American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-11-13
FROM TuEsPL.lNs.


riew Of their Troops - Discourses By
Brigham Young and las Elders
THE Utah Expedition.
From the Special Correspond enes Of the Nstu York
sN Tribune.
FoRT LARAMIE, N. r. Sept %, 49,
57.-Capt. Van Welt, member Of
Gen. Harney's staff, arrived at this
post yesterday morning, on his way to
tho States from Great Salt Lake City.
He was detached by the General at
the beginning Of August, to proceed to
Utah, to gather necessary information
concerning the disposition of the in
habitants, the geography of the routes
to the Territory, the condition Of the
crops &C., and to report to headquarters.
lie returns with news which, perhaps
justities differences that the Utah com.
plication will present in history the
most prominent feature Of the admins
tration of MIR. Buchanan. The expires.
sion of determination to resist the
newly-appointed officials, and of the
United States army into Utah, is unan-
imous among the people Of the Terri
tory. You are probably aware already
OF the result of his mission, for cou.
rier, bearing dispatches to the head
quarters of the army, preceded his ar
rival here one day, reaching the
post on the evening Of Saturday, the
10Th, and departing the same night
But, in view of its Importance of char
acter. the following details cannot fail
to be interesting: ..s
Capt. Van Welt arrived at Salt Lake
City on Sept. 6, and remained there n
week. His measurement of its distance
from this post, by the Odometer, was
519 miles, corresponding very nearly
with that of Capt. Stansbury in 1949.
According to it the distance of Fort
Laramie from Leavcnworth, is 628
miles; as measured by Brcvct Colonel
Smith, who arrived here on Saturday
in command of Companies A and d of
the Tenth Infantry, who were detailed
in Minnesota from their regiment, the
total distance of the city from Fort
Leavcnworth is LAG miles, % miles
less than that given by Captain STAINS
bury. .. ....
lie left the escort on Mans Fork,
about twenty miles west of Green Rv.
or, and proceeded to the city, attended
only by his own servants. He had
been assured by every party he en-
countercd en- route for the United States
that his visit would be attended with
personal danger; but, on the contrary,
he was received and treated with the
utmost hospitality, offered many facil-
tiles for ascertaining the condition Of
the Territory and the disposition of the
inhabitants, and no obstacle was put to
his departure. An official dinner was
given in his honor by lIebcr G. kcmball,
and he had daily interviews with Brig
ham Young and the other dignitarics
of the Mormon Church. '..'
The expressed determination from
first to last was ths--to resist at all
hazards the ingress Of the troops this
autumn. When they were reminded
Of the certainty that in case their re.
siStancc one year should be cifectual,
force would be dispatched to Utah the
next, against which twice their popula-
ton in arms would strive in vain to
close the passes, they replied that they
had considered all that, and that when
such force had stormcd these passes,
they would enter valley in which not
one shrub would be green nor one stone
remain upon another. They took pains
to show him their gardens and vine
yards, their harvcsts, barns, houses,
and live stock, and to contrast their
present prosperity with such scene of
dcsolation. Their object now they
said was to gain time to enable the Ma
tional government to rotracc its steps,
and they intend to present their case
to Congress through their delegate, DR..
Bernhiscl, who accompanied Captain
Van Vliet on his departure, and is
now in his camp. 1t was at one peri
cd his determination not to proceed to
Washington this winter, but that was
reconsidered.
They said that they would regard
the entrance Of the troops as the be-
ginning Of repetition of their suffer-
ings at Kirkland, independence and
Nauvoo; that they had learned les
son from experience, and would now
meet aggression at the start, and re-
sst the wedge before it should enter
the wood; il they could not keep the
troops out this year, they would sacri-
flee all for their religion, take to the
mountains, and fight war of glory
and determination. Brigham Young
remarked repeatedly, that this was the
most glorious era Of his faith, and that
q happier day never dawned on Nor