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Show 74 FROM FORT BRIDGER deur of nature as seen in some parts of the route I passed over not further alluded to, hoping that he may at some fu ture time have an opportunity to see what I saw, but am unable to describe. However, we must glance at some of the salient points as we pass along. Descending a somewhat steep hill we entered a val ley, the head of Echo Canon, which runs thence to the Weber River, a distance of a little more than twenty miles. On either side the land rises by gentle slopes ( but here and there more abruptly) into high hills ; and as we proceeded down it, the graceful declivi ties on the northern side gradually disappeared, and perpen dicular bluffs of a conglomerate of red clay and pebbles, from four hundred to six hundred feet high, were found in stead. At the commencement the canon is nearly a mile wide, but its width gradually lessens until it becomes almost a gorge ; and on the south the hills, which continue sloping on their surface, become steeper and taller. This canon is the great highway through the mountains to Salt Lake Valley, and it was here, about its narrow gorges, that the Mormon army was stationed in ' 57, to prevent the onward march of General Johnston to " Zion." Their position was on the north side of the canon, and on the tall bluffs they erected their rifle- pits, and at the most precipi tous points immense boulders were placed, in such positions as to be easily rolled upon the heads of those who might at tempt to pass below. They also constructed dams across the pass, down which flows a stream so as to flood it to a considerable depth. Some of the breast works and dams still remain. While the precautions thus taken would have ef fectually prevented the onward march of a body of troops along the road, the position of the Saint army was an entirely untenable one. A body of infantry from the hills on the south, which perfectly commanded the rude works, and to the possession of which no obstacles were thrown in the way, could in a short time have dislodged the enemy. But it will be remembered that no fighting occurred, and had our forces approached within threatening distance, the Prophet |