Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Moore, John (1826-1907) to James Kelly

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04194.17 Author/Creator: Moore, John (1826-1907) Place Written: Camp Floyd, Utah Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 June 1859 Pagination: 4 p. ; 23.4 x 17.9 cm. Order a Copy

Gives graphic details of the Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857. Is disgusted that the Mormons "claim remuneration" for maintaining and paying ransom to the Indians for the surviving children. Reports that the Indians claim Bishop John D. Lee raped and murdered a "beautiful girl of 18 or 19" who pleaded for her life. Decries that President James Buchanan forced a pardon on the Mormons when he could have crushed them.

Moore was an army surgeon on duty during the Utah War, 1857-1861. Kelly was the husband of Moore's sister Mary.

Moore, John, 1826-1907
Kelly, James R., 1839-1862
Lee, John D., 1812-1877

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