(44) Johnston's Army and guards, Winter 1857

The following song tells of when Johnston’s Army was coming to the Valley, and of the activities of the guards while they were in and around Echo Canyon during the winter of 1857.⁷⁰     

SONG COMPOSED BY ZEMIRA PALMER while at Echo Canyon

1-I’ll sing you a song of a soldier’s make,

About our late campaign.

The devil’s alive and wide awake,

Striving to send men and means from the States,

To rob us of peace again.

2-On the 15th of August we did start,

To meet the haughty foe,

From home and friends we were called to part,

With an eager step and a joyous heart,

We hastened far to go.

3- We traveled along o’er mountains high,            

And canyons deep and drear

Through mucky dells or sand hills dry,     

And desert plains our course did lie,

Yet onward we did steer.

4- When camped at night I’ll tell you our fare,

We on the ground did lay,

Or standing our guard in the chilly air,

With little to eat and less to wear,

We anxiously looked for the day.

5-At length we arrived at the Devil’s gate

Our foes had not yet come         

But men and means bound for Salt Lake, 

With loads of provisions and trains of freight,

Were steadily rolling on.

6-  At length our foes came up in sight                   

And glad we would have been,

To pounce upon them, with all our might,

But Captain Clark wouldn’t let us fight,

For that was not the plan.

7- What was the plan? you eagerly ask,

Well, sometimes we would lie

Down in the brush, the sage, or grass,    

And steal their teams as they walked past,

Then away to the mountains we’d hie.

8- At other times we’d go on a scout,

All under the cover of night,

And burn their trains of provision up,

And take the last mule and ox they’d got,

When the soldiers were out of sight.

9- In this way you see, we wiped them out,         

Without the loss of a man.

And God be praised, for He no doubt,

By revelation His servants taught

This wise and noble plan.

10 - They’ve spent much means to go to war       

But little have they done.

They may winter with the grizzly bear,

The Wolverine and the mountain hare,

But here they cannot come.

11-And now we’re returned back home again,     

To all we hold most dear,           

And we render thanks to His holy name, 

Who supported and Who sustained

Our friends and our families here.

12- There is one thing more I wish to name,

There is Captain Clark and Co

And if by chance they should want us again,

To stop our enemy on the plain,

We’re on hand and ready to go.

13- We heed not the frost, nor the snow that flies

We heed not the angry foe,        

We’re stout and hearty and good of our size

We’re fond of the girls and our own dear wives,

But please excuse me, do,

14- For it always was, and ever will be

With Saints of God on earth,

No matter whether on land or sea,

Abounding in wealth or in liberty,

They’re full of joy and mirth.

At any rate, the result of all the Mormon soldiers’ activities was that Johnston’s army didn’t enter the Mormon territory that winter. But the army personnel weren’t the only ones who suffered that winter.  The wives and families of the Mormon men went through much hardship doing the chores, keeping enough wood chopped and available, providing food, trying to manage while their husbands and older sons were away from home guarding and protecting them. 

70- Dec. of G. Palmer & P. Draper, p. 453 – Zemira’s ballad