In addition to Parowan , Smith 's tour included visits to Cedar City and Santa Clara . The group stopped at Mountain Meadows to eat dinner on August 20 with a group of resident missionaries . Smith addressed a group of Indians in Santa Clara , counseling them that " the Americans " were approaching with a large army , and were a threat to the Indians as well as the Mormons . Riding in a wagon afterwards , John D. Lee said he warned Smith that the Indians would likely attack emigrant trains , and that Mormons were anxious to avenge the blood of the prophets , and according to Lee , Smith seemed pleased , and said " he had had a long talk with Major Haight on the same subject . " Isaac C. Haight , Cedar City stake president , and second in military command under Dame , met with Smith again on August 21 . Haight told Smith he had heard reports that 600 troops were already approaching Cedar City from the East , and that if the rumors were true , Haight would have to act without waiting for instructions from Salt Lake City . Smith agreed , and " admired his grit " . Smith later said he was uncomfortable , perhaps " on account of my extreme timidity " , because some of the militia members were eager that " their enemies might come and give them a chance to fight and take vengeance for the cruelties that had been inflicted upon us in the States " , such as the Haun 's Mill massacre , where 18 Mormons were killed in 1838 in a skirmish with the Missouri militia during the Mormon War
Haun 's Mill massacre
Haun's Mill massacre
George A. Smith