Comment by mythrwy

This did happen and it was egregious, but there is slightly more to the story (not that it makes it ok).

Years ago in Arizona I worked with a guy who was a descendant of John D. Lee who was the ringleader and later executed for his role in this attack. Lee's Ferry over the Colorado river is named for him also. So I looked into John D Lee a bit.

Here is his account:

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mountainmeadow...

The people in the wagon train were believed to have been those who had burned the Mormons out in Missouri, and although it seems revenge is a more likely motive then fear, there may have been an element of both. At any rate it wasn't just bushwhacking random wagon trains as many passed through the territory at the time.

I found Lee's account an interesting read and his grandson (or great grandson) looked very much like him.