On 26 June 1858, COL Albert Sidney Johnston ordered his troops forward, marching them towards Salt Lake City. For over a year, they had endured cold, hunger, and grueling marches. Now, as they entered Salt Lake City, they found it abandoned -- other than a few Soldiers of the Nauvoo Legion, who stood ready to set the city ablaze if Johnston’s Soldiers began rampaging. How did Johnston’s Army feel about this ambiguous end to a year-long campaign? How did Latter-day Saints deal with uncertainty amid Army patrols and evacuation orders? And how effective were these military measures, when the spirited young men and women of Pioneer Utah wanted to be together?

On this episode, we explore:

○ Johnston's Decision to March to Salt Lake City before he could be reinforced -- and all the glory for a successful campaign stolen -- by General William S. Harney.
○ The Nauvoo Legion's efforts to evacuate the city and prepare it for burning.
○ How the young men and women of pioneer Utah creatively defied evacuation orders, armed sentries, and patrols, to be together.
○ Johnston's march through Salt Lake City, despite the taunting appearance of BG James Ferguson and the Nauvoo Legion Cavalry.
○ Mixed reactions -- both of disappointment and awe -- at entering Salt Lake City.
○ Loud complaints of New York Times correspondent James Simonton at the distance that the Latter-day Saint women maintained from both him and the Army -- and one obvious reason why that Simonton seemingly overlooked.
○ The end of the Utah War and tribute to Thomas L. Kane of Pennsylvania.

For the materials and sources in this story, we owe a special thanks to Utah War historian William "Bill" MacKinnon - His two-volume set, "At Sword's Point: A Documentary History of the Utah War to 1858" is an extraordinary resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Utah War. It is available on Amazon and Google Books.

Search Terms: Thomas L. Kane, Brigham Young, COL Albert Sidney Johnston, New York Times, James Simonton, James Ferguson, Governor Alfred Cumming, Utah War, Camp Scott, Fort Bridger, Wyoming History, Utah History, James Buchanan, Mormon History, Latter-day Saints, U.S. Army, American West, Romance, Courtship, and Marriage in Pioneer Utah, Polygamy, Monogamy.

In March 1858, Thomas Kane’s efforts to end the Utah War had been fruitless. a week with COL Albert Sidney Johnston and the U.S. Army on the plains of Wyoming. President James Buchanan had sent the Army to Utah, to remove Brigham Young as Governor and replace him with Alfred Cumming. This had led to a months-long armed standoff between the US Army and the Latter-day Saint militia. Sensing that he alone could work out a peace between the two sides, Thomas Kane raced to the Wyoming Wilderness, at personal expense and with no official authority, to throw himself between the Armies and negotiate a peace. But after months of grueling travel, personal danger, and several close calls with death, Thomas Kane had made no progress in convincing COL Johnston or his staff to de-escalate the conflict.

This would change on the night of March 16th, when Kane called on COL Johnston with an usual request. Kane asked for permission to pass through the Army’s defensive line to travel to the Latter-day Saint militia and deliver a sealed letter to Brigham Young. As one of the few outsiders that the Latter-day Saints trusted, Kane could cross through the Nauvoo Legion’s defenses without trouble, even though they had brought the U.S. Army campaign to a cautious halt. COL Johnston gave him permission. and so Kane armed himself with two pistols, took his brother’s rifle, mounted his horse, and headed west, passing through the Sentry Line and riding towards the Latter-day Saint militia.

On this episode, we explore Kane's secret message to Brigham Young, his close call with death as he survived an attempt on his life, his meeting with William Kimball where he proposed an audacious plan - Bring Alfred Cumming alone into Salt Lake City, leaving the Army without a mission or purpose, and set the stage for a lasting peace.

To learn more about the stories in this episode, please check out these (excellent!) sources:

For the materials and sources in this story, we owe a special thanks to Utah War historian William "Bill" MacKinnon - His two-volume set, "At Sword's Point: A Documentary History of the Utah War to 1858" is an extraordinary resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Utah War. It is available on Amazon and Google Books.

o Matthew J. Grow, “I have Given Myself to the Devil: Thomas L. Kane and the Culture of Honor,” 73 Utah Hist. Q. 4 (2005).

o Richard D. Poll, “Thomas L. Kane and the Utah War,” 61 Utah Hist. Q. 2 (1993).

o Elder Lance B. Wickman, “Thomas L. Kane: Outrider for Zion,” Ensign (September 2003).

Search Terms: Thomas L. Kane, Brigham Young, COL Albert Sidney Johnston, CPT Culvier Grover, MAJ Fitz John Porter, Governor Alfred Cumming, Utah War, Camp Scott, Fort Bridger, Wyoming History, Utah History, James Buchanan, Patrick "Pat" Kane, Elizabeth Kane, Echo Canyon, Mormon History, Latter-day Saints, U.S. Army, American West.

Note: During their lifetimes, a debate came up between Alfred Cumming and Thomas Kane on one side and Major Fitz John Porter on the other as to whether Cumming was heading off into the unknown or whether Brigham Young had invited him into the Salt Lake Valley. It seems clear that Young had not passed any message to Cumming (a good part of Kane's discussion with William Kimball was focused on what to do if Brigham Young did not agree) -- but Kane may have overplayed his hand in assuring Cumming he would be well received.

On the night of 9 March 1858, Thomas L. Kane was trudging through a heavy snow storm on his self-appointed mission to End the Utah War. He had convinced Brigham Young and Church Leaders to extend an olive branch to the Army Expedition by offering them large quantities of food and supplies. But now, over 25 feet of snow buried the mountain roads. With temperatures plummeting and winds howling, Kane found himself growing weaker while the storm raged around him. Sensing that he might not survive, the sickly Kane decided to prepare for the worst. He wrote a letter to Alfred Cumming, the incoming Governor of Utah traveling with the Army: "Dear sir: In case of accident I write this memorandum to apprise you that I am the bearer of overtures for peace from Gov. Brigham Young. Letters from Pres. Buchanan throwing light upon my position will be found upon my person. My other letters and effects I beg may be forwarded to my family at Philadelphia." But three days later, Kane, insensible and frosted, would ride into the Army Camp.

On this episode, we explore Thomas Kane's awkward meeting with COL Johnston, how the Soldiers of the expedition openly grumbled that Kane should be hanged as a "Mormon spy," how Kane's relationship with Johnston soured to the point that he challenged the Commander to a duel, and how his efforts to convince Johnston to reciprocate Brigham Young's olive branch instead gave the impression that the Latter-day Saints were weak, divided, and vulnerable. We remember how, at the end of his week at the Army Camp, Kane was farther from peace then ever . . . And yet how, when all hope seemed gone, he struck upon an idea that would prove his single greatest contribution to end the Utah War.


To learn more about the stories in this episode, please check out these (excellent!) sources:

For the materials and sources in this story, we owe a special thanks to Utah War historian William "Bill" MacKinnon - His two-volume set, "At Sword's Point: A Documentary History of the Utah War to 1858" is an extraordinary resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Utah War. It is available on Amazon and Google Books.

o Matthew J. Grow, “I have Given Myself to the Devil: Thomas L. Kane and the Culture of Honor,” 73 Utah Hist. Q. 4 (2005).

o Richard D. Poll, “Thomas L. Kane and the Utah War,” 61 Utah Hist. Q. 2 (1993).

o Elder Lance B. Wickman, “Thomas L. Kane: Outrider for Zion,” Ensign (September 2003).

Search Terms: Thomas L. Kane, Brigham Young, COL Albert Sidney Johnston, CPT Culvier Grover, MAJ Fitz John Porter, Orin Porter Rockwell, Governor Alfred Cumming, CPT John W. Phelps, Utah War, Fort Bridger,Camp Scott, Ecklesville, James Buchanan, Patrick "Pat" Kane, Elizabeth Kane, Echo Canyon, Mormon History, Latter-day Saints, U.S. Army, American West.


The Title of this Episode comes from the report of a French Correspondent with the Army Camp, who reported that Kane "literally fell as a bombshell in the midst of federal officers."