San Andreas independent., 1857-12-05
Capt. Van Vliet's Official Account Of his
Visit to Utah.
HaM,s lFnRK. Sent l6. 1851.


Captaua-I have the honor to report, for the
information of the commanding General, the
result of my trip to the Territory of Utah.
In obedience to special instructions. dated
Headquarters, Army of Utah, Fort Leaven-
worth, July 2Sth, 1857, left Fort Leaven-
worth, July 80, and reached Fort kearney in
nine travelling days, Fort Laramie in ten, and
Great Salt Lake City in thirty three and a-half
days. During my progress towards Utah |
met many people from that Territory, and also
several mountain men at Green river and all
informed me that | would not be allowed to
enter Utah, and if | did, would run great
risk of losing my life. treated all this, how
ever, as idle talk but it induced me to leave
my wagons and escort at Hams Fork, one
hundred and forty-thre miles this side of the
city, and proceed alone.
| reached Great Salt Lake City without mo-
lestation, and Immediately upon my arrival
informed Gov. Brigham Young that desired
an interview, which he appointed for the next
day. In this interview the Governor made
known to me his views with regard to the APP
proach of United States troops in plain and
unmistakable language.
He stated that the Mormons had been per-
secuted, murdered and robbed in Missouri
and Illinois, both by the mob and State au-
thorities, and that now the United States were
about to pursue the same course, and that,
therefore, he and the people of Utah had de-
termined to resist all persecution at the COM
mencement, and that the troops now on the
march for Utah should not enter the Great Salt
Lake VALLEY. AS be uttered these words all
those present concurred most heartily in what
he said. The next day, as agreed upon, call
ed upon the Governor and delivered in person
Iotto tb haI apt ad
In that interview, and in several subsequent
ones, the same determination to resist to the
death the entrance of the troops into the Val
ley was expressed by Governor Young and
those about him. The Governor informed me
that there was abundance of everything re-
quired for the troops. such as lumber, forage,
ETC., but that none would be sold to us.
In the course of my conversation with the
Governor and the influential men in the Terri
tory, told them plainly and frankly what
conceived would be the result Of their present
course. | told them that they might prevent
the small military force now approaching Utah
from getting through the narrow defiles and
rugged passes of the mountains this year, but
that next season the United States Govern
ment would send troops sufficient to overcome
all opposition, the answer to this was inyaria-
bly, the same: 1--WE are aware that such will
be the case, but when the troops arrive they
will find Utah desert, every house will be
burned to the ground every tree cut down
and every field laid waste We have three
years provisions on hand, which we will
''cache" and then take to the mountains and
bid defiance to all the powers of the govern
ment.n
From these facts ] am forced to the cOnclu-
sion that Governor Young and the people of
Utah will prevent, if possible, the army for
Utah from entering their Territory this season.
This, III my opinion, will not be difficult
task owing to the lateness of the season, the
smallness of our force, and the defences that
nature has thrown around the Valley of the
Great Salt Lake. There is but one road run
ming into the Valley on the side which our
troops are approaching and for over fifty
miles it passes through canons and over rug
ged mountains, which a small force could hold
against great odds. j am inclined, however,
to believe that the Mormons will not resort to
actual hostilities until the last moment. Their
plan of operations will be to burn the grass,
cut up the roads and stampede the animals,
so as to delay the troops until snow COM
mences to fall, which will render The road
impossible. Snow falls early in this region !;
in fact, last night it commenced falling at Fort
Bridger, and this morning the surrounding
mountains are clothed in white. Were it one
month earlier in the season / believe the
troops would force their way in, and they may
be able to do even now but the attempt
will be fraught with considerable danger aris-
ing from the filling up of the canons and passes
with snow
visited the military reserve-Rush Valley
but found it, in my opinion, entirely un-
suited for military station. 1t contains but
little grass, and is very much exposed to the
cold winds of winter, its only advantage being
the close proximity of fine wood it is too far
from the city, being forty or fifty miles, and
will require teams four days to go there and
return. examined another point on the road
to Rush Valley, and only about thirty miles
from the city, which consider a much more
eligible position. 1t is in Tuele Valley three
miles to the north of Tuelle city, and possesses
wood, water and grass, but it is occupied by
MormonS, who have some sixty acres under
cultivation, with houses and barns on their
lands. These persons would have to be dis
possessed, or bought out. In fact, there is no
place within forty, fifty, or sixty miles of the
city, suitable for a military position, that is
not occupied by the inhabitants and under cul-
tiyaton. Finding that could neither make
the purchases ordered to, nor shake the APP
the authority of the United States, | left the
city and returned to my camp on Hams Fork.
On my return | examined the vicinity of Fort
Bridger, and found it a very suitable place for
wintering the troops and grazing the animals,
should it be necessary to stop at that point
The Mormons occupy the Fort at present, and
also have a settlement ten miles further up
Blacks Fork, called Fort Supply. These two
places contain buildings sufficient to cover
nearly half the troops now en- route for Utah,
but was informed that they would all be laid
in ashes as the army advances. | have thus
fully stated the result of my visit to Utah, and
trusting that my conduct will meet the appro-
val of the Commanding General, | am, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
STEWART VAN VLIET,
Captain, A. Q. NJ, Z. S. Army.
Capt. A. Pleasanton, Act Ass. Adjt. General
Army for Utah, Fort Leavenworth.