Four generations of Lot Smith's descendants were in Wyoming July 5 to celebrate their ancestor's contributions to the "Utah War" of the mid-1850s.

A half dozen of them participated in a re-creation of a daring raid in which Lot Smith and 30 men set fire to 23 supply wagons, leaving Brevet Col. Albert Sidney Johnston strapped for food, clothing and other necessaries to make it through the Wyoming winter. A day earlier, the Utah men had burned another wagon train with 51 wagons. A third such incident, along with raids on the army's cattle herds, significantly reduced Johnston's supplies.Historians credit the acts of Smith and his Utah Militia with preventing a serious war during the troublesome standoff between Latter-day Saint settlers and the U.S. military. Johnston had been sent to Utah Territory in 1857 to gain control over the Saints, spurred by reports that Brigham Young was setting up an independent "kingdom" in the Great Basin. By destroying property and supplies and burning forts where Johnston might have found shelter, the Utah contingent gave negotiators time to settle the issues and avoid all-out confrontation.

Having their ancestor in the history spotlight for a short time was a great occasion for Smith family members, said Kent Smith of Provo, Utah, who grew up in Arizona where Lot Smith eventually died in a conflict with Indians. Kent Smith is a grandson of Lot.

Bert Smith, Ogden, Utah, a rancher and businessman, was chosen to play his great-grandfather's role in the commemorative drama. That required wearing a long, red beard (artificial) of the type his great-grandfather wore.

The re-enactment was a spiritual experience for him, he said.

"We had a long wait up there (on the stark Wyoming hillside in a blazing sun) waiting to do a little tiny thing. But there was a feeling of contentment. It all came together by the Spirit."

"You couldn't have kept me away," agreed Gary Smith, another generation down Lot Smith's family tree and Kent's son.

Also playing the roles of some of Lot Smith's raiders were Max, Mike and David Smith, great-grandsons, and Karl, a great-great grandson. David and Karl now live in Jerome, Idaho; Mike and Gary in Provo. Max Smith, a grandson who lives in Hawaii, made a trip to Wyoming to take part, arranging in advance for a horse so his role could be authentic. All of the players had to dress and equip themselves authoritatively in order to take part. Other family members came from as far as Alaska and Texas to be part of the event.

The dedication of several interpretative markers at the site by President Gordon B. Hinckley is the outgrowth of work the family did 22 years ago, said Bert Smith. Aware of the history, the family went to Simpson's Hollow and used metal detectors to find what artifacts they could to authenticate the site of the wagon raid.

Even earlier, LDS pioneers had scoured the sites of three wagon raids for wagon wheels and nails, important items in extremely short supply in the infant communities of Utah Territory, he said. The family set a marker at Simpson's Hollow to commemorate the family history.

Bureau of Land Management officials noting the marker decided to expand on the interpretative site to preserve the history to a greater extent.