Mexico Missouri message., 1907-03-14

AZ lehsth burned his train aud len
him.
And so the campaign went forward.
AZ the winter came on colder the
scouts brought in moving tales OF the
enemy's discontinue. Colonel Alex.
ander OF the Federal forces. deciding
that the canyons could be defended
by the Saints. planned to approach
Salt Lake City over roundabout
route to the north. lie started in
heavy snow, cutting n road through
the greasewood and sage brush. OFTEN
his men made but three miles a day,
and his supply-train was so long that
sometimes half OF II would be camped
for the night before the rear wagons
had moved. As there was no cavalry
In the force the hosts OF Israel ha.
rassed them sorely on this march, on
one day consecratlng 500 head OF their
oxen and driving them to Salt Lake.
Albert Sidney Johnston. command
Ing the expedition. had also suffered
greatly with his forces. The early
SHOWS deprived his stock OF forage,
and the unusual cold froze many oxen
and mules
Lieut.. Col. Cooke of the Second
Dragons with whom travelled the
newly appointed governor. was an.
other To suffer. At Fort Laramie so
many Of his animals had dropped out
that numbers of his men were dis.
mounted. and the ambulances used to
carry grain. Night after night they
huddled at the base OF cliffs In the
fearful eddies OF the snow. and heard
above the blast the piteous cries OF
their famished and freezing stock
Day after day they pushed against
the keen blades of the wind. tollng
through frozen clouds and singing
ice blasts. The last So miles to Fort
Bridger had required 10 days. and at
one camp on Blacks fork. which they
called the camp of Death" 500 AMI.
mails perished in a night.
Nor did the hRrdships Of the troops
end when they had all reached what
was to be their winter quarters. Still
a hundred and fifteen miles from the
City Of the Saints, they were poorly
housed against the bitter cold, poorly
fed, and insufiiciently clothed. for the
burning Of the trains by the Lords
hosts had reduced all supplies.
Reports Of this distress were duly
carried to Brigham and published to
the Saints. Their soldiers had made
good their resolve to prevent the Fed.
eral army from passing the Wasatch
mountains. Aggressive operations
ceased for the winter. and the greater
part OF the militia returned to their
homes. 4 small outpost OF 50 men
under the command of Major Joel Rae
who had earnestly requested this
observation-disclosures left to guard the
narrows of Echo canyon and To keep
watch over the enemy during the win.
ter This officer was now persuaded
that the Lords hand was with them.
For the enemy had been wasted away
even by the elements from the time
he had crossed the forbidden line.
In Salt Lake City that winter the
same opinion prevailed. They were
henceforth TO be the free and indie
pendent State OF Deseret.
DO you want TO know" ASKED
Brigham. in the tabernacle. what is
to be done with the enemy now on our
borders? As soon as they start to
come into our settlements. let sleep
depart from their eyes until they
sleep In death! Men shall be secreted
along the route and shall waste them
away in the nara of the God OF Bat
ties. The United States will have TO
make peace with us. Never again
shall we make peace with them"