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Show 198 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS The spring of 1866 found the military spirit at its highest pitch. Division, brigade and regimental musters and elections were held in almost every county in Utah and reorganization of the entire militia in Utah was effected. Among the promo-tions and changes occurring about this time may be mentioned the election of Brigadier- General Brig-ham Young, Jr. of Salt Lake County, Brigadier- General Lot Smith of Davis County, Major- General Aaron Johnson, and Brigadier- General Wm. B. Pace and Albert K. Thurber of Utah County. The interest manifested on these occasions explains the readiness with which the people responded to the call to arms and the efficiency of the service ren-dered in the Indian campaign of 1866. The earliest calls upon the northern counties had not been for armed assistance to chastise the rene-gades and wreck vengence upon them, but for men to aid the settlers in pro tecting themselves and their stock until they could reach places of safety; but the increasing boldness of the marauders rendered decisive action necessary. The entire abandonment of the southern counties, to be followed by a general Indian war, seemed to be the only alternative. Steps were accordingly taken to place the settlements south and east of Salt Lake City in a state of defense, and troops were ordered to the scene of hostilities. By the 1st of May, 1866, several companies from Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties were on the march, and on arriving in Sanpete county they reported to Bri-gadier- General Warren S. Snow. A company of cavalry from Salt Lake City under Colonel Heber P. Kimball and Major John Clark, reached Manti on the 5th of May, and was ordered to march up the |
