Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-27
THE CAMP-GROUND OF THE UTAH ExPE'
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yocrz o,o. when kort Laramie wn5 Lu: u small
E-.ncl trading post, 6nd before emigration acEos'!it
Plnins he'd fairly commenced, the cd t.apPsrs ENC
.,nountain men, used frequently to resort TO IN. up
laud valleys of tho Rocky Mountains I" white
There. in the sheltered parks and plateaus, they no.
oulv .scaped the barren aud Indictment regions OF Inc
plains, but were enabled to obtnin a fair allowance u
fresh meat by hunting the buffalo, deer, and othe'
animals, which Also resorted thither in winter .lms
70 cain that subsistence which they could not obtain
mon the inhospituble prairie. One of the mo't "a
vored of these locations was the "New Park, when
rsceives the waters Of the Laramie, Medicine Bow
and Sweotwater rivers, and near which also rises Int
North Fork e of the Platte river. A little 10 the norm
Of the New Park. and inclosed by the great bend OF
the Platte, lss the broken tract of county known az
the Laramie Plains, which are bounded by the Black
Hills on the north, and on the south by the Medicine
Row Mountsins. This was also a favorite hunting
ground. From the bend of the Platte, Westward, ex.
TEND, an inconsiderable range, sloping gradually unii
II reaches an elevated plain which forms a break in
the Rocky Mountain chain, and affords the easy pas
ave we'll known as the Great or South Pass. So
orsdua, ia this ascent, that, were il not for the Insjes-
tic nreseuce of the rugged peaks towering heaven
ward away to the right and the left, one would scarce.
w realize that he is standing upon the dividing ridge
betwesn the waters that flow into the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans. Still more incredible is the fact thai
be can STAND near by and toss two eticks into two ad'
iacent streams, one of which flows eastward 10 Inc
Gulf of Mexico, and the other in the opposite dlrec'
ton to the Gulf of California.
nFOuRH ILLS pdSo u h"S NSS'h "
tain men to the beaver Astounding valleys of the
Green and Bear rivers and the Uintah country and
many an Indian aud superstitious old hunter has
traversed years ago. the wel'kno~n pain 10 .e
tory pipe, and invoke the fountain spirits to grant him
good luck in the chase:
= The wagon trail to Oregon and California, and to
the Salt Lake region, trayerses all this section OIL
country, following the Sweetwater Valley through
tbe Pass, over to the Big Sandy, across Green river
TO Fort Bridger,' and thence to Salt Lake and beyond.
This is the route of the Utah expedition and some
location between the mountains and Fort brldger
will doubtless BIZ their camping ground for the WINTER
for it is not at all probable, in the present hostlle at
titude of The Mormons, that IL will be able to force
its wsy TO Salt Lake city until spring. In this con.
linyency, they will be far better off in the mountains
than on the plains. Indeed, no camp, however well
proyisioned and protected, could survive the piercing
blasts and terrible snow storms that sweep over the
exposed and barren prairie, where bstimes the hardy
mountsinesr, overtaken by the unexpected gale, has
only saved himself from ~perishing by killing his horse
and crawling into the warm and smoking carcass
which he had opened.
Well provided as the expedition Ia with ammuni.
ton and provisions, it will not suffer for sustensnce,
if unmolestedi though its experience OF the rigors OF
a winter among the mountains will be anything but
agreeable. A camping ground may be selected
where both wood and water are abundant fresh meat
may be obtained by buntingi and even though the
horse. and mules may perish for want of grain and
fodder, the men may weather 1t through I'LL spring.
Magraw's wagon train has already caInPsd Tor the
winter, though at a considerable distance North OF
the present position Of tho army, on account of the
grass having all been burned of to the
The old experienced mOuntalneers have selected just
such a location for a camp a. that IN which fortune
has placed the Expedition. So, az has been remark.
ed, there need be little apprehension for their condi.
ton through the winter, provided they had no fear OF
molestaio ion from enemies.
From the intelligence received up to date, it is
probable that the expedition has gone into winter
-,,.k.-a m fha SnAa Snripu trail-a rnuta which hR5
been much travelled OF late by emigrants, to avoid
the more direct road through Mormondom. This pc.
sition would be- ~ safe as any, though farther from
Salt Lake than Fort Bridger, which lie only ll3 miles
distant. Still, 1t is the belief OF the best judges, that
they will not pass the winter in monotOnous peaca.-
The country has long been frequented by the warlike
tribes of Utahs, Sioux, Cheyennes, Crows aud Snakes
or Shoshones, who have needed no incentive TO their
natural hatred Of the white man, to INDUCE them to
seek his blood; and now that, as allies of the Nor
mons, they are urged, commanded, paid, to hunt the
white mans scalp Excepting Saints,) they will not
refrain from embracing the present unusual and vel
come opportunity. The wild Indian who has contin
| ually lowered around the camp ofthe veteran trapPer,
seeking plumber, or his scalp as a more desired prizs,
has ever been the object Of the trappers soicitude.
His attention has been divided between his traps and
circumventing the wiles of the red man, who, like a
wolf, lopes around his camp fire, follows him when
he hunts, waylays him in his path, or sends an arrow
10 his breast while he sleeps; and, notwithstanding
hi. vigilance, his bsckwoods craft, and his bravery
when asesiled or surprised, many OF these veteran
trappers have "gone under" betimes, as the numerous
creeks, rivsrs and mountains which bear their names
in record of their fate, will testify. We say-when
such is the fate OF the hardy mountaineer, what can
We expect for the greenhorns OF the army, when
hemmed in aud harassed by the Indians, OF whom
they know nothing, to say nothing OF The Mormon
backwoodsmen, who will undoubtedly lose no oppor.
tunity to cat them of!
1t ia we'll to consider the per;lous p%redicament in
which the Expedition will bs placed if compelled to
-Nuil n Mnrtnnn nan
all the means in their power to harass them. The
winter, il ia said, has set in with unusual severity; al
the grass that has not been burned by the hlormons,
ia covered with snow, and can profit the animals but
little; report says that fodder is almost exhausted,
aud that a large number of animals have already
died. Their first great loss, therefore, will be thor
live stock; and the whole expedition will thus be put
ION foot" AS 10 the men, il il not wheu IN the camp
that they will BIZ most lik.ly to be molesfed, though
occasional attacks may be made upon them. Neither
Mormons nor Indians would renhnly venture TO EN-
gage go large q body in fair hs7it. But their great
endeavur will be frat to cut of and destroy all pre-
sent %eupplies, and starve out the invaders. Their
only resource will then be the wild game, which is
said to be unusually abundant this season; and 1t is
when out on the hunt for meat, that they will afford
a grand opportunity for the operations OF the noun
tain rangers, who will hunt them while they hunt the
wild bsasts; will cut OFF the ~stragglers singly and by
scores; or perchance storm their camp when lite ranks
are ~deranged, broken up, or diminished IN numbers.
They will only be safe when intrencbed IN camp, and
then starvation must result. Ii professional hunters
are employed to provide for them, they also will fall
under the ban of the Saints and their allies.
All the Indians, however, are not hostile to the ex-
petition. Many of them have hitherto refused all the
overtures of the Mormons, and still remsin friendly
to the United States Government. A Chief OF the
Shoshones, who has nearly 900 followers, has alrea-
DIV svowed his determination 10 stand by his Great
Father at Washington, in the approaching war with
the MOrmons, which it is believed must take place.
And in this we discern an ominous cloud in the hori.
ye, & tho fnfura f,0rtapdInUa n long DFOtralt6d 2truQ-
gle.
brigham Young, by bis proclamation. has placed
himself in an attitude Of rebellion. The Indian tribes
which he has allied to himself against the United
States, have been ut war for years with other tribes
which declare their allegiance TO the President. The
Mormon war thus involves an Indian war, which is
likely to BIZ continued long after Brigham and his fol-
lowers shall have been punished or driven from the
country. In these conclusions are involved impor
tant considerations, which demand most decisive and
energetic movements on the part of the Administra.
sion-to bs put into operation Immediately on the
opening OF spring.
Gov. Young has undoubtedly entertained Inc nope
that, by pursuing his peculiar policy, be could blind
the eyes of Government, and thus retain his position
in Utah, and preserve his colony and his creed from
outward interference. But when, by reasonable acts
and outrages, be found that he had at length aroused
the indignation Of the Government, and was likely
to bring down just punishment upon himself, be
changed front, hoping by q defiant bearing, to bully
the Government into acquiescenos with his views
and plane, or at least to put oil an open conflict to
the last moment. At length, perceiving that he must
submit peacefully, or be driven to the wall at the
point of the bayonst, he has determined, in leaving
Utah, to leave a bloody stain behind him. Still hope.
full of success, however, by carrying out his policy of
intimidation, he proclaims martial law in the Terrific.
ry-b.lisving that if hs can keep the army out Of
Salt Lake until spring, the Administration may then
repent of it's determination; but If the army shall at
tempt to forceits way to the City, he will then use all
his powers to exterminate il.
Whatever may be the correct view Of the case, IL
becomes the Government to prepare at oncs to send
out a sufficient additional force as soon az practicable;
and also to consider well what description of troops
should he employed. As tine enemy is composed OF
both whites and Indians, the force to oppose them
should be such as to meet their different modes Of
fighting. Not only is q large increase Of troops ne