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Show 103 confirmation of the army's evil intent. One of the ironies of the Utah War i s that, while the two opposing armies faced each other across Echo Canyon, the only blood of the "war" was shed by non-combatants on the periphery of the kingdom. No blood was spilled within hundreds of miles of Johnston's army; but the troops seemed to spawn violence as they approached, leaving such far-flung places as Mountain Meadows and Salmon River to soak up the blood of innocent bystanders. A change was in the wind that would soon propel the White Mountain Expedition into the forefront of Mormon defense opperations. March 18 was a cold and stormy day in Salt Lake City, and the sky seemed to reflect the gloom that had settled in over the city. It was at 2 P.M. that a "council of war" was held in the h i s t o r i a n ' s office. Present were the First Presidency of the church, eight of the twelve Apostles, and t h i r t y officers of the Legion.1" The purpose of the "council" was t o discuss defense strategy and the available options and alternatives open t o them. Hosea Stout recorded the discussion in his diary: ...The object...was to take into consideration the best plan of operations to be adopted to counter act the purposes of our enemies, whether to attack them before they come near us or wait u n t i l l they come near, or whether i t is yet best to fight at a l l only in unavoidable self defense or in case a large force is sent against us this spring whether to fight or burn our houses & destroy everything in and around us and flee to the mountains, deserts &c &c &c It appears that the course pursued hitherto by Gov Young in baffelling the oppressive purpose of Prest Buckhannan had redounded to the honor of Gov Young and the Saints and equally t o the disgrace of the President and his cabinet Mormonsim i s on the ascendancy. If we whip out and |