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