The army's orders were to support the instalment of the new governor, using force as necessary as resistance was expected based on the official's reports.

Smith led a group of Nauvoo Legion rangers east across Wyoming along the stretch where the California, Oregon and Mormon Trails merge.

Then, in one night, Smith and his men burned three wagon trains of supplies (food, clothing, gunpowder and whiskey for an entire army).

Lot Smith and his rangers held off the Federal soldiers until an early blizzard and cold winter weather set in.

Smith's efforts and the weather stopped the army - without Mormon troops harming any soldiers on the Federal side.

A diplomatic settlement brokered by Col. Thomas L. Kane and the Utah War Peace Commission, allowed Governor Cumming to take office peaceably and protected the civilian population from the army.

[10] Lot Smith commanded a company of volunteer militia mustered mainly from the Nauvoo Legion that, at the request of Abraham Lincoln, guarded the telegraph line in conjunction with the U.S. Army during the Civil War.

The Utah Volunteer Cavalry Company served under orders for 90 days during the summer of 1862 and was mustered out of federal service in August having experienced no combat.

Flash floods, droughts, crop failures, internal dissension, anti-Mormon sentiment and prosecution of polygamous leaders, and the Aztec Land & Cattle Company or Hashknife Outfit all took their toll on the small settlements.

Although Smith's inspiring oratory was appreciated, some ran afoul of his temper and others found him heavy-handed and resented his domineering.

Daggs moved his sheep away and into the Tonto Basin, fueling the smoldering Tewksberry - Graham feud into the conflagration of the Pleasant Valley War.

In 1892 he had taken up residence in cabins with two wives in Big Canyon, east of Tuba City, Arizona where Mormons had early proselytized local Hopi and Navajo Native Americans.

[15] On June 20, 1892, Smith found a flock of sheep turned into his fenced field of new barley by Navajo sheepherders.

Horseback, Smith tried to drive the sheep out but Navajos at the gate repeatedly used their blankets to shoo the animals back in.

Smith died that evening, accompanied by keening mourning of a crowd of Native American friends and onlookers.

succeeded in killing Lot Smith, they were thwarted in their attempt to spark a conflict between the Mormons and the Native Americans.