Mountain Meadows Memorial near Central in Washington County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Surviving Children
Overlook Memorial
— National Historic Landmark - Mountain Meadows Massacre Site —
Photographed By Jeremy Snow, June 13, 2023
1. The Surviving Children Marker
In 1859, Major James H. Carleton interviewed Mrs. Rachel Hamblin, who lived a few miles north of the massacre field. Major Carleton carefully recorded her account of the surviving children, who were brought to her home on September 11, 1857, after witnessing the murder of their parents:
"At length between sundown and dark of the last day, I heard a firing greater than before, and more distinct. This is the time when the last of them were killed.... In about an hour, a wagon drove up to our house containing seventeen children in it, the most of them crying; one, a girl about a year old [Sarah E. Dunlap], had been shot through the arm; and another girl, about four years old [Sarah Frances Baker], had been wounded in the ear; their clothes were bloody.... The little girl who was shot through the arm could not well be moved. She had two sisters, Rebecca and Louisa, one seven and the other five [records show they were ages six and four], who seemed to be greatly attached to her. I persuaded [John D.] Lee not to separate them, but to let me have all three of them. This he finally agreed to, and the children stayed with me, and I nursed the wounded child..... though [she] has lost forever the use of [her] arm. The next day Lee and the rest started up the road with all the rest of the children in a wagon; and the(Marker Number 1.)Indians scattered off."
Click or scan to see
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Women. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 1857.
Location. 37° 28.634′ N, 113° 37.877′ W. Marker is near Central, Utah, in Washington County. It is in Mountain Meadows Memorial. Marker can be reached from Mountain Meadow, 0.2 miles west of County Road 375, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Central UT 84722, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Senator's Recollection (here, next to this marker); The Mountain Meadows Massacre (within shouting distance of this marker); 1990 Mountain Meadows Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Leaders of the Arkansas Wagon Train (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Spanish Trail and The California Road (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Arkansas Wagon Train (about 300 feet away); The Burial Sites (about 300 feet away); Siege, Murder, and Burials at the Emigrants' Campsite (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Central.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2024, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 262 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on February 6, 2024, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context. • A photo of the complete marker. • Can you help?
