On April 13, 1862, President Lincoln called upon Governor Brigham Young of Utah, through Adjutant-General L. Thomas, to raise, arm and equip a company of cavalry to be employed in protecting the property of the telegraph and overland mail companies in and about Independence Rock, which had been the scene of Indian troubles.  The company was to be organized as follows:  one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, one first sergeant, one quarter master sergeant, four sergeants, eight corporals, two musicians, two farriers, one saddler, one wagoner, and from fifty-six to seventy-two privates.  They were to receive the same pay as that allowed to other United States troops and were to serve ninety days or until they could be relieved by a detachment of the regular army.  The call was responded to with alacrity as the following telegram will show:

“Great Salt Lake City, May 1, 1862.  Adjt. Gen. L. Thomas, U. S. A., Washington City, D. C.   Immediately upon receipt of your telegram of the 28 ult. At 8:30 p.m. I requested General Daniel H. Wells to proceed at once to raise a company of cavalry to be mustered into the service of the United States for ninety days, as per your aforesaid telegram.  General Wells forthwith issued the requisite orders and yesterday the captain and other officers were sworn by Chief Justice J. T. Kinney, the enrolling and swearing in of all privates attended to, and the company went into camp adjacent to this city.  Today the company, seventy-two privates, officered as directed, and ten baggage and supply wagons, with one assistant teamster, deemed necessary, took up the line of march for the neighborhood of Independence Rock.”  (Signed) “Brigham Young.”

The famous Ben Holladay was the proprietor of the overland stage line and upon hearing that the company had been raised he immediately telegraphed his thanks to Gov. Young, and promised that as soon as “the boys” could give protection the mail service would be resumed.  After arriving at their destination Capt. Lot Smith was in constant communication with Gov. Young.  In July Capt. Smith and his company set out from the vicinity of Fort Bridger in pursuit of a band of hostile Indians that had robbed the ranch of a mountaineer named John Robinson.  They penetrated the heart of the Indian country in the Snake River region, marching for eight days on short rations and forced marches.  The only casualty of the expedition occurred July 25, when Donald McNichol in crossing the Lewis fork of the Snake river fell in and was carried down by the stream and drowned.  The company returned to Salt Lake, August 9, and was mustered out Aug. 14.  The expedition, through but one life was lost, and that by accident, was one of the most hazardous in the annals of local Indian warfare.  All expenses incurred were promptly met by the government.

Following is the complete muster-out of the company as they were mustered out and took the oath of allegiance under Col. Collins, in behalf of Col. Graig, Aug. 14, 1862:

Captain – Lot Smith.
First Lieutenant – Joseph S. Rawlings.
Second Lieutenant – J. Q. Knowlton.
First Sergeant – Richard H. Atwood.
Second Sergeant – James M. Barlow.
Sergeants – Samuel H. W. Riter, John P. Wimmer, Howard Spencer, Moses Thurston.
Corporals – Seymour B. Young, William A. Bringhurst, John Hoagland, John Neff, Newton Myrick, Andrew Bigler, Joseph H. Felt, Hiram Clemons.
Musicians – Charles Evans and Josiah Eardley.
Farriers – Ira N. Hinckley and John Helm.
Saddler – Francis Platt.
Wagoner – Solomon Hale.
Privates – Moroni. W. Alexander, William C. Allen, John Arrowsmith, Isaac Atkinson, William Bess, Charles C. Burnham, John R. Benion, Edwin Brown, Francis R. Cantwell, Charles Crismon, Jr., Theodore J. Calkin, Thomas S. Caldwell, John Cahoon, Jess J. Cherry, James H. Cragun, Evert Covert, George Cotterel, Peter Carney, Parley P. Draper, Albert Davis, Joseph Fisher, Moses W. Gibson, Joseph Goddard, William Grant, John Gibson, James Green, Edward Guest, Lewis A. Huffaker, Richard Howe, Thomas. H, Harris, Harvey C. Hullinger, Samuel Hill,  James Hickson, James Imlay , Lars Jensen, Powell Johnson, Hiram Kimball, Jr., Leander Lemon, William W. Lutz, William Longstrought, William Lynch, James Larkins, Thos. Lutz, Reuben P. Miller, Daniel McNicol, Joseph Terry, Edwin Merrill, Hiram B. North, Edward A. Noble, Benjamin Neff, Lewis Osborne, Francis Prince, Hugh D. Park, Lewis L. Polmator, William H. Roades. Landon Rich, Alley S. Rose, John H. Standifird, James H. Steed, Daniel C. Lill, Harlon E. Simmons, Emerson D. Shurtliff, James Sharp, William Terry, Joseph J. Taylor, Bateman H. Williams, Ephraim H. Williams, John H. Walker, James H. Wells, E. Malin Weiler, Adelbert Rice, Samuel R. Bennion.

These men are acknowledged as regular veterans of the Civil war and those living are eligible for membership in the Grand Army of the Republic.  There has been a move in this direction among the wives of these veterans who are now identified with the Ladies of the G. A. R.