Morgan Pioneer History Binds Us Together absent two years, returning again in 1851. He married in 1852, and settled in Davis County, Utah. Now my family were all in Salt Lake except my eldest daughter, Malinda, who went to Texas with her husband shortly after they were married. We resided in peace until 1857 when the word came that the President of the United States was sending an army to the Great Salt Lake to exterminate the Mormons. What had we done worthy of death? We never knew, unless we were like the meek and humble Nazarene. We were only a handful of people; we were going to put up a fight and not let the army shoot us down without any resistance; for we did have that much American blood in us. Our brave, kind, and noble President Young called a council for all the presiding authorities, and a prayer meeting was held, and the attention of the God of Israel called to the case; and in this was our answer. "Be of good cheer, call up your little army and furnish them with your means, and send them forth into the mountains; and I will put the sling of David in their hands, and a hook of iron in the jaws of your enemies, and shall lead them where I will, and there shall be no blood shed." I can testify that proved to be true. The militia was organized, and Daniel H. Wells made general over the little army that went forth into the mountains in the winter of 1857-58. As scouts were Porter Rockwell and Lot Smith. My youngest son, Lyman W. Porter, and my eldest grandson, Alma Porter, went into the little army and were out in the snow all winter. The captain of the scouts was heard to say in speaking of the good of his men, "If you could see the tons of hardtack and crust they devoured up there in the snow, you would think they had grit." These scouts were hard at work all winter helping their enemies, and got up a serenading party to cheer up them all. Porter Rockwell and his partner, Lot Smith, picked fifteen men, and my son, Lyman, was one of them. Porter and these men used four musical instruments, camp pans, tin pans, tied and dried raw hides, and bake over lids rubbed together; and they could all join in a song of lusty yells. The program was to draw as near as possible to their camp, then start the music. They would put spurs to their mules and beef cattle, and keep them going until another party would take them, while the scouts drew to a higher ground from where, as soon as the storm had ceased, they could watch the movements of the old soldiers with their glasses. They saw a squad of soldiers wallowing through the snow, but going in the opposite direction to our scouts, who drew to their camps to rest and enjoy a piece of beef and get fixed for another party. To use my son's own words, it was plain to be seen that the God of Heaven was taking care of the United States Army. He had sent so much snow and cold that it froze the fight right out of them. The general move was made before the delegates returned from Washington, and not a family was to be found anywhere; but they brought goods. (There is no indication in the manuscript from which I am copying, but I surmise a paragraph was left out.) News: A treaty was signed - a new governor for Utah and no hostilities. The army was to come to Salt Lake Valley the latter part of May and the people returned in the fall. The army marched as far as Cedar Valley and made a barrack. They remained for two years, then returned back to serve in the Civil War in 1860. We see now the God of Israel had a hook in the jaws of our enemies and blessed that which seemed to be evil and turned out to be good, for thousands and thousands of dollars were brought to the poor Mormons, and some became almost rich off the army, and no blood was shed, and praise be given to an all wise Father in Heaven. About the year 1858, such heavy snow fell in winter and such high waters followed. This caused an unusual rise in the Salt Lake that most of the farmers in the bottom along the shore for about fifteen miles were damaged by salt water. 1 had to abandon my farm then, and went to the mountains in Morgan County, Utah, where I found the soil good. My boys later joined me in the valley. We made brick and hired men to bum a large kiln. We soon had good houses, and we got along fine in farming and stock raising. In 1860 I was upon the side of a mountain chopping timber. I was felling a tree when my foot slipped and I fell. Before I could gather myself, I fell, breaking my leg above the knee. I was in my seventy-third year, and it was thirty-six hours before we could get a doctor to set it. By that time, it had turned black. The doctor said that my leg would have to come off; I said I and my leg would both go together. I had him set the bone as best as he could and before he bound it up, anoint it well with consecrated oil. Then he and my sons were to administer to me, and if the Lord was willing, I should live and it would heal. If not, it would be all right anyway. But my time had not yet come; my leg healed all right. My greatest trial came when in 1864, my life's partner was taken from me; and a dear, good wife and mother she had always been. Then life lost its interest, but we must all remain until our time comes; and here I close my history and lay down my pen. 138