“Before we shall suffer what we have in times gone by we will burn and lay waste our improvements, and you will find the desert here again.  There will not be left one building, nor one foot of lumber, nor a stick or tree or particle of grass or hay that will burn.  I will lay this valley utterly waste in the name of Israel’s God.  We have three years’ provisions, which we will cache, and then take to the mountains.”  The messenger had returned to Fort Bridger and the measures of defense went forward in the valley.

Forces were sent into Echo Canon, the narrow defile between the mountains through which an army would have to pass.  On the east side men were put to building stone ramparts as a protection for riflemen.  On the west, where the side was sloping, they dug pits for the same purpose.  They also built dams to throw large bodies of water along the west side of the canon so that an army would be forced to the east side; and here at the top of the cliff, great quantities of boulders were placed so that a slight leverage would suffice to hail them down upon the army as it marched below.

When word came that the invaders had crossed the Utah line, Brigham sent forward a copy of his proclamation and a friendly note of warning to the officer in command.  In this he directed that officer to retire from the Territory by the same route he had entered it; adding, however, “should you deem this impracticable and prefer to remain until spring in the vicinity of your present position at Black’s Fork or Green River, you can do so in peace and unmolested on condition that you deposit your arms and ammunition with Lewis Robinson, Quartermaster-General of the Territory, and leave as soon in the spring as the roads will permit you to march.  And should you fall short of provisions they will be furnished you upon making the proper application.”  The officer who received this note had replied somewhat curtly that the forces he commanded were in Utah by order of the President of the United States and that their future movements would depend wholly upon orders issued by competent military authority.  Thus the issue was forced.

In addition to the defense of Echo Canon, certain aggressive moves were made.  To Joel Rae was allotted command of one of these.  His orders promised all he could wish of action.  He read them and felt something like his old truculent enthusiasm.

“You will proceed with all possible dispatch, without injuring your animals, to the Oregon Road near the bend of Bear River, north by east of this place.  When you approach the road, send scouts ahead to ascertain if the invading troops have passed that way.  Should they have passed, take a concealed route and get ahead of them.  On ascertaining the locality of the troops, proceed at once to annoy them in every possible way.  Use every exertion to stampede their animals and set fire to their trains.  Burn the whole country before them and on their flanks.  Keep them from sleeping, by night surprises; blockade the road by felling trees, or destroying river fords where you can.  Watch for opportunities to set fire to the grass on their windward, so as to envelope their trains if possible.  Leave no grass before them that can be burned.  Keep your men concealed as much as possible, and guard against surprise.  God bless you and give you success.