On November 1 satisfaction was expressed concerning substitution to the place of Philemon C. Merrill. When the sick were sent to Pueblo, November 10, Standage fervently wrote, "This does in reality make solemn times for us, so many divisions taking place. May the God of Heaven protect us all." [Illustration 1: MORMON BATTALION OFFICERS 1--P. St. George Cooke, Lieut. Col. Commanding 2--Lieut. George P. Dykes, Adjutant, succeeded by 3--Lieut. Philemon C. Merrill, Adjutant] [Illustration 2: BATTALION MEMBERS AT GOLD DISCOVERY Above--Henry W. Bigler, Azariah Smith Below--Wm. J. Johnston, James S. Brown] [Illustration: BATTALION MEMBERS WHO RETURNED TO ARIZONA 1--Sergt. Nathaniel V. Jones 2--Wm. C. McClellan 3--Sanford Porter 4--Lot Smith 5--John Hunt 6--Wilson D. Pace 7--Samuel Lewis 8--Wesley Adair 9--Lieut. James Pace 10--Christopher Layton] San Bernardino, in Sonora, was reached December 2, being found in ruins, "though all around us a pleasant valley with good water and grass." Appreciation was expressed over the flavor of "a kind of root, baked, which the Spaniards called mas kurl" (mescal). Many of the cattle had Spanish brands on their hips, it being explained, "Indians had been so troublesome in times past that the Spaniards had to abandon the towns and vineyards, and cross the Cordillera Mountains, leaving their large flocks of cattle in the valley, thus making plenty of food for the Apalchas." In San Pedro valley were found "good horse feed and fish in abundance (salmon trout), large herds of wild cattle and plenty of antelope and some bear." The San Pedro River was especially noted as having "mill privileges in abundance." Here it was that Lieutenant Stoneman, accidentally shot himself in the hand. Two old deserted towns were passed. Standage tells that the Spanish soldiers had gone from Tucson when the Battalion arrived, but that, "we were kindly treated by the people, who brought flour, meal, tobacco and quinces to the camp for sale, and many of them gave such things to the soldiers. We camped about a half mile from the town. The Colonel suffered no private property to be touched, neither was it in the heart of any man to my knowledge to do so." Considering the strength of the Spanish garrison, Standage was led to exclaim that, "the Lord God of Israel would save his people, inasmuch as he knoweth the causes of our being here in the United States." Possibly it was unfair to say that no one but the Lord knew why the soldiers were there, and Tucson then was not in the United States.