Indians of the plan of operations, and place them in ambush, so
that they could not be seen by the emigrants until the work of
judgment should commence. This was done in order to make the
emigrants believe that we had sent the Indians away. The orders
were obeyed, and in five minutes not an Indian could be seen on
the Meadows. They secreted themselves and lay still as logs of
wood, until the order was given them to rush out and kill the
women.

Brother Higbee called the people to order and directed me to
explain the plan to them. I did so, explaining how every person
was expected to act during the whole performance. Brother Higbee
then gave the order for his men to advance. They marched to the
spot agreed upon, and halted there. Brother William Bateman was
then selected to carry a flag of truce to the emigrants and
demand their surrender; I was to go and make the treaty after
someone had replied to our flag of truce. The emigrants had kept
a white flag flying in their camp ever since they saw me cross
the valley.

Brother Bateman took a white flag and started for the emigrant
camp. When he got about halfway to the corral he was met by one
of the emigrants. The two talked some time, but I never knew what
was said between them.

Brother Bateman returned to the command and said that the
emigrants would accept our terms, and surrender as we required
them to do. I then started for the corral to negotiate the treaty
and superintend the business. I was to make certain and get the
arms and ammunition into the wagons. Also to put the children and
the sick and wounded in the wagons, as agreed upon in Council.
Brother Higbee said to me:

"Brother Lee, we expect you to faithfully carry out the
instructions that have been given you by our Council."

Two Danites, Samuel McMurdy and Samuel Knight, were then ordered
to take their teams and follow me into the corral to haul off the
children and arms. The troops formed in two lines, as had been
planned, and were standing in that way, with arms at rest, when I
left them. I walked ahead of the wagons to the corral. When I
reached it I met Mr. Hamilton, one of the emigrant leaders on the
outside of their camp.

CHAPTER XXI - THE BLOOD FEAST OF THE DANITES

It was then noon, or a little after. I found the emigrants
strongly fortified; their wagons were chained to each other in a
circle. In the center was a rifle-pit, large enough to hold the
entire company. This had served t