the experiences of returning members of the mormon battalion were also important in establishing new communities. on their journey west, the mormon soldiers had identified dependable rivers and fertile river valleys in colorado, arizona and southern california. in addition, as the discharged men traveled to rejoin their families in the salt lake valley, they moved through southern nevada and southern utah. jefferson hunt, senior mormon officer of the battalion, actively searched for settlement sites, minerals and other resources. his report encouraged 1851 settlement efforts in iron country, near present-day cedar city. these southern explorations eventually led to mormon settlements in st. george, utah, las vegas and san bernardino, california, as well as communities in southern arizona. by 1885, mormon communities were being established in northern mexico.