The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-03 00:00:00

THE UTAH EXPEDITION.

The New York Tribune publishes the following
communication from its•special correspondent with
the Utah expedition. He dates his letter from
Bray in Salt Lake
Camp, 200 miles from Fort Laramie, Oct. 30 :
"During Captain Van Vliet's
City last month be overheard but one remark which
induced him to believe that the declarations by the
Mormons of an intention to resist the tro Ip3 were
not earnest. That was an observation by Brigham
Young, to the effect that his intention was un-
altered 'unless he should get another revelation to
the contrary, which he was sure he should not.' _

, " The result has certainly justified the Prophet's
confidence. No such revelation had been received
by him up to October 5, on which date acts were
committed under his direction which cannot fail
to end in bloodshed. On that day the two regi-
ments of infantry and the artillery and ordnance
batteries were encamped on Ham's Fork, which
branches from Black Fork, which is a fork of Green
River. The two nearest supply trains were but a
few miles distant from Green River, on the east
bank, and about 30 miles from Colonel Alexander's
camp. The next on the road had advanced about
20 miles west from Pacific Springs, which rise at a
short distance beyond the South Pass. About 11
o'clock at night three trains were surprised and
seized by parties of Mormons, their contents exa-
mined, and what was worth pillaging was stolen
and the remainder destroyed by fire. Each train
consisted of 26 waggons, and belonged to the num-
ber sent out by Messrs. Russell and Waddell, of
Leavenworth City, contractors for the transporta-
tion of stores to the army and for the supply of be 3f
cattle. The teamsters made no resistance, and were
unharmed. These Mormon bands are understood to
be under the command, of Bill' Hickman, although
it is rumoured that Heber C. Kimball attends them.
They are all well mounted and armed, each man
being provided with a Californian horse, and with a
rifle, and from one to three revolvers. Hickman is
supposed to have directed the proceedings near Pa-
cific Springs, while a man named Locksmith com-
manded near Green River.

" 'mined iately upon the receipt of the news of this
attack Col. Alexander sent Capt. Marcy, of the sth
Infantry, with five companies, back to Green River.
Ho arrived, however, only in time to take charge of
the cattle of the trains which the Mormons had left,
with the polite request that the troops would fatten
them over winter, when they would be in good con-
dition for Mormon eating in the spring. Another of
their-jeux d'esprit was a remark to the teamsters
that they • had only burnt the waggons this time,
but would be likely to burn the waggoners the next.'
Col. Alexander also sent despatches to Brevet.-Col.
Smith, from whose camp I am writing, and Captain
Marcy sent by another messenger a circular letter to
the trains on the road, advising them, for the sake
of safety, to place themselves under Colonel Smith's
protection. Both express men were intercepted by
the Mcrmons, but, as nothing suspicious was found
on their persons, and it did not appear on .what
errand they were bound, they were released. The
one from Col. Alexander, perceiving that it was im-
possib'e to avoid arrest, destroyed the dispatches to
Col. Smith, according to h's instructions, and we
aro ignorant of their contents. The other-brought
Capt. Marcy's circular safely through in the toe of
his mocassin.
" We know; however, in the absence of the offi-
cial despatches, that Capt. Marcy has rejoined Col.
Alexander, and that the entire force has moved to
the north along Bear River towards Soda Springs,
where it will probably await the arrival of the re-
maining supply trains, the sutlers' trains of the sth
and 10th Infantry, and of Col. S pith's battalion.
The reasons for this movement do not appear by a
glance at the map t o a pat son unacquainted minutely
with the conformation of the country and the cha-
veter of the climate. Ttie direct road to Silt Lake
City, passing Fort Bridger, Medicine Butte, and
the Nceil: s, which Col. Alexander has abandoned,
is possibly by this tine impassable to waggons or
artillery on account of the weather. The season,
which has b en uncommonly favourable up to the
beginning of oAober, Las resumed its natural
severity. Ice has formed in our buckets every

morning bat ono since we left Fort Laramie. The
northern slopes of the mouutains.are completely
whitened with a covering which will not molt 6111858,
and even t►he southern slopes are powdered scantily
with snow, of which there was a fall on Saturday

night that'ehilled our road on Sunday and Monday,
and has muddied it to-day. The Mormons have
probably burnt the grass along that entire route,
and obstructed the defiles in which it abounds in

such a manner that only artillery could clear them.
But if the army c mcontrates at Soda Springs it will
have before it a road along a valley, open, it is said,
even at midwinter, direct to Salt Lake City. I know
of no chart which exhibits all the lines of road on
which these movements will b 3 made ; and, indeed,
I am unable to gather from our guides such informa-
tion as to tra"e them accurately on Captain St Ins:
bury's map, which is the largest chart of his country
that I possess ; bat I believe them t.) be sub-
s' anti illy these :—The direct route from California
to the Suites crosses the Wabsatch Mountlins far
to the north of the Salt L'tko City, and continues
almost due east to its junction with the main
road to that city, which passes Fott Bridger, and
then- runs on through the Soutli Pass diviling,,
however, n.ar Ham's Fork into three branches,
which cross the Green River and unite beyond the
Big Sandy. From one or the other of these branehei
a road leads up into Oregon towards Fort Hall,.
passing Soda Springs, from which there is a cut oft
into a road direct from Fort Hall to Salt Lake City.
It is over these latter roads and the cut-off that

be double ration posts'
.excited the utmost indig-
nation. Supposingit meant that all the garrisons
as well as the commanding officers, were to draw
double rations, laughable aS it may appear, it is a
fact that they elieved that the extra ration was to
be furnished to each soldier to enable him to marry
and support a wife, of course, he would reduce from
among them. Captain Van Vliet found this illu-
sion universally prevalent.
" In consideration of the journey of Dr. Bern-
hisel to Washington, while affairs are in such a con-
dition among his constituency, I feel bound to send
you the following information concerning the mode
of his election, for the accuracy of which I do nit.
vouch—for it is not of my. personal knowledge—
but for which I send you privately my authority.
It has been stated to me that on the Sunday before
the day fixed by law for the election, Brigham
Young rose in the Bowery, where an audience of
several thousands was collected, and spoke substan-
tially to this effect :
Brethren, to-morrow, you know, is the day
to vote for delegate to Congress, so the law says.
But I don't see why to day isn't just as holy, and
why we shouldn't take a vote to-day. Brother
Beruhisel, brethren, has done well enough in Con,
gross, though nobo ly's of much use there, and if it's
worth while to send anybody to Washington I guess
we might as well send him back ; if he can't do us
any good, he won't do us any harm. So all you
that are in favour of sending Brother Bernhisel back
will please rise.'
" Accordingly the whole audience rose. The
next day at the election but few votes were cast and
those alt for Dr. Bernhisel, it being felt to be use-
less to oppose him, although he is said to be very
unpopular in Salt Lake CitY. If Ido Dr. Bern-
hisei any wrong by this narration, I am sure you
will be willing to correct anything which he shall
prove to be inaccurate.
" As another item which I have neglected to in-
sert in its proper connexion, it is reported that the
Mormons have taken prisoners two men belonging
to Dr. Magraw's party, who were sent on business
towards Salt Lake City."