The weekly Minnesotian., 1857-12-05
FTOW Ute ". 4. ZTTOUN6,
A Summary of the Mormon News.

Summary of the Mormon News.
Though the War Department at Washing
ton hesitates, as the telegraph informs us, to
receive as authentic the news of the destruc-
ton OF part of the Utah army provision
trains by the Mormons, there remains no
longer any room for doubt upon the subject.
We publish to-day letter from orr special
Utah correspondent, containing the full par
ticulars, and no doubt by this time the War
Department is in possession Of dispatches on
the same subject, forwarded by Col. Smith,
by the same express which brought our letter.
We also print an extract from the Leaven-
worth Times containing some particulars of
the attack as forwarded by express to Russ
ell q Waddell of that city, the contractors to
whom the wagons belonged The date of
the attack was the 5th of October, about
midnight, and the place that of the road IN
tervening between the Big Sandy and the
Green River, about half way from the South
Pass to Fort Bridger. The whole distance
between these two points is about hundred
and thirty miles, near fifty of which, in the
neighborhood Of Big Sandy, is complete
desert.
AT the time of the attack, the van of the
expedition under Col Alexander, now the
Commander in Chief, which was marching
upon Fort Bridger, was encamped on Hams
Fork, about thirty miles in advance, while
the rear of the expedition under Col. Smith
had not yet reached the South Pass. The
number of wagons destroyed is stated at sew
enty-five or eighty-five, all of which were
given up to the teamsters, with sufficient ra-
tions to enable them to reach Fort Laramie.
No personal injury was offered to any one,
the assalants disclaiming any intention to
shed blood unless some of the Saints should
first be killed. AS to the number of the as
sailants and their hackers, We have no very
definite information. The attack was made
by two distinct parties; one of the trains be-
ing some miles behind the other two. Nei-
ther of these parties, according to the infor-
nation obtained by our correspondent, ex-
ceeded hundred men. The suggestion that
Heber G. Kimbal was with them is not
probable, as he is doubtless better at preach
ing than fighting. The particulars ofthe at
tack were however, imperfectly known to
Col. Smiths camp, whence our letter was
written. A messenger had arrived who had
been the bearer of dispatches from Col. Alex
ander to Col. Smith, but as he had fallen
he had obeyed his orders by destroying his
dispatches. What was known to COL
Smiths camp appears to have been derived
from the verbal statements of the messenger
and from circular letter dispatched by
Capt. Marcy, to the train on the road, advis-
! ing them TO place themselves under Col
| Smiths protection.
The entire force of fighting men in the ex-
pedition does not probably exceed ten or
eleven hundred. 1t includes the entire
Tenth regiment of Infantry, eight compa-
nies of the Fifth Infantry, detachment Of
the Fourth Artillery, with six light pieces
and about sixty men, and an ordinance train
with heavy pieces, Of about the same
strength. The teamsters and other laborers
attached to the expedition might swell the
entire force to sixteen hundred or more, but
these last would have their hands full in TAX
ing care of the cattle. From the &outh PAS
to Fort Bridger, is, as We nave stated, & hun
dred and thtrty-one miles, of which more
than third part is perfect DESERT and tn,
whole difficult country, with very little
grass. What little there is, the same party
of Mormous employed in interceptlny tht
trains will doubtless set on fire and destroy
From Fort Bridger to Salt Lake City, the
direct road across the mountains, is one hun
dred and thirteen miles, but this is very
difficult route, with many narrow passes, liza
BILE to be blocked up with snow, hardly prac
tcable so late in the season at any rate, anc
still less so with the prospect of acti We resis
tance on the part of the Mormona. There il
another road, following the valley of the
Gear River north to Soda Springs, where
the Oregon y'ad forks off, and then turning
south by the same valley, and the eastern
shore Of the Great Salt Lake This route
nearly doubles the distance, but it is mucl
more practicable, and, should the expedition
advance into the valley. it will probably b'
by this read.