New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-20


Alexander and Col Johnston to the War Depart
ment that no attempt will be made during the pres
ent season By the Utah expedition to penetrate to
Salt Lake City. Col Johnston, who is the COM
msI6erin chief, writes that if he could communi
cate with Col. Alexander Gin command Of the ad.
vance, which includes the main force Of the expedi.
tom, be should order him TO take up good
position for the Winter" on Hams Fork, that 10,
10 remain where be was at the time of the Nor.
mon attack on the wagons thirty miles this side of
Fort Bridger, and more than hundred and fifty
lies from Salt Lake City. Col Alexander in his
dispatches intimatss an intention to advance, not
directly on Salt Lake City, but northwardly to
Soda Springs, distance of huudred miles or so,
but 10 resrer Salt Lake Cry than the position
which be then occupied. At Soda Springs, two
oo2rses would be open TO him. He might, il he
found the NormOns too strong for him, move of
moth east, It'll further from Crest SAT- Lake
toward the Wind River Mou stsns, where are
COED valleys for uinteriog, well supplied With
grass for the stock. Or, if able to overcome
the opposi,ion which he anticipates at
SODA Springs, he might then move down
the valley of the Bear River toward Great
Salt Lake. But, even in that case, he proposes no
more than to occupy some of the Mormon villages
10 Bear River valley, under the expectation that the
Moimons after defeat. would be willing to treat,
and would bring in provisions. 1t will thus be seen
that neither Col. Johnston nor Col. Alexander con.
templates an advance this Winter against Salt Lake
CITY, aid most likely Col. Jobnstou's plan will b.
carried out OF ~in,ering on Hams Fork. Col.
Alexander writes that he has already supplies for
six months BIZ side those with the trains which have
rot ct come up. The great fiicuty in wintariog
tie e1peoi,ion would seem likely TO be not much
in feedr the men a. in fe-dpg the stock If the
Mormons are diigent in destroying tho grs.s, they
might put the army TO great distress.
Not much further light is thrown beyond what
can be gathered from Brigham Young proclaua-
ton upon the intentions -of the Mormons. Young
bad assured Capt. Van yfet that # the troops did
not advance beyond Fort Bridger no aimed re-
sistar CO would be attempted, and that such was
YvunQ's intention would seem TO be confirmed By
the fact that previous TO the removal OF the troops
at Hams Fork more than hundred contractors
wagons hsd been parked there, which, though unde-
Tended. had not been moested by the Mormons,
though CT ntsipins provisions and supplies. As no
further eommun'cai had been received from
Brigham loupg, the officers in command did not
know whether or not be took the responsibility of
The destruction Of the wagons. A Mr. Lauder, the
Chief Engineer of Mssrs VS. Wagon Road Survey,
who recently passed through st. Louis On his way
to Washington, states, according TO The ST. Louis
Republican, that Brigham Young has already dis
claimed any knowledge or participation in the overt
act of burning the trains. But it is not stated to
whom this disclaimer va made, and, Is the officers
uske 20 me ntiOn of it the statement 10 dou ,tless
merely copectural. Ii is lot very likely that the
destruction of the wagons would have been At
tempted without Yoppg's orders. 1t is stated that
the advance party Of this wagon survey have made
explorations an disc oveiies in the Wahsatch noun.
tain chain which may prove Of great use to the fur
ther operations of the Utah expedition particularly
in tracing to their sources the tributaries Of the
Upper Green River, and in the discovery Of new
pa.se. BY which the Wshsatch Mountains may be
crossed aud the valley of the Great Salt Lake
Entered.
We D,lude, however, that The troops will re
Main for TIE Winter where they are; in which case
does no. seem probable that the Mormons, beyond
tienpis to intercept their supplies, will do any
hirg 10 arrOy them