Washington sentinel., 1854-04-25

bly, sec you / am particularly fortunate in
having met him here, as shall owe to his kind
ness and valuable assistance the means of con-
tinuing my journey, without such extraordinary
delay as would have rendered it comparatively
useless, or the alternative OF continuing it on
foot. Let me suggest to you what you would
doubtless do without any suggestion) the great
importance of full conversation with Mr.. Bah
bitt in regard to the recent railroad movements
here, and the winter which has just passed.
Commenting him to your kindest considera-
ton, am sincerely, DC,
Hon. Mr. BENTON, Washington City.
Letter from, Colonel BabbiH.
EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
SIR: observe in the Herald Of the 9th in
stant, the announcement of the arrival of the
steamboat Goliah, and the news of the where
abouts of Colonel Fremont, through myself as
bearer Of public documents to Washington, in
which not only Colonel Fremont but myself
is placed in a wrong position, although the
substance is true. Permit me, therefore,
through your paper, to make a correct state
ment of all the real facts alluded TO.
First It is true that | have the honor of
bearing the memorial of the Legislative assem-
bly, Of the Territory of Utah to the seat Of gov
ernment; also, the report made up by Lieut..
Beckwth, of Captain Gunnisons party, who
took command after the death of his captain
together with the report Of Captain Morris, who
commanded the escort
Second. 1t is true that left the city of Great
Salt Lake at the tine mentioned, and encoun
tered Colonel Fremont en- route at the point
mentioned which, from examination Of my
journal, was on the 9th day of February, in
stead of the 18th, under the following circum-
stances. On the afternoon OF the Sth, while
at our dinner, Ammon, the brother Of Walker,
the chief of the Utah Indians, came to my
camp fire with several Of his braves, who in
formed me that he met, the day before a COM
pany Of Americans; that they were hungry.
This was about twenty-five miles from what is
called Little Salt Lake, in Parawan Valley,
and about two hundred and sixty miles south
of Great Salt Lake.
That night overlook Colonel Fremont at
small Mormon settlement. Having the United
States mail in charge | had to proceed in the
| morning en- route for the coast. Knowing that
the colonel would wish to avail himself Of the
opportunity of sending to Washington, sent
one of my men to, his camp, to inform him OF
| my arrival He sent word to me that he would
| see me in the morning, excusing himself that
he was so worn down that he could not talk
that night, having just got into camp, and vari-
Gus reports were abroad as to their condition.
At an early hour in the morning the colonel
called upon me, and from his own mouth !
learned this to be his condition. He started
| from the frontier with several white men and
some ten Delaware Indians as hunters that
they intended to kill sufficient game for their
subsistence, in which they succeeded till the
heavy snow met them in the mountains. The
game then disappeared; and having exhausted
their supplies they had to depend upon their
mules and horses, which they subsisted on till
they consumed 70 in number.
| The first change was little -four and dog,
that they swapped some blankets for with Am
mon. And as to the obligation that the colo
mel was under to me- herewith give copy of
his letter to his father-in-law, Col. Benton.
The colonel was out of ready money, but had
evidence that he could draw on Palmer, Cook
& Co., and other responsible banking houses in
this city for any amount. This would not buy
horses and mules at that place, it being only a
small settlement, having no storekeeper or
other business men there. /, knowing the repu-
tation of the banking-houses in this city, and
. at the same time being well acquainted with
the bishop of the Mormon church at that place,
made the arrangement that he would furnish
the horses and mules to Col. Fremont for the
| journey, and pay it out of tithing money in
hand, and take a draft Oh Palmer, Cook Co.
for the whole amount in favor of Gov. Young
The colonel, though jaded and care-worn,
was not discouraged, but determined to make
the central route through from there to this
city the practicability Of which we certainly
doubt. But, from the known character of COL
Fremont, his report will certainly impart much
valuable information touching the great basin
country.
AS to the report Of Captain Gunnison, un
dcrstand it will be substantially the same as the
memorial of the legislature of Utah Territory
the same being made from the feld-notes of
| Captain Gunnison, taken from the Indians, and
made up by his old colleague, A. Darlington,
esq.,, of Captain Stansbury's survey of Great
Salt Lake valley The same information |
obtained from Lieutenant Beckwith, who made
up the feld-notes, and reduced them to map
FORM which am instructed to deliver to Col.
Albert, of the Typographical bureau at Wash.
ington.
! discover further from the papers Of this
| city, that have the honor of recovering the
| body of the lamented Captain Gunnison. This
is not true. / went however, with fourteen
men, after Captain Morris had left his body,
with other equally honorable men, to be eaten
| by wolves, but recovered only some OF his hair,
i which the governor oil Ctah sent 70 MS Wne,
and some few of his bones, which were care
fully inferred at Fillmore city. Great blame is
attached to Captain Morris, who was on the
ground but short time after the death of Gum
nison. and before his body was mutilated, for
not securing it from further exposure No one
in Utah charges Capt. Morris with cowar6ice,
but with great neglect. Captain Gunnison
seemed to have strong hold upon the feelings
of the people of Utah, and they express great
regret that such fate should have befallen so
competent an officer of government.
A, w, BABBITT.
SAN FRAScIsco, CAL, March Ia, 1854.
p. S.-Instead of seven men dying, under
| stood Colonel Fremont to say several The