Fort Utah

Fort Utah (also known as Fort Provo) was the original settlement at Provo, Utah, United States and was established March 12, 1849. The original settlers were President John S. Higbee, and about 30 families or 150 persons that were sent from Salt Lake City to Provo by President Brigham Young. Several log houses were erected, surrounded by a 14-foot (4.3 m) palisade 20 by 40 rods in size (330 by 660 feet [100 by 200 m]), with gates in the east and west ends, and a middle deck, for a cannon. The fort was first located west of town, but was moved to Sowiette Park in April, 1850. Battle at Fort Utah: In early January 1850, three settlers accused a Ute man by the name of Old Bishop of stealing a shirt. They murdered him and hid his body in the Provo River. The Utes demanded that the settlers turn over the murderers. Brigham Young ordered an attack on the Utes, telling them to kill all the men and take the women and children captive. On February 8, 1850, a militia from Salt Lake surrounded a group of around seventy people at Big Elk. After two days of fighting, the Utes surrendered. The army killed the men and sent the women and children up to Salt Lake as prisoners. This further angered the Utes, which eventually led to the Walker War.