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Show 104 use up the troops at Bridger will not the excitement and sympathy which is now raising in the states, be turned against us. Whereas if we only anoy and impede their progress while we "Burn up" and flee, the folly, the meanness of the President will be more apparent and he and his measures more unpopular &c. This is about a fair statement of the subject matter in council There was no definite measure adopted.1' Although Stout admitted that no plan was definitely decided upon, he was clearly infatuated with the plan to "burn up and flee." Apostle George A. Smith, the church historian, wrote in the church's "Manuscript History" under that date that it was Brigham Young's plan "to go into the desert and not war with the people, but let them destroy themselves." Young had obviously had a change of heart, and he was trying to persuade the church and military leadership that the future of the kingdom lay in the passive removal to the deserts. The "council of war" was more of a formality than anything else. It was here that President Young hoped to sell his plans; in reality, his mind was already, made up. Three days before the "council," Young had written to Bishop W. G. Young of Big Cottonwood telling him to defer settlement of Ibimpah Valley for the valleys west of Fillmore. His reason was Indian disturbances in Ruby Valley, but it seems that there may have been another reason. The company from Big Cottonwood was being directed to go into the same region that he had instructed the White Mountain Expedition to penetrate. Brigham Young was already determined to begin removal to the White Mountain country. By the following Sunday, March 21, Brigham Young was ready to unveil his new defense plans and announce to the public his scheme of re-establishing the gathering in the southwest deserts. The snow had cleared up in Salt Lake City, and the morning sun was streaming through hazy skies as the Tabernacle filled for 10 o'clock service. It was not long before it was understood that this |