Instructed in the sacred mysteries revealed to Joseph Smith through the magic light of the Urim and Thummim, and sustained by the divine message engraved on the golden plates he had dug up from the hill of Cumorah, they were now ready to feel their way across the continent and blaze a trail to the new Jerusalem.
They went in military style with due precautions against surprise by the Lamanites--the wretched red remnant of Abraham's seed--that swarmed on every side.
Brigham Young was lieutenant-general; Stephen Markham was colonel; the redoubtable John Pack was first major, and Shadrach Roundy, second.
There were two captains of hundreds and fourteen captains of tens.

The orders of the lieutenant-general required each man to walk constantly beside his wagon, leaving it only by his officer's commands.

To make the force compact, the wagons were to move two abreast where they could.
Every man was to keep his weapons loaded.

If the gun was a caplock, the cap was to be taken off and a piece of leather put on to exclude moisture and dirt; if a flintlock, the filling was to be taken out and the pan filled with tow or cotton.
Their march was not only cautious but orderly.

At five A.M.the bugle sounded for rising, two hours being allowed for prayers and breakfast.
At night each man had to retire to his wagon for prayer at eight-thirty, and to rest at nine.