With much regret we had been compelled to turn aside from our journey, and spend the winter among the Mormons, Jotham Goodell recalled in 1852. His intended destination was Oregon's Willamette Valley. Having been compelled to this decision, I resolved to pass the winter as quietly as possible. But his winter with the Mormons was anything but peaceful. He found the Latter-day Saints to be militant in word and deed, especially vis-a-vis the United States, from which they had just escaped. Although he stayed only six months, he was in Salt Lake City in 1849, soon after the pioneers.