--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young, Seymour B. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 25 number: 5 published: 1922-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Seymour B. Young, "Lest We Forget—VI," *Improvement Era* 25, no. 5 (March 1922): 420–423.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2505unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2505unse start_page: 420 end_page: 423 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1922-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2505unse publication_year: 1922 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1922, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Lest We Forget—VI Lest We Forget By Dr. Seymour B. Young, of tlve First Council of Seventy VI. — What Utah Stood for in the Civil War (Continued) Judge Advocate General Thomas B. Hopkins, wrote that the Utah volunteers were armed and equipped, furnished their own horses, saddles and bridles, and all equipments necessary for the service, at their own expense, and were on the march in three days after the order had been given calling them to en- list. Something otherwise unknown in the history of the Civil War. Many were the hardships endured on that memorable campaign, about which much might be said or written. For eight days they were without bread or other rations, and many fatalities occurred in their ranks, soon after their return home, as a result of the hardships endured while in the service of their country. Captain Smith was complimented from Washington for the alacrity with which his men responded to their coun- try's call, and for their splendid performance of duty. The war department records that as a company, and as individuals, their conduct in the service was above reproach. 'Again, Thomas B. Hopkins, Judge Advocate General of the G. A. R., made the following statement: "This organization was just as much a part of the army of the United States as were any of the regiments of the great armies of the east and west, and I therefore advise that in the official records of the govern- ment it be made to read that these men were duly mustered into the ser- vice of the United States and after faithfully serving their country were honorably discharged therefrom and are eligible to membership in the Grand Army of the Republic." On the first day of May, 1862, the Utah Volunteer Com- panies, "A" and "B" of the First Cavalry Utah Militia, took up their line of march, entering the defile of Emigration Can- yon, They halted about three miles above the mouth of said canyon, and were here overtaken by ex-Governor Brigham Young and General D. H. Wells. Governor Young addressed the volunteers as follows: I desire of the officers and privates of this company, that in this service they will conduct themselves as gentlemen, remembering their al- legiance and loyalty to our government, and also not forgetting that they are members of the organization to which they belong, never indulging in intoxicants of any kind, and never associating with bad men or lewd women, always seeking to make peace with the Indians. Aim never to take the life of an Indian or white man, unless compelled to do so in the dis- LEST WE FORGET 421 charge of duty, or in defense of your own lives, or that of your com- rades. Whenever and wherever you can hold council with their sachems, or peace-chiefs, do not fail to embrace the opportunity, and thus win their friendship and prevent the shedding of blood if possible. Another thing I would have you remember is that, although you are United States sol- diers you are still members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and while you have sworn allegiance to the constitution and gov- ernment of our country, and we have vowed to preserve the Union, the best way to accomplish this high purpose is to shun all evil associations, and remember your prayers, and try to establish peace with the Indians, and always give ready obedience to the orders of your commanding of- ficers. If you will do this I promise you, as a servant of the Lord, that not one of you shall fall by the hand of an enemy. Tim Goodell At the bivouac on the mountain side the soldier who is on the night watch may be careless or indifferent, only anxious for the expiration of his watch, or guard duty. With this in- difference he exposes his sleeping comrades and himself also, to the sudden spring and stealthy attack of the lurking savage. He may be, and generally is, awake, alert and exceedingly watch- ful, realizing that his comrades are resting with assurance that no foes can approach the camp unchallenged, and unop- posed, without immediate warning to his comrades that a vengeful foe is lurking near, with deadly purpose of dealing death with scalping knife and tomahawk. On the 20th day of May, 1862, Lot Smith's command of Utah Volunteers encamped near the three crossings of the Sweetwater, where was once a flourishing mail station, on Ben Holliday's mail line. Now all that remained of it was one room, or part of the enclosure belonging to the horse stables, and at the northwest corner of the enclosure stood a lone corner post, the only other remains of the station. On this corner post was nailed a notice which read as follows: The volunteer soldiers from Utah are out to make war on the In- dians, the mountain ers, and squaw men, and are endeavoring to drive them out of the country and take possession of their lands. This paper was signed by the principal mountaineers of the region, with the exception of Jack Robinson, who always had shown his faith and loyalty to the Utah people. At the bottom of the list was the name of Tim Goodell, who claimed a large acreage of grazing land, and had several hundred head of fine-bred cattle, in the region of the Pacific Springs. . , As Tim was one of the most prominent and widely known mountaineers, and had considerable influence among his fel- lows, it was advised by our commanding general of Utah militia, 422 IMPROVEMENT ERA Robert T. Burton, who had just arrived at our camp on his way home from the North Platte, that a small party be sent to Tim Goodell's camp, located some thirty-five miles southeast of our present encampment, with a warrant for his arrest and with orders to bring him into camp for a hearing before a court martial. When this decision was reached, two of General Burton's command were elected, namely, Colonel Heber P. Kim- ball, and Sergeant Stephen W. Taylor; and one from the com- mand of Captain Smith, namely, Corporal S. B. Young. The small party assigned to this duty might at first sight seem in- sufficient, but they proved equal to the occasion and accom- plished what they were sent to do. They left camp at 5 a. m. the following morning and followed the trail in the direction of the mountaineer's camp. About 11 a. m. a lone horseman was seen approaching from the south, and when within about forty rods of our party he dismounted and, turning his animal broad- side to us, crouched behind this living breastwork, placed his rifle across the saddle, and took deadly aim at one of our party. Comrade Taylor remarked, "What's that fellow going to do? Evidently he intends to shoot one of us." But the shot was not fired, for the fellow suddenly withdrew his rifle from the rest across his saddle, remounted, and rode up to our party. "Why did you aim your rifle at us?" was the question asked. The fellow replied, "I took you for Indians, and was intending to sell my life as dearly as possible, but on drawing a sight on you over my rifle barrel I discovered that you were white men, hence concluded that I did not have any need to fear an attack from you." We questioned the fellow in regard to the where- abouts of Tim Goodell's camp. He readily gave us directions how to reach it, which afterwards proved to be correct. We ar- rived at the ranch of Mr. Goodell about 1 o'clock in the after- noon, having covered a distance of thirty-five miles, since leav- ing our encampment on the Sweetwater. The warrant of ar- rest was read to the mountaineer by Comrade Taylor, as Mr. Goodell declared that he could not read or write even his own name. On hearing the warrant of arrest Mr. Goodell seemed to be considering the matter for a few moments, and finally made this reply, "I will go with vou to your headquarters, without any opposition on my part." This was a very proper and safe answer for us, because there were only three of our party, and we were in the stronghold of the mountaineer, and outnumbered at least three to one. Then Mr. Goodell showed the proverbial hospital- ity of the ran^e rider and plainsman, extending to us an in- vitation to have dinner with him, which we gladly accepted. Din- ner was prepared, consisting of choice cuts of elk meat fried to a turn in the bake kettle, over a live wood-fire, and fresh baked, LEST WE FORGET 423 warm biscuits, and coffee, to all of which our party did ample justice. As soon as dinner was over, we mounted our horses and, with Mr. Goodell, started on our return for headquarters at the camp on Sweetwater. From the time that Mr. Goodell consented to go with us, he immediately began drinking from a large whiskey bottle, and when dinner was over and we were ready to start on our return, the old mountaineer was so thor- oughly drunk that one of our party was compelled to ride by his side and help to hold him in his saddle. His condition, and the assistance we had to give him, detained us, and taps had been sounded and lights were out, hours before our return to camp. • The prisoner was placed in the guard-tent and a special guard was set to watch over him the balance of the night. When we left the ranch of Mr. Goodell he bade goodby to his Indian wife, and said I am never coming back. The following morn- ing after our arrival in camp, a court martial was organized with General Burton presiding, and Mr. Goodell was placed on trial. Here he again declared he could neither read nor write not even his own name, and that some other party, without his consent or knowledge, had written his name on that offensive document found nailed to the corner post of the burned corral. So well did this old mountaineer plead his cause that the mem- bers of the court martial were convinced of his innocence, and he was set at liberty. We saw him start for his home, on the adjournment of the court, and as he rode a little distance from our camp, he turned in his saddle and gave three cheers, seeming to be thoroughly impressed with thankfulness for his life and liberty. We saw no more of Tim Goodell till the fol- lowing month of July when we had again established our camp in the region of the Pacific Springs. Mr. Goodell, in the mean time, had moved his headquarters in close proximity to the Springs. Our command at this date had consumed all their rations, and a letter was sent by Corporal Young to Mr. Goodell with a requisition for a thousand pounds of flour and a dressed beef. When the note was presented to Mr. Goodell he looked at it, gave it back to the messenger and said, "Please read this for me," and when the contents of the note were made known to him, Mr. Goodell said: Please tell Captain Smith that the beef and flour will be delivered at his camp early tomorrow morning, and that I have here 200 head of fat cattle and five thousand pounds of flour, and every hoof of my cattle, and th ; flour are at his disposal and subject to his order. And this was his way of showing gratitude for life and liberty given him at the trial of the court martial, some months before, resulting from the burned corral document.