Lee was a liar and gave ever-changing accounts of the slaughter for the rest of his life. He even claimed that he was the peacemaker during the whole process and that he tried to stop it, when in fact he was one of the instigators. His word cannot be taken for scrap because he gave so many discordant accounts.
However, two of the most recent “authoritative” books on the massacre corroborate that the bodies were placed in shallow graves after being gathered and looted. They gather this information from journals (several different primary sources), etc. of those who buried the dead—many of whom did not participate in the murders.
Again, I’m not apologizing for the event. I’m just trying to stick to the facts as gathered by truth-seeking researchers. Hell, Bagley’s book is certainly not pro-Mormon. One account as given by Lee can be refuted by another that he said he helped bury the bodies, and his testimony hardly stands as the bastion of truth whilst trying to cover his tracks.
His word cannot be taken for scrap because he gave so many discordant accounts.
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How do you feel about Joey Smith and his “vision” ??? “His word cannot be taken for scrap because he gave so many discordant accounts.”
I'm convinced Lee was covering for Brigham Young. In those days, at that time, especially in the days leading up to the Mormon War of 1857, Utah was under martial law imposed by Young and enforced by the Mormon Militia. Nobody did anything of importance or consequence, such as robbing a large wagon train and slaughtering its members, without the knowledge and approval of the Moses of the Mormons.
Lee also had many reasons to keep his mouth shut and protect the Prophet -- not the least of which was the fear of blood atonement against Lee's family members.
That said, it is my understanding Lee remained silent until his conviction, and then only gave the one account, Confessions, in the eight or so month time of his appeal before his execution.