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Pioneer Civil War

Pioneer Civil War

The Pioneering Spirit

As we sit in the valleys of the mountains and gaze at the grandeur of our surroundings, it is easy to forget that as the first pioneers entered these valleys 158 years ago, they were greeted not with comfortable homes, green lawns, and tree-lined streets, but with sagebrush flats, sunbaked earth, and the prospect of years of hard work ahead. Some even felt they would rather return back over that gruelling trail than settle in this desolate place. These beautiful valleys we now call home, this thriving economy, this pleasant place to live has been carved out of the desert with hard work, sweat, and tears, a legacy left to us by those hardy progenitors.

In our lives today, it is easy to become complacent, to convince ourselves there is really nothing substantial one person can do to change for the better our environment. Our everyday lives are altered by the scourges of drugs, gangs, pornography, and a whole host of evil that surrounds us. We are afraid to send our children out to play alone. We must be constantly vigilant as our families view television, movies, and the internet. Every day, the news carries stories of every vice imaginable. Yet, we allow ourselves to be content simply to complain about the problems that confront us, not willing to really make a difference.

During the 24th of July commemoration in 1857, exactly 10 years from the day Brigham Young first entered the Great Salt Lake Valley, he received word that the United States Army was headed to Utah to put down a rumored rebellion. Brigham had promised that if the Mormons were able to last ten years in their new home, they would never be driven out. That determination was put to the test on the very day they celebrated their first decade in these mountain valleys.

So, what to do? Should they fight? Should they turn the other cheek again and risk the atrocities they have faced years earlier in Illinois and Missouri? Neither option was acceptable. Brigham needed a plan and he devised one quickly. He called upon Lot Smith, a veteran of the Mormon Battalion and best friend of the legendary Porter Rockwell. Lot’s assignment was to take a small group of men and intercept the army in Wyoming. Their job was not to fight with them and try to turn them back. It was simply to harass them and slow them down to the point they would be unable to reach Salt Lake that year. This would give the rest of the saints an opportunity to make more permanent plans.

Lot and his small band did not back down. They did not take the attitude that they were only a handful against a well-trained, well-armed force sent by the federal government. They just went to work, raiding and burning supply wagons, driving off mules, seizing livestock, and putting a halt to the army’s advance. So successful were these activities that the army was forced to overwinter at Fort Bridger on the high plains of Wyoming. Not that this was a respite. The raiding party had arrived before the army and burned all the buildings. By the time Johnston’s army reached Salt Lake the following spring, negotiations were underway and hostilities were averted. So, rather than this being an occupation, it became a financial boon to the pioneers who were able to trade produce and livestock for wagons and teams. Then, when the army pulled out just three years later to participate in the Civil War, much of their equipment and supplies were left behind. Did this small band of men fighting a worthy cause make a difference? Absolutely!

Recently, a brother-in-law who had transferred from Utah to the Seattle area noticed a billboard that was particularly offensive and obscene. Upon making inquiries as to how to get it removed, he was told the advertisers had a constitutional right to advertise in this manner and that the billboard would not be removed. That answer was simply not acceptable, so with an aggressive, can-do type attitude, he made some phone calls, rallied support and eventually got the billboards removed from his city. They were then relocated into some adjoining cities. But, through the attention this issue had received from the media, citizens of these cities determined they didn’t want that obscenity in their area either. Eventually, the billboards were removed completely from that market. It is certainly refreshing to see the Bill of Rights work in favor of, and not against, decent Americans trying to stem the tide of lewdness and obscenity.

It is this can-do attitude, this pioneering spirit of our forefathers, that we so desperately need in our communities today. There is much we can do to create a safe, welcoming environment that will last into the next century and provide a better tomorrow for our children. First, we can look to our heritage, to the examples of pioneers past. But, that is not enough. We need pioneers for our present day. We need heroes today we can look to, heroes our children can look to, emulate and idolize. We need to be those heroes.

We must not allow ourselves to believe that we cannot make a difference. We must not give in to that selfish attitude which says,” I am alright, so I will not worry about planning for the future of my family or community.” This is our time, our opportunity to contribute, and our responsibility to look to the future of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Then, they will look back on us, on our contributions, struggles and sacrifices, and honor us just as we do those wonderful pioneers who began the fight 158 years ago.

About the Author

Find out more about Utah Representative Mike Morley at his web site.

Civil War Re-Enactment Pioneer Days 2008

Moss Bluff Rebel : A Texas Pioneer in the Civil War $24.95 No Synopsis Available

Grey Civil War Kepi $19.99 Grey Civil War Kepi

Blue Civil War Kepi $19.99 Blue Civil War Kepi

Civil War Video Quiz (DVD) $94.77 CIVIL WAR VIDEO QUIZ

The Civil War Tickets $60 Buy The Civil War tickets. TicketNetwork.com gets you in!

Civil War General Mustache in Black – Civil War Costume Accessories $9.04 This Civil War General Mustache will complete any civil war costume.

The Civil War $17.04 This translation of Caesar`s classic account of the civil war of 48 BC begins with his defiance of the Senate`s decree that he relinquish command of his armies in Italy, and culminates in his defeat of Pompey at the battle of Pharsalus. The Roman civil war changed forever the course of the Roman republic, and of the world as well. Caesar is shown to be both a master general and a master historian in these commentaries, or reports, that were written for the general public back in Rome.

Secrets Of The Civil War $24.06 Rated: NASynopsis: Nearly a century and half have passed since Lee surrendered at Appomattox, but the words and images created during the Civil War still bring home the impact of the bloodiest conflict seen on American shores. Now, HISTORY reveals the lesser known aspects of the civil war in 9 compelling documentaries: Tales of the Gun: Guns of the Civil War, The Lost Battle of the Civil War, The Most Daring Mission of the Civil War, April 1865, Battlefield Detectives: The Civil War: Antietam, Battlefield Detectives: The Civil War: Gettysburg, Battlefield Detectives: The Civil War: Shiloh, Secret Missions of the Civil War, and Eighty Acres of Hell.

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The Civil War (Paperback) $19.23 Explores the history of the Civil War, including the important players, battles, and consequences.

Civil War The $34.39 Rated: NASynopsis: THE HISTORY CHANNEL PRESENTS: THE CIVIL WAR is the definitive collection of programming on the War Between the States. Utilizing rare diary entries, photographs, and modern-day reenactments, THE HISTORY CHANNEL explores every aspect of this great conflict.From Harper’s Ferry, Fort Sumter, and First Bull Run to Shiloh, Antietam, and Gettysburg, THE HISTORY CHANNEL PRESENTS: THE CIVIL WAR captures the most legendary Civil War battles in brilliant detail. A sweeping selection of the soldiers and legendary leaders who fought these battles, including Sherman, McClellan, Grant, Beauregard, Lee, Davis, and Jackson, are also brought back to life in richly detailed profiles. Through interviews with scholars and historians, reenactments, and their own written words, the full military and political contexts of these men, their armies, and the clashes between them are thoroughly explored.Nearly a century and a half has passed since Lee surrendered at Appomattox–but the words and images contained in this collection continue to bring home the impact of the bloodiest conflict seen on American shores.

Timeline of the Civil War (Paperback) $28.92 Presents a timeline of the Civil War, including causes of the conflict, the life of soldiers on both sides, and the end of the war.

Reminiscences of a Pioneer (Dodo Press) $20.46 William G. Thompson (18401904) served two terms as mayor of Detroit, Michigan, from 1880 to 1883. He was also a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Michigan in 1880. He also served as Staff Officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is interred at Princeton Cemetery in Princeton, New Jersey. Author: Thompson, Colonel William Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 144 Publication Date: 2009/06/01 Language: English Dimensions: 9.00 x 6.00 x 0.34 inches

This War So Horrible : The Civil War Diary of Hiram Smith Williams, 40th Alabama Confederate Pioneer $24.33 No Synopsis Available

War Zone American Civil War $13.77 Rated: NASynopsis: Learn about events leading up to the Civil War the great battles and courageous Commanders.

The Civil War (Hardcover) $51.55 Introduces the American Civil War, detailing the war`s causes, key battles, notable generals and other persons involved in the war, and how the end of the war affected life in the United States.

Civil War on Sunday (Paperback) $10.27 Jack and Annie are transported by their magic tree house to the time of the Civil War where they meet Clara Barton.

The Civil War Vault $72.05 Presents a history of the Civil War along with replicas and memorabilia of battlefield and strategic maps, letters and diaries, and newspaper and periodical clippings.

Women and the Civil War (Hardcover) $60.56 Discusses the work of women as spies, scouts, disguised soldiers, nurses, farmers, capitalists, and workers during the Civil War.

Civil War Miscellany (Hardcover) $32.8 Whether novice or buff, readers across the spectrum will find unique and entertaining bits of trivia, facts, and lore about key Civil War battles in Civil War Miscellany, a collection of the unusual from Civil War author Martin Graham. From the identification of key troop locations during seminal battles of the Civil War, to details about monuments, to facts about Union and Confederate officers, readers will find myriad bits of fun and fascinating information in this unique collection. Quizzes peppered throughout the book allow readers to test their knowledge.

Savannah Civil War Walk $13.5 It is the story of the Civil War, pitting brother against brother, which has intrigued Americans since its inception. On this guided tour, you will see and hear about Civil War in Savannah and the ramifications that plagued the country a century after the war.

A Ballad of the Civil War $10.27 Just before the Civil War, nine-year-old twin brothers (the sons of a rich plantation owner) share everything–except the same opinion on slavery. When the Civil War begins, the brothers go to war on opposite sides–and find themselves battling one another.

Civil War General Moustache in Grey – Civil War and Cowboy Costume Accessories $4.84 This Civil War General Moustache in Grey is made of curly hair and makes a distinguished addition to any Southern Gentleman, Civil War or Cowboy costume!

Civil War General Moustache in Brown – Civil War and Cowboy Costume Accessories $9.07 This Civil War General Moustache in Brown is made of curly hair and looks perfect added to any Southern Gentleman, Civil War or Cowboy costume!

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