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Show 64 approaches to the settlements would be defended by fortifying the narrow canyons of the Wasatch Mountains. The principle entry point was Echo Canyon on the main road to Salt Lake City. The alternative plan was not expected to be needed. If by some miracle, however, the army did break through into the settlements, the cities and towns of Utah were all to be put to the torch. In fact, everything that would burn was to be destroyed, leaving nothing of use to the invading forces. The citizens would then flee to preselected locations for resettlement in the mountains and deserts, and from there the Mormon militia could fight a guerilla war taking advantage of the narrow mountain defiles and the wide, waterless desert tracts. It was assumed the army, destitute of provisions, would be forced to either submit or retreat. The primary focus of this work is the development and execution of this contingency plan, with its culmination in the expedition to the uncharted central regions of the Great Basin. The White Mountain Expedition evolved out of a long chain of circumstances and developments. The actions along the eastern front are well known and documented, but because !the implimentation of the secondary solution rested on the fate of the primary plan, they are briefly discussed here. Almost from the beginning, Brigham Young declared, "They shall not come here!" The first step was to muster the Nauvoo Legion and strengthen it. On August 1 IGeneral Wells sent a communication to all district commanders of the Legion officially informing them of an invasion and ordering them to hold their units ready to march on a moments notice to any part of the Territory. They were told to\"avoid all excitement, but be ready."8 At that time, there were twelve military districts from one end of the Territory to the other. The strength of the Nauvoo Legion has been variously i! |
