The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-21
Important from the Plains.

Mr.. Lander, who is connected as chief engi-
neer with Magraw's wagon-road survey, passed
through this city on bis way to Washington
on Saturday last He has performed, since
the 10Th Of June last, the unprecedented feat
of riding $500 miles, much of the distance in
unexplored mountain passes, and all in rough
field service, without a tent or ordinary bag
gage, in the short space of four and half
months, including eighteen camp days
This severe labor was performed for the p,r-
pose of selecting the shortest practicable route
for the new wagon road prior to the arrival of
the working train Of Superintendent Magraw.
From scarcity Of grass, and other obstacles not
foreseen by inexperienced parties, the main
working train only arrived at the South Pass
in season to go into winter quarters, where it
now is
The Mormons having burned all the grass
on the southern wintering grounds, the wagon
road expedition has selected camp on Wind
river 1t is surrounded by herds of Buffalo
and elk, with which, in event of failure of other
means Of subsistence, the train may be sup
piled
B. F. Ficklin, one Of the assistant engineers
of the advance party, was surrounded, near
Green river, by sixty well armed mounted
Mormons. He gave them evasive answers as
to the nature of his business, and was at length
allowed to depart. He rode at once to the
command of Colonel Alexander, many miles
distant, and informed that gentleman of the
advance of the mounted armed men, and of the
rumors that five hundred had crossed Green
river, going in the direction Of unprotected
government trains, embracing seventy-six
wagons, were completely destroyed by the
party. From the destruction of these, the
eastern mountaineers were disposed to hold ar
ticles Of subsistence at high price. Flour was
thirty dollars hundred at Platte Bridge, one
hundred and twenty-five miles beyond Fort
Laramie, and rising. The military forces were
in high spirits, and though travelling, with
every prospect Of enduring great hardships,
enthusiastic, and prepared for the worst
The explorations of the advance party Of the
wagon-road expedition had proved Of great
service to the command. The entire region
between the Salt lake and Snake river, the
South Pass and Thousand Spring valley, con-
Meeting the work of Stanbury and Fremont,
and hitherto unexplcred had been surveyed
and mapped; sixteen mountain passes exam
ined, all the tributaries of tae upper Green
river defined to their sources, the great Wah-
satch chain found to consist of four distinct
ranges. Numerous supplies of grass, wood.
and water had been discovered, and the va
rious wagon routes, two Of which avoid the
Great Desert of the Sandy, and one seven
days shorter travel, in distance Of five hun
dred miles, than any previously known. These
may be mentioned as some OF the results of the
explorations. The military force had, there
fore, abandoned the old line of approach, and
were advancing upon the valley Of the lake by
the open plains Of the western descent of the
Bear and Malay rivers.
Brigham Young had already disclaimed any
participation or knowledge of the overt act of
burning the supply trains, and the best Judges
of the Mormon character believe that the lead
ers Of this singular society will continue to en-
deavor to blind the eyes Of the General Gov
ernment and put off the day Of stand-up
fight to the last moment On the other hand,
old mountaineers are predicting the most dis
astrous consequences If the troops are not able
to fight their way into the CITY, The grass
burned, the forage well nigh eaten up, winter
setting in with several deep SHOWS, much of
the command far in the rear, and great range |
of mountains shutting it out from the northern |
wintering grounds, all seem to give weight to |
the supposition that the expedition will not be |
a successful one. Cache valley, which is an |
open, well-grassed plain, in which are several |
Mormon farms, and over which roam great |
nerds Of cattle and horses, the property Of the
church, will soon, however, be within striking |
distance Of the command