New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-28

Il
Salt Lake City; but the word. all in this con.
nection does not include more than half dozen.
The resident partner in the firm of Livingston
Kincaide & Co. intended to escape, if possible, TO
California.
| CAMP ON BLACKS FORK, Nov. 5, 1857.
| have been permitted to-day to read some Of
the papers found on the person of Joseph Taylor,
the Mormon prisoner, against whom writ was
issued yesterday charging him with high treason.
l regret that it was not in the power Of Col.
Johnston to allow me to take copies Of them. 1t
10 deemed advisable, for various reasons, to with.
hold them at present from publicity. am, how.
ever permitted to state the substance of one dOcu.
ment, which was q letter of instructions to him
| from the Mormon Commander-in Chief, dated
| October 4. 1t directed him to harass the troops
| in every possible manner on their march, by STAN.
peding, stealing and manning cattle, burning grass
wherever found and especially, if possible, on the
windwsrd of trains, 10 as to envelop them in the
flames; by hanging on the rear of the army and
cutting of any wagons which lag behind; by Telling
| trees 80 az to block the road &c. It stated,
| further that similar orders had been issued to
| William Hickman, Porter Rockwell and Col. Ben.
ton. / should like to hear any remarks which the
Col. Benton of Missouri may be pleased to make
| upon the commission Of his Mormon namesake.
This interesting document is signed "Yours in
Christ, Daniel III. Wells" and in postscript Mr..
Taylor is respjoined to do everything in his power
| to cripple the army, short Of taking life.
1t is probable that all the bandtti who have been
hanging around Col. Ae1anders command for the
last month are acting under precisely the same in.
structons. As yet they have taken but one soldier
prisoner-thc assistant hospital steward Of the
10th Iniantry-who was captured a fortnight
ago, while passing from the camp of his own regi.
ment to that Of the 9Th Infantry four or FIVE miles
distant. They have been more expert in stealing
cattle, and in addition TO the principal robberies,
| which l have recorded, they succeed in running
Of few head almost every night. On one occa-
sion am told, they stole 81 horses and mules
! within 500 yards of the camp.
What constitutes the basis for the distinction be-
tween their present system of hostilites, and the
| shedding of blood, l am unable to understand.
But whstever it may be, they give us official nfor-
nation that it will cease to exist the moment We
attempt to force passage through the mountains.
If it lies in belief that they do not become trail
tors till they take human life, they greater fools
than am willing to believe No such scruples ex-
lot on the side of the army, and on the first Occa.
sion on which soldiers musket can BIZ leveled at
any of the banditti, the trigger will certainly DO
pulled. In the present crisis there is no longer
room for child's play. There is but one alterna-
Al. ~. - Il Sfatas IN
be subverted and its territory appropriated by a
gang of traitorous lechers who have declared them
selves to constitute 80 free and independent
State" or Salt Lake City must be entered at the
point of the bayonet, and the ringleaders OF the
Mormon rebellion seized and hung. Whether such
Nh entrance can be effected this year is matter of
great uncertainty. My own opinion is that it can
not Even after COL Cook shall have arrived, the
strength of the regular army will not exceed 2,oOO
men, The dragoon horses will be unfit for service,
and an enormous train will embarrass all operations
| until depot is formed. The force which the Nor
mons will be able to put under arms, judge, after
careful and extensive inquiry, cannot exceed 5000
men. and Of these not more than one-half will be
formidable adversaries. If an American army
numbering hardly g. 900 able bodied men, wasab to
storm outwork after outwork, and at last to enter
| and occupy the capital of Mexico, gsrrisoned by
40, 900 regular troops, and inhabited by 100000
souls, the 1000 who will soon be gathered under
Col. Johnston's command have little reason to fear
foe only twice their number with whom religious
fansticsm supplies the place of military discipline
But the season is in war against US, and that is
among these mountains, more formidable enemy
Ever since the storm of October 10 and 10, We have
been remarkably favored by the weather. as we
were before. But last night came another heavy
fall of snow, and the shy is still lowering Before
We can disencumber ourselves Of the hundreds OF
wagons and thousands Of cattle which are entirely
dependent on military support it is too certain That
the Wasatch Mountains viii be covered to the
l depth Of several feet with snow. The utmost, in
| nv opinion, which Col. Johnston can be expected
| to effect within the next three weeks, viii be to
put himself into position to take advantage Of any
| favorable turn that may occur thereafter in the
weather, for rapid movement upon the Mormon
eupital. His determination "a evneed in the bead
ing Of the orders that issue from headquarters,
which read "en route for Salt Lake City" Wher-
] ever The amy nsy be stationed, it has supplies