A score of them left Cedar City with much warlike talk, with many ringing prophecies of confusion to the army now marching against them, and to the man who had sent it.  They cited Fremont, Presidential candidate of the newly organised Republican party the year before, with his catch phrase, “The abolition of slavery and polygamy, the twin relics of barbarism.”  Fremont had been defeated.  And there was Stephen A. Douglas, once their staunch friend and advocate in Illinois; but the year before he had turned against them, styling polygamy “the loathsome ulcer of the body politic,” asserting that the people of Utah were bound by oath to recognise only the authority of Brigham Young; that they were forming alliances with Indians and organising Danite bands to rob and murder American citizens; and urging a rigid investigation into these enormities.  For this slander Brigham had hurled upon him the anathema of the priesthood, in consequence of which Douglas had failed to secure even a nomination for the high office which he sought.

And now Buchanan was in a way to draw upon himself that retribution which must ever descend upon the foes of Israel.  Brigham was at last to unleash the dogs of war.  They recalled his saying when they came into the valley, “If they will let us alone for ten years, we will ask no odds of Uncle Sam or the Devil.”  The ten years had passed and the Devil was taking them at their word.  One of them recalled the prophecy of another inspired leader, Parley Pratt, the Archer of Paradise:  “Within ten years from now the people of this country who are not Mormons will be entirely subdued by the Latter-day Saints or swept from the face of the earth; and if this prophecy fails, then you may know the Book of Mormon is not true.”

Their great day was surely at hand.  Their God of Battles reigned.  All through the Territory the leaders preached, prayed, and taught nothing but war; the poets made songs only of war; and the people sang only these.  Public works and private were alike suspended, save the manufacture of new arms, the repairing of old, and the sharpening of sabers and bayonets.

On the way, to fire their ardour, they were met by Brigham’s proclamation.  It recited that “for the last twenty-five years we have trusted officials of the government from constables and justices to judges, governors, and presidents, only to be scorned, held in derision, insulted, and betrayed.  Our houses have been plundered and burned, our fields laid waste, our chief men butchered while under the pledged faith of the government for their safety; and our families driven from their homes to find that shelter in the wilderness and that protection among hostile savages which were denied them in the boasted abodes of Christianity and civilisation.”  It concluded by forbidding all armed forces of every description to enter the Territory under any pretence whatever, and declaring martial law to exist until further notice.  The little band hurried on, eager to be at the front.