to say the "Mormons" availed themselves of this license. At
short intervals in the course of the night-passage through the
canyon, the party was challenged, and the password demanded;
bon-fires were blazing down in the gorges, and the impression was
made that the mountains were full of armed men; whereas the
sentries were members of the escort, who, preceding by short cuts
the main party, continued to challenge and to pass. On their
arrival, the gentlemen were met by the retiring officials, and
were peaceably installed. The new governor called upon the clerk
of the court, and ascertained the truth of the statement that the
records were entirely safe. He promptly reported his conclusions
to General Johnston that there was no further need for the army.
It was decided, however, that the soldiers should be permitted to
march through the city, and straightway the "Mormons" began their
exodus to the south.

Governor Cumming tried in vain to induce the people to remain,
assuring them that the troops would commit no depredations. "Not
so," said Brigham Young, "we have had experience with troops in
the past, Governor Cumming; we have seen our leaders shot down by
the demoralized soldiery; we have seen mothers with babes at
their breasts sent to their last home by the same bullet; we have
witnessed outrages beyond description. You are now Governor of
Utah; we can no longer command the militia for our own defense.
We do not wish to fight, therefore we depart." Leaving a few men
to apply the brand to the combustibles stored in every house, at
the first sign of plunder by the soldiers, the people again
deserted their homes and moved into the desert anew.

But the officers of the army kept their word; the troops were put