Utah Centennial County History Series - Piute County 1999

W h e n the fledgling communities of Circleville and Marysvale were little more than two years old, the Black Hawk War swept through much of Utah Territory. Events in Piute County in the years between 1865 and 1867 underline the necessity of understanding both sides of this tragic conflict. As archaeologist Cathy Sude has said: "History is not always a romantic, glorious past filled with great deeds. . . . Sometimes horrible things happen, and our lifestyles today were bought at some terrible prices. It's a crime not to acknowledge this."'

The winter of 1864-65 had devastated all the Paiute and Ute bands that occupied the central regions of Utah Territory. The unusually deep snow took its toll on the wildlife that served as the Indians' basic winter food staples. Almost daily, storms continued through most of April. F.H. Head, the territorial superintendent of Indian affairs, wrote, "The Indians are extremely poor, and like other people, will steal before they will starve." Indian tribes throughout Utah, most of whom initially had welcomed the Mormons, now saw them as intruders who were driving game from traditional hunting