Presidents Office
Great Salt Lake City
Jun 18th, 1867.
Hiram B. Clawson, Esq.
Box 3957, Post Office, New York.
Dear Brother:
The last we heard from you was through your telegram, sent from Omaha on the 8th instant, which we did not receive until the 11th instant. It was a satisfaction to receive it; for although we were convinced that you would go through in safety, we did not know what annoyances and detentions you might be subjected to before you reached the river. The story was afloat in town, so I heard after your telegram arrived, that your party had been attacked by Indians, and some of you were killed and the others were captured.
Our prayers have been offered up for the brethren who have been and still are traveling, and we feel that they will be heard. If our people are vigilant, we do not have any idea that they will suffer loss or be interrupted by any hostilities on the plains.
Since your departure the Indians have made a raid on the stock of Fountain Green, San Pete County, and driven off a number, killing one young man and wounding another. From all we hear gross carelessness was the cause of the Indians getting this advantage. An express was immediately sent to Moroni, where there was a telegraph office, and a dispatch was forwarded to Mount Pleasant. A company of men started immediately to intercept the Indians; but were a few minutes too late. They pressed on their rear, however, so hard that the Indians abandoned their tired horses, jumped on those they had been driving, shot what stock they could and rode on. The brethren recovered some twelve head of cattle and five horses alive.
Four of the brethren who went down with the command from this county and Utah county rode up from Gunnison to Manti on some business, and to communicate by telegraph with their commander, Gen. W.B. Pace, who had returned to Provo on business. They left Manti to return to their camp at 6 p.m. When they reached Twelve Mile Creek they were ambushed by Indians; two of their number -Major John W. Vance of Mountainville and Serjeant Heber Houtz -- were killed and Capt. Orson P. Miles and Nathan Tanner, Jr., barely escaped. They were chased some distance by the Indians. The Indians made a raid on the Stock of Beaver last Thursday evening. The report is that they came within half a mile of the town in doing so. Our people will have to be vigilant with such a wily foe as the Indian to deal with, if life and property be properly cared for.
Though these events to which I have alluded are deplorable and have brought grief to manyhearts still we can acknowledge the hand of the Lord even in these circumstances. The cry has been raised in many quarters when the Indians have been hostile on the plains and have attacked trains &c -and destroyed life and property, that we were in league with them and were inciting them to those deeds of violence. Were we to be at peace with them now, and were not suffering ourselves from their depredations and attacks, our enemies would be very likely to raise the old cry and reiterate the old charges and a feeling of suspicion and hatred would likely be engendered against us. But as matters are now their anger is disarmed. We have Indian difficulties as well as they.
Quietness prevails in the city. Business continues dull, though flour is some firmer than it was. Grasshoppers are doing damage in Cache Valley. The water is very high in all the creeks in this county and in Jordan. We have had refreshing rain rendering irrigation unnecessary up to the present. Your family and all the folks are well.
Accompanying this please find a bill of articles which I wish you to purchase and forward.
With love and praying the Lord to bless and preserve you and bring you home in safety and peace
I remain
Your Brother
If Bro Davis has not returned I want to get a fulling Mill, such a one as he describes in a letter to Bro. Smoot. Let me know by telegraph your success in collecting money for me from the Western Union Telegraph Company. I shall deposit <funds> with Bro. Eldredge to send to you.
Great Salt Lake City, June 19/67.
Bill of Telegraph Materials to be purchased in the East by H.B. Clawson:-- of the most approved kinds.-- viz:
25 Telegraph Keys.
10 Sounders
2 Repeating Sounders
1 Repeating Switch
20 Bradley Relay magnets
40 Cut off switches
2 Pocket Instruments.
3 doz. letter clips
2 dox hand vises
2 doz pairs pulley Blocks
3 doz. Telegraph plyers
3 " Telegraph connectors
50 lbs Gutta percha office
6 " Battery brushes
wire
4 large flasks Mercury
3 small flasks Mercury
250 Grove Zincs
400 local Zincs
20 ten gallon Carboys Nitric Acid
1500 lbs Sulphate Copper
5000 Envelopes, (cheap)
If you can get "Deseret Telegraph" printed on the upper edge of these envelopes at a cheap rate please do so
For Tannery--
3 round Picking brushes
1/2 doz Scouring
1/2 doz large scouring brushes
[?]
1 Cork grain board
3 Scotch grey carrier's clearing stones.