By this time the army was in what is now Wyoming, and was making for Echo canyon.  Small companies of Utah men were sent out to meet them.  They were instructed to annoy the invaders as much as possible, to burn the grass, drive off their cattle, etc., but they were to shed no blood if it were possible to prevent it.  These orders were followed, and many exciting encounters and narrow escapes took place.  Major Lot Smith, with a small company of men, at one time rode up to a large wagon train carrying supplies for the army.  After capturing the drivers, they set fire to and destroy the whole train.  Herds of cattle were driven off to Salt Lake valley, where they were kept during the winter and taken back to the soldiers in the spring.

Winter came early that year, and in the mountains where the armies were, the weather became very cold, with snow and sleet.  The government troops made but little progress.  They tried hard to reach the valley; but at last they were compelled to stop for the winter in the mountains of western Wyoming.

This was all the Utah leaders wanted.  Now there would be time for finding out the truth.  Most of the militia returned home, leaving fifty men as a guard in Echo canyon.

When the government at Washington heard the news from the seat of the “war” there was considerable excitement, and Congress voted to send another army to aid the first one.  Meanwhile the people of Utah were anxiously waiting for spring and preparing for the conflict which they thought must then come.

Topics.—­1.  Character of some territorial officials. 2.  The army for Utah. 3.  What the “Mormons” thought of the army. 4.  How the army was stopped.

Questions and Review.—­1.  Who was Judge Drummond? 2.  What report did he make to the government about Utah affairs? 3.  What led President Buchanan to send an army to Utah? 4.  What was the object of sending this army? 5.  When did the Saints first hear of it? 6.  What did the “Mormons” resolve to do? 7.  Why could they not trust the army? 8.  What did the Utah militia do? 9.  What was the object in annoying the troops? 10.  What hindered the troops from entering Salt Lake valley that year?

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE “UTAH WAR,” (CONCLUDED.)

When that friend of the Latter-day Saints, Colonel, afterwards General Thomas L. Kane, heard of the troubles in Utah, he left his home in Philadelphia and went to Washington to see the president.  Though feeble in health, he offered to go to Utah and try to settle the difficulties in a peaceable manner.  The offer was accepted.  Colonel Kane arrived in Salt Lake City in February, 1858, where he was gladly received.  In the cold and snow of that winter he went to the camp of the army and had a talk with the new governor whom the president had appointed to take Brigham Young’s place.  Colonel Kane told the officers with the army that they would be welcomed in the valley and kindly treated, but the troops must not locate in or near any settlement of the territory.  The Colonel also convinced Governor Cumming that he had no need of an army to help him take charge of his office, and even prevailed on him to go back to Salt Lake City with him.