Dr. Charles
Brewer’s Report – Senate Executive Document 42, 1860, pages 16-17
As Capt. Reuben Campbell’s expedition and Cradlebaugh
traveled south from Camp Floyd, the First Dragoons’ Maj. James H. Carleton and
second column marched to the massacre ground from Fort Tejon in California.
With Campbell’s column was U.S. Army Assistant surgeon Charles W. Brewer, who
inspected the bones of the slain emigrants and described their location in
relation to the slain emigrant camp. Dr. Brewer reported what he had found.
KINGDOM in the WEST, The Mormons and the American Frontier – VOLUME 12 INNOCENT
BLOOD, pages 206-207.
BREWER’S
REPORT, IN “MASSACRE AT MOUNTAIN MEADOWS,”
SEN. EXEC. DOC. 42,
1860, 16-17
CAMP
AT MOUNTAIN MEADOWS,
Utah Territory, May 6,
1859
Captain: I have the honor to
report, that this morning, accompanied by the detachment of men furnished by
your orders, I proceeded to inter the remains of the men, women, and children
of the Arkansas emigrant train, massacred by the Mormons at the Mountain
Meadows, Utah Territory, in the month of September, 1857.
At the scene of the first attack,
in the immediate vicinity of our present camp, marked by a small defensive
trench made by the emigrants, a number of human skulls and bones and hair were
found scattered about, bearing the appearance of never having been buried; also
remnants of bedding and wearing apparel.
On examining the trenches or
excavations, which appear to have been within the corral, and within which it
was supposed some written account of the massacre might have been concealed,
some few human bones, human hair, and what seemed to be the feathers of
bedding, only were discerned.
Proceeding twenty-five hundred
yards in a direction N. 15 degrees W., I reached a ravine fifty yards distant
from the road, bordered by a few bushes of scrub oak, in which I found portions
of the skeletons of many bodies – skulls, bones, and matted hair – most of
which, on examination, I concluded to be those of men. Three hundred and fifty
yards further on, and in the same direction, another assembly of human remains
were found, which, by all appearance, had been left to decay upon the surface.
Skulls and bones, most of which I believed to be those of women, some also of
children, probably ranging from six to twelve years of age. Here, too, were
found masses of women’s hair, children’s bonnets, such as are generally used
upon the plains, and pieces of lace, muslin, calicoes, and other material, part
of women’s and children’s apparel. I have buried thirteen skulls, and many more
scattered fragments.
Some of the remains above
referred to were found upon the surface of the ground, with a little earth
partially covering them, and at the place where the men were massacred; some
lightly buried, but the majority were scattered about upon the plain. Many of
the skulls bore marks of violence, being pierced with bullet holes, or
shattered by heavy blows, or cleft with some sharp-edged instrument. The bones
were bleached and worn by long exposure to the elements, and bore the impress
of the teeth of wolves or other wild animals.
The skulls found upon the ground
near the spring, or position of first attack, and adjoining our camp, were
eight in number. These, with the other remains there found, were buried, under
my supervision, at the base of the hill, upon the hill-side of the valley.
At the rate 2,500 yards distant
from the spring, the relative positions and general appearance of the remains
seemed to indicate that the men were there taken by surprise and massacred.
Some of the skulls showed that fire-arms had been discharged close to the head.
I have buried eighteen skulls and parts of many more skeletons, found scattered
over the space of a mile towards the lines, in which direction they were no
doubt dragged by wolves.
No names were found upon any
article of apparel, or any peculiarity in the remains, with the exception of
one bone, the upper jaw, in which the teeth were very closely crowed, and which
contained one front tooth more than is generally found.
Under my direction, the
above-mentioned remains were all properly buried, the respective locality being
marked with mounds of stone.
I have the honor to be, captain,
very respectfully, your obedient servant.
CHARLES
BREWER
Assistant Surgeon United States Army