The bloodless war of 1857, when Mormon guerrillas used Russian war tactics to humiliate U.S. forces

Brigham Young’s Guerrilla War Against Federal Forces

Brigham Young Historic Park sits where America almost fought a second civil war before the first one even started.

President Buchanan wanted Young out as Utah’s governor in 1857, so he sent 2,500 troops without telling anyone. Young found out from mail carriers and declared martial law.

His Mormon militia burned supply trains, stampeded cattle, and set grass fires that trapped the federal army at Fort Bridger all winter.

Then Young ordered 30,000 Mormons to abandon Salt Lake City and prepare to burn it down. The army marched through an empty city in June 1858, ending the strangest standoff in American history.

The park’s pioneer sculptures tell the story of how Young’s guerrilla tactics nearly sparked a war.

Buchanan Secretly Decided to Replace Brigham Young

President James Buchanan decided in May 1857 to kick Brigham Young out as Utah’s governor. He picked Alfred Cumming for the job instead.

Buchanan acted after hearing complaints from Judge W. W. Drummond and other federal officials who ran away from Utah.

His cabinet thought the Mormons would fight back if they found out about the change, so they kept Young in the dark.

The president sent 2,500 soldiers under Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston to back up Cumming and make sure the switch happened.

Mormon Mail Carriers Broke the Shocking News

Young learned about the coming army in late July 1857, but not from any official letter. Mormon mail workers spotted the troops and rushed to warn him.

Young got the news while celebrating the tenth anniversary of Mormons arriving in Salt Lake Valley.

Without any word from Washington, the Mormons saw this as more religious bullying like they faced in Missouri and Illinois.

The lack of official notice made things worse, leaving Young to think the worst about why the army was coming.

Young Called for Martial Law as Tensions Boiled

Young declared martial law on September 15, 1857. His order banned all armed forces from entering Utah Territory and stated that Utah was “invaded by a hostile force.”

He called up the Nauvoo Legion, a militia of every able-bodied Mormon man between 15 and 60 years old. The order also required permits for anyone wanting to travel through Utah.

Young quickly set up defense plans, putting militia units at key mountain passes and getting ready for what looked like a coming fight with federal troops.

Mormon Raiders Burned Supply Wagons and Stole Cattle

Major Lot Smith led the first Nauvoo Legion raids on October 5, 1857.

His men burned between 52 and 74 military supply wagons loaded with food and gear for Johnston’s troops.

The Mormon fighters also stole hundreds of government cattle and horses, leaving federal soldiers without transportation or food. They set huge grass fires across the plains to starve the army’s remaining animals.

On September 29, Mormon militia burned Fort Bridger so Johnston couldn’t use it, forcing the army to camp outside as winter came.

Winter Trapped the Hungry Army Near Burned Fort Bridger

Heavy November snowstorms caught Johnston’s army near the ruins of Fort Bridger.

The soldiers quickly built Camp Scott as winter quarters, but faced serious supply shortages after the Mormon raids. Men went hungry, animals died, and morale dropped as temperatures fell.

Colonel Johnston fumed that the Mormons had “placed themselves in rebellion against the Union.”

The army stayed put through the brutal Wyoming winter, waiting for spring to thaw the mountain passes so they could move toward Salt Lake City.

The Army Prepared a Massive Spring Offensive

Buchanan ordered 3,000 more troops to Utah in early 1858 when he heard about the Mormon resistance. This would boost Johnston’s force to nearly 5,000 men, creating the largest U.S. military operation since the Mexican War.

The Mormons called up another 1,000 militiamen and strengthened mountain defenses. Both sides spent the winter getting ready for what looked like certain battle once the snow melted.

The spring thaw would open mountain passes and allow Johnston’s bigger army to march on Salt Lake City.

Mormons Packed Up and Prepared to Torch Their Homes

Young announced his “Sebastopol policy” on March 23, 1858, named after a Russian retreat tactic used in the Crimean War.

He told all 30,000 Mormons in northern Utah to pack needed belongings and move at least fifty miles south to Provo and other towns.

Families left small teams behind with torches and orders to burn every building if the army attacked. The mass move created a crisis as thousands crowded into shared houses, barns, and makeshift shelters.

Young said they would burn everything rather than give their homes to federal troops.

A Daring Diplomat Sneaked Into Utah

Thomas Kane, a Pennsylvania lawyer and friend to the Mormons, reached Salt Lake City in February 1858 after a risky 6,000-mile journey. He traveled under a fake name through Panama and California to avoid being spotted.

Kane met with Young and talked him into accepting Cumming as governor in exchange for peace talks. The diplomat then traveled to Camp Scott and got Cumming to visit Salt Lake City without military backup.

Kane’s unofficial peace mission created the first chance for compromise after months of standoff.

Cumming Got a Surprisingly Warm Welcome

Governor Cumming entered Salt Lake City on April 12, 1858, and found Young ready to hand over power peacefully. Young gave up the governor’s office and official records right away.

Cumming was shocked to find most reports about Mormon rebellion were blown way out of proportion. He wrote to Washington that the Mormons seemed willing to respect federal authority if treated fairly.

The new governor quickly built a good working relationship with Mormon leaders and asked Washington to find a peaceful solution.

Buchanan Offered Forgiveness to End the Standoff

Buchanan picked Lazarus Powell and Ben McCulloch as peace commissioners in early June 1858.

They brought a presidential pardon offering forgiveness for any acts of rebellion if the Mormons would accept federal authority.

Young accepted the pardon on June 12, 1858, though he complained that they had done nothing needing forgiveness.

The deal allowed federal troops to set up a permanent base in Utah Territory but made them stay away from Mormon settlements. Both sides claimed they won while looking for a way to save face.

Empty Streets Greeted Johnston’s Army

Johnston’s army marched through a completely deserted Salt Lake City on June 26, 1858.

The eerie silence of abandoned homes and businesses made a strong impression on the soldiers, who had expected a battle. Federal troops moved on to establish Camp Floyd, forty miles southwest of the capital.

Mormon families slowly returned to their northern homes over the following weeks.

The Utah War ended without a single battle casualty, though the pointless conflict cost the government millions of dollars. Critics soon called the whole affair “Buchanan’s Blunder.

Visiting Brigham Young Historic Park

Brigham Young Historic Park at 100 N State Street offers free admission to explore remnants of Young’s guerrilla resistance during the Utah War.

You’ll find original cobblestone walls from his 1850s farm where he planned his “Sebastopol Policy” against federal troops.

The working waterwheel powered by City Creek and pioneer gardens show how Mormons sustained themselves during the standoff. The park has gated entrance access daily, though special events may limit availability.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• How 1860s settlers turned Paiute sacred springs into a polygamist fortress and hideout in Arizona
• The 13th-century drought that emptied Utah’s most advanced Native American civilization
• How Lyndon B. Johnson turned his cattle ranch into America’s unofficial White House with BBQ diplomacy