In another thread, Rosie writes:
I have read diaries, with that battle, as some of my ancestors were some of the original "Mormons" and it was out of self-defense. Why don't you try Googling Haun's Mill.
Later, Rosie writes:
Except for the fact that the California travelers were going to attack the "Mormons" and kill them the very next day I think you have it about right.
From what I got from Rosie, it would seem that Rosie believes that the killing of almost all of the settlers from Arkansas who were on their way to California was self-defense.
Of course, there are many questions that I have.
(1) Why would a group of several dozen settlers going to attack and kill a well established colony of several thousand Mormon colonists, not to mention that the colony had a well established and well armed militia?
(2) Actually, why would the settlers from Arkansas going to attack the Mormons anyway? Weren't they on their way to California?
(3) If it was truly self-defense, how come the only survivors were those that were under 7 years old at the time? Furthermore, when the bodies were later found by other people, many of the bodies appeared to have died from throat cut not gun shot.
(4) Why did the Mormon authority at the time try to bury the event?
Some websites about the event.
Mountain Meadows Massacre (CESNUR)
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage....
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