The True Story Behind ‘American Primeval,’ Explained

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In a natural and easy-to-read manner,

American Primeval is a six-part miniseries on Netflix that features Shae Whigham, Taylor Kitsch, Kim Coates, and Betty Gilpin. It delves into the raw and unforgiving existence of life on the American frontier. This Western series has roots in real events that transpired in Utah during the 1850s, and it vividly portrays the same levels of brutality and resilience demonstrated by those who survived such times.

It’s no shock to fans of Mark L. Smith, the creator and writer of American Primeval, that the depiction of violence in the show is intense. Smith collaborated with director Alejandro G. Inarritu on the 2015 film The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which, like American Primeval, was inspired by the life of a real frontiersman named Hugh Glass. Both works are known for their graphic portrayals of violence, with The Revenant famously showcasing a brutal bear attack scene.

In making the miniseries titled “American Primeval“, director and executive producer Peter Berg, along with other creators, made a significant effort to maintain authenticity by enlisting an Indigenous cultural advisor and conducting thorough research. Although the series does not cover every event of the Utah War that took place between 1857 and 1858, it heavily incorporates significant incidents such as the Mountain Meadows Massacre in September 1857.

During the Utah War of 1857 and 1858, Mormons Attacked Other Mormons to Try to Preserve Their Way of Life

At the start of American Primeval, Sara Rowell (Betty Gilpin) and her son Devin (Preston Mota) are heading towards Fort Bridger, which is run by Jim Bridger (Shae Whigham), a well-known frontiersman in the American West. By 1857, when the story of American Primeval unfolds, Bridger had already dealt with complex relationships for many years, involving Native American tribes, Mormon settlers, and soldiers sent by the government, which were typical during the Utah War.

In Utah Territory, governed by Brigham Young (Kim Coates), tension arose which led to the mobilization of the Mormon militia known as the Nauvoo Legion. This group was commanded by Captain James Wolsey (Joe Tippett) in American Primeval, but it’s important to note that John D. Lee was the true leader during that period. John D. Lee had a close relationship with Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and served as a missionary. He also baptized Wild Bill Hickman (Alex Breaux).

By September 1857, Lee and his fellow militia leader Isaac C. Haight enlisted members of the Southern Paiute tribe to confront a party of Mormons known as the Baker-Fancher group who were traveling through Mountain Meadows. The Baker-Fancher group had embarked from Arkansas in early 1857, gathered more travelers in Missouri, and intended to settle in California. Their brief halt at Mountain Meadows coincided with Governor Young’s declaration of martial law in Utah Territory.

As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: In the Utah Territory, to us outsiders, the Baker-Fancher party were perceived as a potential threat by the Nauvoo Legion and the Mormon community. The arrival of a new governor, though not widely known at the time, would have only heightened their sense of isolation. The atmosphere was tense with a looming sense of unease, and it’s unclear if Governor Young ordered the attack, but the fear was palpable. However, what is clear is that Mormons within the Nauvoo Legion disguised themselves as Native Americans and, along with the Paiutes, launched an assault on the roughly 120 members of the Baker-Fancher party.

The Mountain Meadows Massacre Was One of the Deadliest Events of the Utah War

In episode one of American Primeval, an event similar to the Mountain Meadows Massacre occurred. As depicted on the show, the Nauvoo Legion ambushed a party of Mormon settlers at Mountain Meadow. Following five days of conflict, the survivors tried to surrender. Once disarmed, the remaining members of the Baker-Fancher group were led away, but they were treacherously attacked again by a group that included Mormons disguised as Native Americans. According to an account from Nancy Huff, who was four years old at the time, this attack took place.

[Men started] slaughtering everyone they encountered… I witnessed my mother being fatally shot in the forehead. The women and children shrieked and huddled together. Some of the young women pleaded with the killers as they fled, begging them to spare their lives, but they showed no compassion, brutally executing them with their guns or clubs.

As a movie reviewer, I’d rephrase it this way: Calvin Miller, just six years old, witnessed his mother’s tragic demise and lost five of his siblings. Emberson Milium Tackitt, another child in similar circumstances, believed he was about to meet his end and sought refuge with a white man, pleading for compassion. Later on, Private William Young, who played a role in the events, testified during the investigation into this heart-wrenching massacre.

I observed as they brutally murdered a young boy using stones. Additionally, I noticed an Native American man carrying two girls, one in each arm. He was amidst a group of other Natives, and I lost sight of the two girls among them.

17 individuals who survived the Mountain Meadows Massacre were all children. Following this tragic event, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Utah, Jacob Forney, discovered three locations where the deceased were buried. Additionally, he reported finding scattered across the ground skulls, bones, and hair belonging to the victims.

As a movie enthusiast, I can estimate that approximately 106 individuals, including men, women, and children, were involved. A bit farther along this valley, about one to two miles, there were two or three who tragically perished while trying to flee up the hill. Additionally, three managed to escape initially but were later pursued and ultimately met their end further down.

Fort Bridger Was Sold to Brigham Young and Burned to the Ground to Maintain His Authority

At the conclusion of “American Primeval”, Fort Bridger, initially established by Jim Bridger and Louis Vasquez, had a change in ownership. Prior to the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Bridger sold it to Brigham Young. In the year 1855, they received $8,000 for Fort Bridger. However, some sources claim that Bridger himself was not part of the sale transaction. Nevertheless, the Mormon control of this strategic trading post allowed Governor Brigham Young to prevent the U.S. Army from taking over it.

During the Utah War of 1857 and 1858, Bridger took on a job with the U.S. Army. In 1857, Mormons set fire to Fort Bridger, but it didn’t get completely demolished. Since then, federal troops used it as a storage facility for supplies. Notably, Brigham Young relinquished his role as governor in 1858 and was succeeded by Alfred Cumming.

It wasn’t until many years had passed that John D. Lee faced justice for the events at Mountain Meadows. In 1870, he was expelled from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and banished. He was the one who was accused of orchestrating the massacre, and in 1874, federal officials arrested him. During his trial, he accepted his fate without a defense. Found guilty of murder and sentenced to death, Lee was transported to the scene of the Mountain Meadows Massacre and hanged there on March 28, 1877.

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2025-01-13 04:31