American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-06-20
LARAMfs RIVER. N. r.,
May 9th, 1867.

May 9th, 1867.
DEAR UNIoN--By the last opportu.
nifty, | addressed you. giving You no.
tice that the troops at Forts laramie
and Kearney, N. r., were under orders
for Fort Laramie on Rouge river, Or
egop Territory, and that the balance of
the 9th Infantry was destined yia Fort
Benton on the Upper Missouri to Fort
Walla. Walla, in Washington Territory.
Lieut.. w. P. Carbin left Laramie for
Fort Leavenworth on the ODD ult., for
the purpose of procuring transporta'
ton and supplies for the command des-
tined to Fort Lane.
Yesterday our community was sur
prised to sec large party of whites
approaching from the West. The par
ty proved to be "Gentiles" from Salt
Lake, which place has been found to
be rather warm for honest people or
for any who do not profess to belong to
the Mormon Church. In this party l
found the Surveyor General Of Utah,
and Mr.. Morell, Who was appointed
Post Master for Salt FAKE last year,
and also Mr.. Farnpm, who has been
keeping boarding house for several
years, and is we'll known by the respec-
table gentiles who have resided in or
passed through Salt Lake City for
some time past.
This party was unmolested, and,
therefore more fortunate than others,
who have been pursued as far as $50
miles and attacked at night nominally
by Indians, with Navy size revolvers.
Brigham Young, the head Devil a.
mong the Mormons, has left protested.
| ly on a tour of observation to q Nor
mon settlement on Salmon river in
Oregon, and took with him three or
four of his favorite wives. 1t is sup
posed that he will not return, as there
has been much talk of a removal to
Vancouver 8 Island or the Lake of the
Woods. 1t is said that the Mormons
applied to Great Britain for permission
to settle on Vancouver's Island and
were denied that privilege. [ hope
such is the case, and that they may not
only remove from the United States
possessions, but be denied the privi-
lege of settling in any civilized or semi
civilized country, and be driven among
barbarians who will abolish the Sect
If n person wishes to leave the Nor.
mon Church he must steal away or he
will be pursued and murdered on the
highway. The Surveyor General of
Utah, told me that his party picked up
on the road Swiss man and his wife,
who left Salt Lake Valley, after hay
ing had all the means Of transporta-
ton taken from them and then forbid
den to leave. This Swiss lad overheard
orders given relative to the destroying
OF person or persons, and, therefore,
was a living witness, and his life was
the forfeit. He and his wife left Salt
Lake in the depth Of winter and trav-
cled on foot to Green river, about 165
miles through snow about a foot or u
foot and a half deep, leaving all their
children bchind-a brother-in-law, if
possible, to make his escape with the
children and join the parents at some
future period.
The Mormon Bishops have laid their
hands on many "destroying angels"
and called upon the Almighty to give
said angels strength and determination
to execute the duties Of their office, viz;
the making away with all persons among
this denomination who have or may
prove obnoxious to the Mormon pro-
fessors or the Church of the Latter
Day Saints.
/ have several times told you of the
oppression, &C., in Utah, and that ma.
ny persons would leave, particularly
females if they dared, had they the
means or an opportunity. If one has
means, and il is thought that he has an
idea of leaving the church or commu-
nifty, his stock is either killed or stolen
and driven of, or taken for church debt,
so as to deprive him of the mean of
escaping. When persons stock dis.
appears suddenly or is destroyed, In,
dams are always the depredators, ac-
cordng to report.
An attempt was made not long since
by the Mormons 20 induce the Indians
to kill the Surveyor General, his clerk
or his assistant, and the Indian agent
with others, but fortunately it failed.
Judge Drummond, after making his
charge to the Grand Jury about the
! plurality of wives, had TO escape sud
denly. Had he not left unexpectedly,
he would have been killed.
RANGER.