Captain Michael Marion and Lieutenant John Malagant left Fort Mc Dowell shortly before dawn that morning, riding hard to make time before the sun rose in reaching their destination. Shortly before noon, they traversed a wide area of sagebrush country along a vast uncharted area, a compass and a hand-sketched map their only guide. To their relief, they eventually came across a small town wedged between two towering cliffs forming a cactus-strewn valley. They had finally reached Valhalla.
As they rode down the main street, they were watched closely by onlookers who were intrigued by their US Army uniforms. Many Confederate veterans cursed and swore at the sight but dared not run afoul of Sheriff Stiers, whose office door was wide open. Others speculated what officers of such rank were doing
