The Brigham Young Center

Salt Lake City. U.T.
2 August 1870.

Elder Lyman S. Wood.
Springville

Dear Brother:

Your favor of 27th ult has been received. I should consider it far better for bro. Sumsin to compromise the matter with Black Hawk, by making him a present of blankets, or some such thing, if Black Hawk will give up the horse on such conditions, than to create an Indian difficulty by using harsh measures to obtain the animal. Bro. Sumsin, or indeed the settlement, can much more easily make the present, or indeed he can much better go without this particular horse altogether, than bring on an expensive and prolonged Indian war, just to obtain the satisfaction of forcing the Indians to give it up. An Indian difficulty, on our hands at this time would be vexatious and hard to bear, and I greatly desire that the brethren should use every righteous means to keep peace with the Redmen,

Very Respectfully, Your brother,
Brigham Young