Home -> Surnames -> Dimick Huntington -> Notes -> Facts -> Note 8
History of Utah by Orson F. Whitney
Volume 1 Chapter XXII 1849-1851
Captain Conover, commander at the fort, united his men with Captain Grant's, and the main forces then proceeded to occupy a position near a deserted building about half a mile south-west of the log-house mentioned. The Indians were led by Chiefs Elk and Ope-carry-surnamed "Stick-on-the-Head" the latter, like Sowiette, rather friendly with the whites, while Elk, as
has been stated, was more like the warlike Walker. Ope-carry, it seems, desired peace, and had come out of the redoubt to talk with Dimick B. Huntington, the interpreter, when Elk and his warriors opened fire, and the battle was thus begun.
The engagement lasted two days, during which an almost incessant fusillade was kept up between the white assailants and the dusky defenders of the river redoubt. Artillery was also employed against the savages, but with little effect, as they were right under the bank, and most of the balls passed harmlessly over. A squaw was killed by a chain shot, however, during the progress of the fight. The Indians would make frequent sorties, and after delivering their fire, return to cover. Again, they would thrust their gun barrels through the snow lying upon the banks above them, and momentarily raising their heads high enough to take aim, discharge their broad sides at the besiegers. They fought so stubbornly that all efforts to them for a time proved futile. They killed Joseph Higbee, son of Isaac Higbee-then President of settlement and wounded several others of the attacking force.
Footnote
Lieutenant Howland complimented the charge made by Kimball's men in warm terms. He said it was as fine as could have been done by regular cavalry.
Finally, in the afternoon of the second day, Captain Grant, whose care had been to expose his men as little as possible, determined to capture the log-house at all hazards. He therefore ordered Lieutenant William H. Kimball, with fifteen picked men, to charge upon the house and take it. Among those who participated in this charge the one daring exploit of the Robert T. Burton, Lot Smith, James Ferguson, John R. Murdock, Ephraim K. Hanks, A. J. Pendleton, Orson K. Whitney, Barney Ward, Henry Johnson and Isham Flyn. Kimball and his men proceeded up river until directly opposited the log-house, which now intervened between them and the stream. They then turned to the left, facing the rear of the house, and the leader gave the word to charge. Dashing forward through a ravine that for some moments hid them from view, the horsemen emerged upon the fiat and were within a few rods of the house, in the act of crossing a small slough, when a roaring volley from the log citadel met them. Isham Flynn was wounded and the charge was momentarily checked.
Several swept on, however, and the Indians, hastily vacating the house, fled to their entrenchments.c The first two troopers to gain the house were Lot Smith and Robert T. Burton, who, riding around to the front of the building, entered the passage between the two Bullets whizzed past them, splintering the woodwork all around, but both they and their horses soon under shelter. Their companions, a moment later, gathered to the rear of the house, and too soon, for the Indians, recovering from their surprise, began pouring their volleys into ranks of the cavalry and upon the captured building. Half the horses were instantly killed, and riders escaped by miracle. Between the volleys, Lieutenant Kimball, Ephraim Hanks and others, around the corner Of the house, gained the inside, while others waited until an opening had made in the rear.
To support the cavalry charge, Captain Grant ordered forward a small detachment of infantry. These men, ten in number, were a portion of Captain Conover's command, and were led by Jabez B. Nowlin. On reaching the log-house, with saw and ax they effected an entrance at the rear. Some, however, went around the corner into the passage, and were fired upon by the savages; Nowlin being wounded in the nose.
The services of a surgeon were now in demand. Seeing that something was wrong, Captain Grant requested Hiram B. Clawson, General Wells' aide, who had accompanied the expedition, to ride to the house and ascertain what was needed. He did so, performing the hazardous feat successfully, though the bullets sung past him as he rode. His friends at the house, seeing him coming, redoubled their volleys and drew most of the Indian fire in their direction. Returning, Colonel Clawson reported that surgical aid was at once required for the wounded. He and his cousin, Stephen Kinsey, a surgeon, then rode back to the log building. Returning, the two were again fired upon, one bullet just missing Clawson's head and piercing Kinsey's hat. Later, another ball came nigh hitting Clawson and went through Kinsey's trousers. Both, however, escaped unhurt.
Meantime, Lieutenant Howland, with something of the ingenuity of a Cortez, had conceived the idea of a movable battery, to operate against the Indian redoubt. His idea was at once acted upon. A barricade of planks, in the shape of a V, was constructed and placed upon runners, blankets being hung loosely on the inside to stop the force of balls that penetrated the timber. The outside was covered with brush and boughs to conceal the true character of the improvised battery. This pointed barricade, behind which quite a number of men could take shelter and deliver their fire without being much exposed, was pushed toward the Indian stronghold. Like Macbeth, when Birnam wood, or what he took to be that forest, came toward Dunsinane, the Indians were thoroughly alarmed at the approach of this strange object, and its purpose made up their minds to retreat. Accordingly, that evening, they opened a furious fire upon the position held by the troops, and under cover of the darkness withdrew. The log-house had previously been vacated by Kimball's men, a circumstance which enabled the Indians to depart unobserved, after helping themselves to a supply of horse-beef from the dead cavalry animals lying near.
General Wells, who had been sent for to take charge of further operations, arrived next morning, but on preparing to attack the Indians, it was discovered that they had gone. One party, the smaller band, had retreated in the direction of Rock Canyon, a rough and difficult gorge a little northeast of Provo, while the main party had fled southward in direction of Spanish Fork. A dead squaw the one killed by a cannon shot was found in the Indian encampment; also two or three warriors, dead or dying. Elk, the chief, subsequently died of wounds received during the siege. His being wounded had probably disheartened the savages and caused the retreat quite as much as Lieutenant Howland's battery. The Lieutenant had returned to Salt Lake City after the second day's skirmish. Some of the Indians, more friendly than their fellows, had deserted their ranks before the fighting began, taking refuge with the white families in the fort.
Detailing certain men to garrison the stockade, and others to pursue the Rock Canyon refugees, General Wells, with the main body of the cavalry, set out upon the trail of the Indians who had gone southward. At Spanish Fork and Pe-teet-neet-now Payson short skirmishes occurred, and eventually the Indians were overtaken near Table Mountain, at the south end of Utah Lake. Another battle ensued, and the Indians were practically annihilated. Most of the fighting took place on the ice, which was very slippery, making it extremely difficult for the horses to keep on their feet. The Indians, being shot at, would fall, as if dead, and then, as their pursuers drew near, rise up and fire. They killed several horses in this manner, but none of the cavalrymen were hurt.
Night came down, and a bitter night it was. The soldiers were forced to take refuge in the wickiups vacated by the Indians on the bleak mountain side. As these primitive shelters swarmed with vermin, the result may readily be imagined.
On the 19th of August, 1868, the energetic Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Colonel Head, succeeded in negotiating a treaty with the sub-chieftains of Black Hawk's band and their still recalcitrant followers. Major Dimick Huntington was interpreter on the occasion, and Black Hawk himself, who had kept his pledge given a year before, lent his presence and influence. The young warriors were loth to bury the tomahawk, and boasted not a little of their prowess and deeds of blood; one of them especially, a handsome, feminine-looking stripling named Aug-a-vor-um, confessing his participation in the killing of Major Vance and Sergeant Houtz and in other more daring and less dishonorable engagements. Of the fellow's courage there could be no doubt. He had been wont to ride a white horse, and as his reckless bravery always led him to the front, where his example served as a command to his associates, he was frequently the mark of the militia sharpshooters, and once when he fell wounded the cry went up that Black Hawk himself had been killed. His defiant eloquence was reinforced at this meeting by that of other hot-heads, but it was patiently met and at length entirely overcome by the persuasion and threats of the peace party. The treaty was signed and it is believed was faithfully observed, although peace was not completely restored until after the summer of 1869. The earliest signs of trouble during this year came from the southwest where the turbulent Navajoes were the predominating tribe. A band of them invaded Southern Utah in the latter part of February and drove off the herds from Washington and Harrisburg. A party of militia started in pursuit, recovered some of the stock and drove the thieves beyond the Colorado.
About the end of March the off-afflicted horse-herd at Scipio was successfully raided and over a hundred head of stock were driven off. In the latter part of September the unfortunate county of Sanpete endured a visitation at Fairview with the loss of twenty head of horses. These were the last depredations of consequence, and with them ended all
semblance of organized warfare on the part of the aborigines. The war-whoop and the scalping-knife disappeared from Territorial history, and in the very parts most grievously ravaged during the period covered by these campaigns Indian colonies in recent years have successfully and industriously sought the greater achievements of peace.