Description

Battle of the Bulls

It is when we are put to the test that we discover our faith and courage and often that is a sudden event. For example:

It was near the San Pedro River in Southern Arizona that on Dec 11, 1846, a significant event occurred in the history of the Mormon Battalion. The men were camped and for a change had water and adequate food. The hills around the area were teeming with abandoned wild cattle. Some of the men went out to hunt these cattle when all of a sudden pandemonium broke loose. The bulls stampeded down out of the hills and charged through the camp, goring and shoving and just making a mess. They charged into one of the wagons, overturning it. They gored a couple of mules to death. One of the bulls charged a man, hooked a horn into his thigh, and flipped him the length of the bull’s body. Another man was severely bruised when a bull charged him and the horns passed on both sides of his body. Another man was being chased and suddenly just dropped to the ground and the bull leaped over him.

Colonel Phillip St. George Cooke, the commander of the Battalion, mounted on a white mule, watched the fray from nearby, when suddenly, a black bull, about a hundred yards away, charged at Colonel Cooke. Standing near the Colonel was Corporal Lafayette Frost. The bull roared closer and closer, Corporal Frost just stood there. And then when the bull was scarcely 6 paces away, Corporal Frost raised his musket and fired. The bull fell at his feet. To say the least, Colonel Cooke was relieved and impressed. He commended the man for his bravery, but then said he wanted to see no such further acts of bravery.

That story has long impressed me. Courage is not only a most admirable trait but absolutely essential for disciples in the service of the Lord.

Sources:

https://geography.name/the-battle-of-the-bulls/

https://www.thechurchnews.com/1996/12/14/23252907/battalion-fights-battle-of-the-bulls

https://californiapioneer.com/the-mormon-volunteers/

https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/K2QF-81M/lafayette-m-frost-1825-1847