66 BOOK OF A HUNDRED BEARS 



The exiles formed a temporary camp at Council 

 Bluffs, Iowa, where they spent the winter of 

 1846-47. And here is a curious thing: From out 

 of that camp of exiles, driven from the country 

 for which their forefathers had fought, and ex- 

 pelled from their homes, a volunteer company 

 was formed that fought bravely for the flag 

 throughout the Mexican War. Despite their 

 wrongs, their love of country was inexpugnable. 



From Council Bluffs, the next spring, the first 

 great exodus set out, and that summer their first 

 settlement was made at what is now Salt Lake 

 City. A more barren, unpromising site could 

 hardly have been chosen. But Brigham Young, 

 who had succeeded Smith, was far-sighted. 

 Already planning that great organization, a com- 

 bination of the Catholic hierarchy and the Stan- 

 dard Oil, he wanted a free hand. If he settled in 

 a desirable region, the gentiles would take it from 

 him. With absolute faith in his own genius as a 

 colonizer and in the thrift and industry of his 

 people, he took the barren sagebrush valley for 

 the future home of the Saints. How well he 



