This week is historically significant Utah week, and we dive deep into the Utah War and its ties to the creation and subsequent destruction of Camp Floyd. It all started in the mid 1850s when the federal government had a growing concern for the Utah territory’s growing obstinance for federal law. Brigham Young had been declared governor, much to the chagrin of then President James Buchanan. See the Mormon’s had eyes for creating their own country in the middle of the United States, and given the rising tensions with the South, the feds didn’t want an excuse for them to grow stronger and have a better case for secession. So President Buchanan ordered troops to head to Utah.
The Mormon militia at the time, known as the Nauvoo Legion, was directed by Young to harass the approaching army. They succeeded in delaying the army for a year, entrance into the Salt Lake Valley. Burning fields and wagons, scattering the army’s livestock and stopping supply trains turned out to be an effective tactic. But the US Army finally marched into Salt Lake City on June 26, 1858, just a month shy of when they set out to stop the Mormon uprising in Utah.
The army ends up setting up a camp between Salt Lake and Provo, and Brigham Young agrees to give the governance to a federally supported man, Alfred Cumming. But the story doesn’t end there, Camp Floyd was built, and infused money into the very economy and people that the army was sent to stop. Sadly all that stands today is small outline of the fort and the cemetery.
It’s easy to learn more, simply check out the Issuu.com story, its perhaps the most comprehensive we found. There are some other great sites to get quick factoids, over at AmericanHistoryCentral.com.
We also discuss the Utah drought at length. Most of the state is in an Exceptional Drought state. The drought is worse than the dust bowls of the 1930s. We urge everyone to please not light fireworks this year. Go to a planned show and enjoy fireworks your money couldn’t buy anyways. You can check out Unified Fire for a current restriction map of the Salt Lake Valley. We also encourage you to visit Slow The Flow and learn how to conserve water as best you can.
Please don’t forget to check out the Food Truck Passport, courtesy of the Food Truck League, 30 local food trucks and other sponsors. It’s a great way to support a bunch of local charities. Lastly a huge shout out to our friends at The Neighborhood Hive. They managed to fully fund their Kickstarter and are well on their way to a fantastic new opportunity for them and other small businesses around town.
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