The Mormon Rebellion: America's First Civil War, 1857–1858

by David L. Bigler, Will Bagley

In 1857 President James Buchanan ordered U.S. troops to Utah to replace Brigham Young as governor and restore order in what the federal government viewed as a territory in rebellion. In this compelling narrative, award-winning authors David L. Bigler and Will Bagley use long-suppressed sources to show that—contrary to common perception—the Mormon rebellion was not the result of Buchanan's "blunder," nor was it a David-and-Goliath tale in which an abused religious minority heroically defied the imperial ambitions of an unjust and tyrannical government. They argue that Mormon leaders had their own far-reaching ambitions and fully intended to establish an independent nation—the Kingdom of God—in the West. Long overshadowed by the Civil War, the tragic story of this conflict involved a tense and protracted clash pitting Brigham Young's Nauvoo Legion against Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston and the U.S. Army's Utah Expedition. In the end, the conflict between the two armies saw no pitched battles, but in the authors' view, Buchanan's decision to order troops to Utah, his so-called blunder, eventually proved decisive and beneficial for both Mormons and the American republic. A rich exploration of events and forces that presaged the Civil War, The Mormon Rebellion broadens our understanding of both antebellum America and Utah's frontier theocracy and offers a challenging reinterpretation of a controversial chapter in Mormon annals.

Genres: History, American History, Mormonism

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2011

Reviews

[Ben Boulden · Rating 5 out of 5]

There has been an abundance of fair, accurate, and independent historical research into nineteenth century Utah history over the past 35-years and The Mormon Rebellion is a wonderful example of this. It tackles the mostly forgotten first U.S. Civil War (1857-58), where Brigham Young and his Kingdom of God in Utah openly declared its independence from, and war on, the U.S. It looks at the causes of the conflict (an authoritarian theocracy operating within the U.S.'s democratic structure, Mormondom's refusal to submit to federal laws, and Young's open hostility for the U.S. Government), its impacts on both Mormons and American emigrants (including the murder of 120 Arkansas emigrants by Mormons in Southern Utah), and its ultimate outcome, which wasn't achieved for some twenty years. Authors David L. Bigler and Will Bagley ignore nothing, cite everything, and capture the events with a lucid and engaging writing style.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was dense with detail upon detail. But it offered a good interpretation of the Mormon and US conflict over Utah territory. Definitely an interesting read that introduced me to a topic I knew nothing about prior to reading

[Hunter McCleary · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what's worse than charismatic religious zealots? The gullible sheep that follow them. This book has a parade of characters falling over themselves to do the bidding of Brigham Young. Right up to and including mass murder. But the wily Young gets off untarnished and is still revered despite the 1850s revolt and the Mountain Meadows massacre (and 55 wives!). One of the book's premises is that President Buchanan has not received the credit he deserved for putting down the rebellion in a "mostly" bloodless fashion. Unfortunately, like the BIG Civil War that followed the US learned nothing. Polygamy and the Mormon theocracy went underground when the troops were withdrawn. And after Reconstruction, "slavery" basically continued once troops were withdrawn from the south. Maybe I'm becoming a marshal law fan.

Notes:
4 Buchanan ok with polygamy but not theocracy.
5 B Young challenged the legitimacy of the federal government.
9 Author admits trying to rehab Buchanan.
17 Joseph Smith created a people, something few others have done.
32 End of the Mexican War made Mormons squatters on federal government land.
49 Essential to their theocratic rule were unanimous election results.
108 Adultery a capital offense at this time; but polygamy is OK.
120 Effort by Young to colonize, convert, annex Idaho area as a Mormon refuge.
178 Young authorized the massacre.
178 The massacre goal was terrorism, to keep people from crossing Utah.
282 In 1852 Mormons acknowledged polygamy.
360 Lee was a sacrificial lamb.

[Socraticgadfly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simply excellent overview of these events, unknown to many Americans, and not fully understood by many who do know.

First, ignore the number of 1- and 2-star reviews. If this is like Amazon, every one is nothing other than Mormon apologetics, especially over the fact that Bagley and Bigler have demonstrated Brigham Young's direct connection to the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

And, that's one of the key points of this book. Despite being nowhere near enough population for statehood, Young was determined to have either that or independence, preferring independence, and force the US government's hand on the matter. The massacre was meant to send a message to Washington that Young as Indian agent "couldn't" control Indians (hint, hint, read between the lines, President Buchanan). And, if that wasn't enough of a message, then he'd cut California off from the rest of the Union.

This despite Utah still having a largely-barter theocracy that couldn't afford a long confrontation.

Fortunately, the "first Civil War" ended without bloodshed. Unfortunately, a pliant governor to replace Young, and the removal of the Army soon thereafter, let Mormons whitewash Mountain Meadows, and play down other incidents of the last two years before fall 1857. The result is reflected in things like the propagandistic negative reviews here.

[Devan Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well worth reading. While interpretations often skewed toward hagiographic toward the US Army and unnecessarily harsh toward the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is excellent research, attention to detail, and reliance on archival sources.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After watching American Primeval I wanted to learn more about what was touched upon regarding the Mormons and what was going on at that time. Wow, a lot! This is a well written and engaging book about the "conflict" between the Mormons and the US government, well, and anybody wanting to get to California. Eye opening, there should have been quite a few people dangling from a noose, but, there wasn't. Highly recommended.

[Kaylee Rockbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very well researched and gave a solid overview of a period of American history I knew nothing about. I wish there were a timeline of events, though. With such dense material as this that would have made things a lot clearer and easier to piece together for me

[Mark Kinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that shows why this war really happened.

[Charles Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting review of early Mormonism.