"Mormons... for the South or the Union?" Topic

"In 1832 Joseph Smith, Jr., the Mormons' first prophet, foretold of a great war beginning in South Carolina. In the combatants' mutual destruction, God's purposes would be served, and Mormon men would rise to form a geographical, political, and theocratic "Kingdom of God" to encompass the earth. Three decades later, when Smith's prophecy failed with the end of the American Civil War, the United States left torn but intact, the Mormons' perspective on the conflict—and their inactivity in it—required palliative revision. In The Civil War Years in Utah, the first full account of the events that occurred in Utah Territory during that war, John Gary Maxwell contradicts the patriotic mythology of Mormon leaders' version of this dark chapter in Utah history.

While the Civil War spread death, tragedy, and sorrow across the continent, Utah Territory remained virtually untouched. Although the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—and its faithful—proudly praise the service of an 1862 Mormon cavalry company during the Civil War, Maxwell's research exposes the relatively inconsequential contribution of these Nauvoo Legion soldiers. Active for a mere ninety days, they patrolled overland trails and telegraph lines.

Furthermore, Maxwell finds indisputable evidence of Southern allegiance among Mormon leaders, despite their claim of staunch, long-standing loyalty to the Union. Men at the highest levels of Mormon hierarchy were in close personal contact with Confederate operatives. In seeking sovereignty, Maxwell contends, the Saints engaged in blatant and treasonous conflict with Union authorities, the California and Nevada Volunteers, and federal policies, repeatedly skirting open warfare with the U.S. government."

See here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Does it include anything on The Utah War of 1857-58 and Johnston's Army? Needs too really, I gather Johnston's Utah War pretty much sets the scene for Utah's response to the ACW only 3 years later. If you've just been bashing on them you can hardly expect them to embrace you 3 years later?

Sounds like LDS propaganda.

Sounds a little anti-LDS to me.

One of my ancestors came West with Johnston's Army.

Then Chief Bill we have something in common, My Great Grandfather served as a Wagon master in General Johnson's Army and he stayed in Colorado after his enlistment was up.

Try this book for a new account of Johnson's war

The Mormon Rebellion: America's First Civil War, 1857–1858 Paperback – August 1, 2012 by David L. Bigler

link

Stand on the parade ground of old Fort Douglas and all will become clear. When you have them by the balls their hearts and minds have to come along.

The civil war was a boon for the Mormons. There was a large US army base, camp Floyd, not far from the Utah capitol of Salt Lake city, a legacy of the Utah war of 1857. With the start of the civil war most of the army was pulled out and sent east and everything it didn't take was sold for pennies on the dollar. Mormon children wore army blue clothes made from uniforms for years afterword.

Supposedly when asked his opinion on the war the Mormon leader Brigham Young said he hoped the two sides would kill each other off.

I find it amazing that the Mormons retained any loyalty at all to the United States government considering how the federal authorities had ignored their mistreatment when they were driven out of the US and fled to Mexican territory, quickly followed by an invasion by the US army based on trumped up charges of treason.

Definitely not pro-southern since the Church was against slavery from its beginning which was part of the reason they were the target of mobs in Missouri.

most of the Mormon early settlers were from the Northeast originally, if that"s anything to go by

Interesting topic, personally I thought he Mormons were pretty much pro Mormon.

Glad you enjoyed it my friend.

Amicalement
Armand

I agree with Trajanus.

Let's not forget the Mountain Meadows Massacre perpetrated by the Mormons in 1857.

You could blame some Native Americans for Mountain Meadows….oh wait they did….

Mark Twain has an interesting and well written account of Mormon Utah during the Civil War period in his book "Roughing it" link

While definitely a bit prejudiced against the religion, Twain had to admit they made something nice out of nothing.

"the broad, straight, level streets, and enjoyed the pleasant strangeness of a city of fifteen thousand inhabitants with no loafers perceptible in it; and no visible drunkards or noisy people; a limpid stream rippling and dancing through every street in place of a filthy gutter; block after block of trim dwellings, built of "frame" and sunburned brick—a great thriving orchard and garden behind every one of them, apparently—branches from the street stream winding and sparkling among the garden beds and fruit trees—and a grand general air of neatness, repair, thrift and comfort, around and about and over the whole. And everywhere were workshops, factories, and all manner of industries; and intent faces and busy hands were to be seen wherever one looked; and in one's ears was the ceaseless clink of hammers, the buzz of trade and the contented hum of drums and fly-wheels."

He contrasted that to the Union territory of Nevada.

And predigest rears it's ugly head.

It's sad The Mormon church is usually one of the quickest and most generous groups to send needed supplies and aid to disaster areas yet nobody ever hears of it . Instead all they get are comments like some of those posted hear.