The Lot Smith Cavalry Company: Utah Goes to War
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Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Faculty Publications 2013-10 The Lot Smith Cavalry Company: Utah Goes to War Joseph R. Stuart Brigham Young University - Provo, [email protected] Kenneth L. Alford Ph.D. Brigham Young University - Provo, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Stuart, Joseph R. and Alford, Kenneth L. Ph.D., "The Lot Smith Cavalry Company: Utah Goes to War" (2013). Faculty Publications. 1645. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/1645 This Peer-Reviewed Article is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Erected on the grounds of the Utah State Capitol by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers in 1961, this monument honors the men who served in the Lot Smith Utah Cavalry. (Courtesy of W. Jeffrey Marsh) CHAPTER 8 Joseph R. Stuart and Kenneth L. Alford THE LOT SMITH CAVA L RY C OM PANY Utah Goes to War hen the American Civil War is studied, a time.2 Indian attacks on mail and telegraph Wit is almost always the major battles and stations left the nation without cross-country campaigns that draw our attention and focus communication, threatening further confu- our interest—Manassas, Chancellorsville, Fred- sion on both sides of the country.3 ericksburg, Antietam, Gettysburg, and many Given geographic realities and Washing- others. In remembering a war that cost hun- ton’s attitude, Utah’s active participation in dreds of thousands of lives, it is often easy to the Civil War was limited. While other states overlook lesser-known contributions to the war were seceding to the Confederacy, Utah sought effort. This chapter is the story of one minor, to join the Union and become the thirty- but still important, story from the Civil War— fifth state. Utah’s applications were denied, an account of the only military unit from Utah reinforcing the view that the Civil War was Territory called to active duty during the war. primarily a problem of “the states.”4 Shortly after the telegraph reached Salt Lake City UTAh’S ATTITUDE in October 1861, President Brigham Young REGARDinG THE CIVil WAR publicly declared that “Utah has not seceded With the outbreak of war, the federal [from the Union], but is firm for the Consti- government found itself, as President Lincoln tution and laws of our once happy country.”5 noted, “in the midst of unprecedented politi- Church members often had mixed emotions cal troubles.”1 As the national crisis began, regarding the war because they felt that the communication between the eastern and nation had denied them the protections of the western sections of the country was some- Constitution, which the Saints considered to times interrupted—with telegraph service be divinely inspired. The Saints had made the sometimes out of operation for several days at best of their situation—settling in Utah rather 128 JOSEPH R. STUART AND KENNETH L. AlFORD than Texas, California, or Oregon—and had to Brigham Young to muster men to pro- done herculean work to make the land habit- tect the Overland Trail.9 The idea may have able. Because of their hard work, the Saints originated in a letter from General Lorenzo hoped to be left alone by the United States— Thomas to General James W. Denver, a briga- a welcome change from the torment and dier general stationed at Fort Leavenworth. interference they had come to expect at the The letter, dated April 11, 1862, suggested hands of the federal government. that Brigham Young would be ideal to con- tact because of his interest “in the telegraphic ASKinG FOR UTAH’S ASSISTAncE communication with Salt Lake and from his After 1861, telegraph lines spanned the known influence over his own people, and width of the United States and enabled news over the Indian tribes” around Salt Lake City. to be sent thousands of miles almost instanta- Thomas’s letter acknowledged that Brigham neously. Then, as now, rapid communication Young was “not a functionary recognized by was highly valued. Working telegraph lines the United States Government” and that any and open mail routes supported Union vic- formal request for troops should probably be tory and the well-being of the nation. After sent to the governor of the territory.10 suffering several Indian attacks and fear of The idea for direct contact from Lincoln attack by the Confederate Army, the trail to Young, rather than to Governor Stephen required increased protection.6 Harding, also came from U.S. Congressman The Overland Trail—which carried peo- Milton Latham of California. In an April 26, ple, mail, and telegraph lines—stretched from 1862, letter, Latham proposed that Lincoln Atchison, Kansas, to Salt Lake City, Utah. ask Brigham Young to provide soldiers to General James H. Craig, brigadier general of protect the Overland Trail. Latham suggested volunteers, received orders on April 16, 1862, that because of recent trouble with Indians making him responsible for protecting the destroying mail stations and making the mail Overland Trail.7 The trail had been plagued route unsafe, “authority [should] be given for months by Indian attacks that disrupted [to] Brigham Young to raise and equip one travel and communication.8 Soldiers were hundred men for ninety days’ service in now required to protect the Overland Trail. protecting the [telegraph] line.”11 In addition Mustering a unit from Utah to protect the to Congressman Latham’s suggestion, it was trail made good sense. Not only did the Union practical to ask Brigham Young for recruits have access to people who wanted to prove because there was no official governor in the their loyalty to the United States, but the Mor- Utah Territory at that time. Governor John W. mons were also largely frontier people, used Dawson had fled the state, and Lieutenant to living on barren and unsettled land. Utahns Governor Frank Fuller was serving as the were well suited for the job of protecting the acting governor. The new governor, Stephen mail, telegraph, and emigration routes. Harding, did not arrive until July.12 General Lorenzo Thomas, adjutant general THE CAll TO SERVE of the U.S. Army, and the War Department In April 1862, three weeks after the recognized that the real power to get things Battle of Shiloh, President Lincoln turned accomplished in Utah lay in the hands of THE LOT SMITH CAVALRY COMPANY 129 to 72 privates. The company will be employed to protect the property of the telegraph and overland mail companies in or about Independence Rock, where depredations have been committed, and will be continued in service only till the U.S. troops can reach the point where they are so much needed. It may therefore be disbanded previous to the expira- tion of the ninety days. It will not be employed for any offensive operations other than may grow out of the duty hereinbefore assigned to it. The offi- cers of the company will be mustered into the U.S. service by any civil officer of the United States Government at Salt Lake City competent to administer Brigadier General Lorenzo Thomas served as the U.S. Army’s the oath. The men will then be enlisted adjutant general from March 7, 1861, until 1869. (Library of Congress) by the company officers. The men employed in the service above named Brigham Young and not the federally appointed will be entitled to receive no other leadership.13 Young received a telegraph mes- than the allowances authorized by law sage asking for soldiers on April 28, 1862, two to soldiers in the service of the United days after Congressman Latham’s suggestion States. Until the proper staff officer for to President Lincoln. subsisting these men arrive you will please furnish subsistence for them Washington, April 28, 1862 yourself, keeping an accurate account Mr. Brigham Young, thereof for future settlement with the Salt Lake City, Utah: United States Government. By express direction of the Presi- By order of the dent of the United States you are Secretary of War: hereby authorized to raise, arm, and L. Thomas, Adjutant-General.14 equip one company of cavalry for ninety days’ service. This company The message granted direct authority for will be organized as follows: President Young to recruit men for active One captain, 1 first lieutenant, duty military service. The soldiers called 1 second lieutenant, 1 first sergeant, were to arm and equip themselves, as well 1 quartermaster-sergeant, 4 sergeants, as provide their own horses and firearms for 8 corporals, 2 musicians, 2 farriers, the campaign. Perhaps such a small unit was 1 saddler, 1 wagoner, and from 56 mustered because General Thomas believed 130 JOSEPH R. STUART AND KENNETH L. AlFORD Colonel Fullmer, but he too was unavail- able.18 With Colonel Burton and Colonel Fullmer unavailable to answer the call from President Lincoln, General Wells selected another experienced officer—Lot Smith. LOT SMITH—UTAH FOLK HERO Lot Smith was something of a folk hero in the Utah Territory. Described as a “red head [with] a red face, a straight form, a military bearing . and a gleam in the eyes that bespoke a high temper and an absolute absence of fear,”19 Lot Smith looked the part of a soldier. According to one member of the Lot Smith Company, “He was gentle as a woman and as brave as a lion . a citizen . Daniel H. Wells, an early Utah pioneer, apostle, and counselor in a soldier, and also . a missionary of the the First Presidency of the LDS Church, served as commander of Church.”20 With prior service in Indian wars, the Nauvoo Legion in Utah and as the third mayor of Salt Lake City.