Book Notes from Will Bagley: Blood of the Prophets.

I found a couple quotes from this book which help to add some depth to Isaac's activity in the "Echo Canyon Affair."  I have not delved deeper in this book, neither do I plan to.  I do not accept him as a historian who looks at facts in a neutral fashion, but as on who tries to make events meet his preconceived ideas.  I refer to this article from FARMS with regards to this.
http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=15&num=2&id=509
The quotes:
Bagley, blood of the prophets   
Meanwhile, the Mormons walked a dangerous tightrope.  They worked desperately to stop the army before it could enter the territory even as they tried to avoid igniting a bloody confrontation that would lead to war.  They implemented a defensive strategy based on local geography.  There were two practical ways to get the army into Utah, the first following the main road west through Echo Canyon along the line of present Interstate 80 and the second and longer route going north to the Oregon Trail and Soda Springs and the south along the Bear River.  On both fronts, the Mormons strengthened their defenses.  They fortified Echo Canyon, forty-five miles east of Salt Lake, building crude rock breastworks on top of its steep walls.  They damned the gorge and dug ditches; these improvements might not permit the Saints to drown Johnston’s men like Pharaoh’s army, but they would let the defenders flood the road for several miles.  (Bagley p 180)

By mid-October the Nauvoo Legion had eleven hundred men under arms in the mountains and seven hundred men in reserve in Salt Lake.  Three thousand more troops could be called up to defend the canyon on fifteen hours’ notice.  (Bagley p 182)

Isaac Wardle and Echo Canyon

Frank Essham's book, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah gives a history of Isaac Wardle.  In this history it says, "He took an active part in the Echo Canyon Affair."  These websites give an idea of what "an active part" may have meant.  However I have not found any specifics of what Isaac's role may have been.  If anyone knows of anything please let me know.

As part of the Utah War men were sent up Echo Canyon to provide a defense.  One the Mormon side were 1100 men.  Echo Canyon was the most logical way to enter Utah.  I have found three websites that give a very good of the preparation of the Mormon militia.
http://www.untraveledroad.com/USA/Utah/Summit/EchoCanyon/32NSign.htm

The Echo Canyon Breastworks

The Echo Canyon Breastworks were constructed during the autumn of 1857 under the direction of General Daniel H. Wells, commander of the Mormon Militia. They were set atop high cliffs where they would provide the greatest strategic advantage against possible attack by Johnston's Army during the Utah War (1857-58). This 2500-man force was sent to the Territory by President James Buchanan to silence what was preceived to be a rebellion by the Mormons. The dry masonry walls, constructed of uncut stones, stacked in random courses without mortar, were 1 to 2 feet above ground and 4 to 12 feet in length. These fortifications stretched some 1.2 miles along the narrowest section of Echo Canyon. These Breastworks were part of a larger defnsive network that included plans to dam the creek to force the troops against the canyon wall where the breastworks are located, and large trenches across the canyon to impede the passage of horses and men. More than 1200 men worked together completing the Breastworks on the cliffs in the matter of a few weeks. However, the peaceful resolution of the Utah War in the early summer of 1858 rendered the fortifications unnecessary.

http://history.utah.gov/experience_history/visit_historic_places/trail.html

The Narrows

Near here the Mormons built a huge breastwork and a 500-foot-long rifle pit (across the freeway, near the base of the telephone pole line). They also put land mines in this area, made from oak barrels, one-pound cans of powder, and flintlocks.
And they built a big dam here with plans to flood the Narrows and make it difficult or impossible for the army to get through. Pretty tricky.
In all, the Mormons built 14 fortifications in this canyon.

Death Rock

Stop at the end of the guardrail after the Narrows. Here the Mormons dug a trench 10’ deep and 7’ wide to stop the troops’ progress. On the cliff just east of the speed limit sign, you can spot fourfoot- tall rock wall fortifications. The cliff west of the fortifications is called Death Rock. Here a member of the Mormon militia on the ground aimed his rifle at a friend on the cliff, thinking the ball could never go that high. The ball hit his friend in the head, killing him.

 http://www.ourfamiliesroots.org/other/4060.html
The "Echo Fortifications" of the "Mormon Wall"
The "Echo Fortifications" or the "Mormon Wall" was built in 1857 as a line of defense against the U.S. Army led by General Albert S. Johnston, known as Johnston's Army....

Brigham Young sent men into Echo Canyon to build a line of defense and the Nauvoo Legion was sent into Wyoming to ' harass and delay" the army. During their harassment tactics, they set fire to and burned Fort Supply. They drove off several of the horses and mules with the army. Many more of the animals died during the severe winter. However, General Johnston lost only one man, and that was from tetanus.

The fortifications were built along the cliffs of Echo Canyon. Rock fortifications were built among the crevices and dips of the cliffs. Then cedar trees were cut, the ends painted black to look like the bore of a cannon, and placed over the top of the fortifications. At night the men would march around large camp fires to make it seem that there were more men present than there actually were. The extra guns and ammunition were buried to prevent them from being exploded by accident or by enemy fire. The cliffs gave the defenders the advantage of height and better protection.

Article Review: The Mormon War 1858

I have been studying the Utah war, because Isaac Wardle was a participant.  This article is identified as "A Special to the Tribune" by Ardis E. Parshall: The Utah War: Nearly bloodless, but still painful.  In the website where I found it it is not dated.  This is article is very good.  It does take a Tribune attitude to the story, but the insights are incredible.  It gives a brief background of the reasons for the war.  What I like is the references to the Nauvoo Legion, of which Isaac was a part.  Basically this is the militia, and men were taken from each community.  "The Nauvoo Legion - Utah's militia - took stock of its armaments, drilled its units and began fortifying Echo Canyon, the army's presumed route into the city."  Forward riders from the Legion harassed the oncoming troups, slowing their progress, and eventually forcing them into winter quarters.  This gave the opportunity for a negotiated peace.  After this, things were in a stalemate.  "
On the Mormon side, a few men were assigned to watch the federal encampment and report any unexpected movement. The rest of the Nauvoo Legion returned home to care for their families and thresh the heavy grain harvest. Salt Lake City was remarkably calm that winter, with the usual round of parties, theatricals and church services. Except for regular militia drills and the oft-expressed resolve not to submit again to the wrongs of Missouri and Illinois, Utah showed no sign of a people at war with an army encamped little more than 100 miles away."  A group of about 150 young men wintered in Echo Canyon, and the rest returned home. None of the histories of Isaac give an idea of which group he was with.  He was single, so would have been a good candidate to stay.
http://www.truthandgrace.com/1858mormonwar.htm