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of whom now had spouses. Bodil never lost faith in the Gospel nor regretted having left her comfortable home In the spring of 1857. Andrew assisted in taking a load of flour to Green River, not a particularly pleasant journey However, he was able to retrieve his father's wagon and his mother's clothes which she had been forced to leave there the winter before Now he was in possession of the wagon, his assets were slowly accumulating. Problems soon began between the Mormons and the U S government-escalating when two thousand U. S. infantry were dispatched for the Utah territory The Saints started preparing for any eventuality. Some men were sent to Echo Canyon to prepare breastworks, others, including Andrew and about 100 malitia, marched to Soda Springs. Idaho, and camped near Fort Hall for a short while before returning to Brigham City. In late March, 1858. following several false alarms, they were ordered to abandon the northern settlements and move south of Provo Andrew and his family made preparations and left in mid-April. Niels driving Andrew's wagon to Fort Ephraim while Andrew remained in Brigham City as a guard, a captain often, to supervise the burning of homes and destruction of property should they be disturbed by soldiers. While awaiting further developments, a band of Indians camped on the creek with the settlers whom they had come to assist. Andrew had scraped some wheat from the mill This he traded to a squaw for a buckskin and a new red flannel shirt A local tailor fashoned the buckskin into a pair of trousers which, along with the shin, was the first suit Andrew obtained in Utah. In early June, the difficulties with the Government were peaceably settled and the men released to rejoin their families Andrew, carrying his gun and blanket, walked from Brigham City to Fort Ephraim, a distance of about two hundred miles. He and his 84 |
