Editing Mountain Meadows Massacre (section)

====War hysteria====
[[File:GeorgeAlbertSmith.jpg|thumb|upright|[[George A. Smith]] [[apostle (Latter Day Saints)|Apostle]] who met the Baker–Fancher party before touring [[Parowan, Utah|Parowan]] and neighboring settlements before the massacre]]
{{Main|War hysteria preceding the Mountain Meadows Massacre}}

The Mountain Meadows massacre was caused in part by events relating to the Utah War, an 1857 deployment toward the Utah Territory of the United States Army, whose arrival was peaceful. In the summer of 1857, however, the Mormons expected an all-out invasion of apocalyptic significance. From July to September 1857, Mormon leaders and their followers prepared for a siege that could have ended up similar to the seven-year [[Bleeding Kansas]] problem occurring at the time. Mormons were required to stockpile grain, and were enjoined against selling grain to emigrants for use as cattle feed.<ref name=PeopleVLee/> As far-off Mormon colonies retreated, Parowan and Cedar City became isolated and vulnerable outposts. Brigham Young sought to enlist the help of Native American tribes in fighting the "Americans", encouraging them to steal cattle from emigrant trains, and to join Mormons in fighting the approaching army.<ref name=Overland>{{cite book |last1=Lyman |first1=Edward Leo |title=The Overland Journey from Utah to California: Wagon Travel from the City of Saints to the City of Angels |date=2004 |publisher=[[University of Nevada Press]] |isbn=978-0874175011 |edition=Hardcover |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Overland_Journey_from_Utah_to_Califo/2Yh5AAAAMAAJ?hl=en}}</ref>{{rp|p=130}}

Scholars have asserted that [[George A. Smith]]'s tour of southern Utah influenced the decision to attack and destroy the Fancher–Baker emigrant train near Mountain Meadows, Utah. He met with many of the eventual participants in the massacre, including W. H. Dame, Isaac Haight, John D. Lee and Chief Jackson, leader of a band of Paiutes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Martineau |first=James H. |title=Correspondence: Trip to the Santa Clara |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |date=September 23, 1857 |volume=9 |issue=5 |pages=3 |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=2576550 |via=[[University of Utah]]}}</ref> He noted that the militia was organized and ready to fight and that some of them were eager to "fight and take vengeance for the cruelties that had been inflicted upon us in the States."<ref name=Overland/>{{rp|p=133}}
Among Smith's party were a number of Paiute Native American chiefs from the Mountain Meadows area. When Smith returned to Salt Lake, Brigham Young met with these leaders on September 1, 1857, and encouraged them to fight against the Americans in the anticipated clash with the U.S. Army. They were also offered all of the livestock then on the road to California, which included that belonging to the Baker–Fancher party. The Native American chiefs were reluctant, and at least one objected they had previously been told not to steal, and declined the offer.{{sfnp|Huntington|1857}}