers were coming from everywhere in the world and many had lost everything and were refugees themselves. The Ute Indians, and the combined tribes were being encroached and pushed by western expansion. Both sides were a combination of desperate people, who all spoke different languages, came from different cultures, and were clinging to life in one of the roughest areas to live in the United States.
I will not get into all the details, but there were over 150 battles between these two groups and that was before the U.S. Federal troops got involved in 1872. There were raids, full on battles, espionage, and multiple peace agreements. The clash of cultures was too great, and the communication between the groups too poor for any agreement to take hold. In a weird sense of irony, both groups were considered by their peers to be rather benevolent in their natures, but this clash would produce some of the deadliest battles in the North American tribal wars in the 1800s.
There are hundreds of stories from this conflict. Some really amazing tales. Both parties in the conflict had some really bad actors, and also some amazing heroes. I have collected a few articles on the various events, and I am just amazed at how fragile and dangerous life was in the early expansion days of the West.
I, like many of you, have direct ancestors that were direct participants in this history. I was reflecting on that today, as I considered getting motivated to exercise more, to avoid processed food and eating out to much. As I munched on my gas station sugary snack pulling back onto the four lane freeway running through Salina canyon, I though wow. Only a hundred years ago, 84 men on horseback coming from Greenriver were literally getting their asses handed to them by 135 Ute warriors being led by Chief Blackhawk.
I have absolutely nothing to complain about, that is for sure!
Guy Reams
