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Show New Marker Commemorates I First Utah Indian Battle j Commemorating the first Indian battle in Utah, a stone and wood marker has been completed by the Utah State Road Commission near the forks of the highway on the west side of Pleasant Grove. The inscription on the marker relates the circumstances surrounding surround-ing skirmish in 1849, between 30 or 40 white men and a band of Indians, on Battle Creek, which was named for that incident. The inscription follows: FIRST INDIAN BATTLE IN UTAH The attitude of the Mormons toward to-ward the Indians differed from that 1 of other Western settlers. The be-i be-i lief that the Book of Mormon is a I record of the American Indians' i forefathers prompted a missionary attitude, and Brigham Young's practical prac-tical advice was: "It is cheaper to feed the Indians than to fight them" In most cases the Mormons succeeded succeed-ed in establishing and maintaining friendly relations. In some instances however, outlaw out-law Indians through depredations caused difficulties which at times led to open battles. The first ser-! ser-! ious trouble occurred in March, 1849, t on the banks of a stream two and " '. one-half miles east of here. John ; Scott "with 30 or 40 mounted men " severely punished a band of rene- , ; gades who had been stealing horses and cattle." While the encounter developed into in-to a lively skirmish, lack of tribal support and the continued friendly ! attitude of Chiefs Sowiette and ! Walker (Wah-kar-ar) ended the ' trouble without any white men being be-ing killed. " The stream upon which the fight occurred was named Battle Creek, ; as was the first settlement there. Later the town became Pleasant Grove. Utah State Road Commission, i The marker, consisting of a large ; 1 sign supported at either end by ! stone pillars, has been erected in a ' location where it will attract the at-!! at-!! tention of motorists. n |