Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-12-17
From the Weston, Mo, Dispatch, extra, Dec. 3.
Later News from Utah and the Plains.

Later News from u ta and the Plains.
| In consequence of the great interest which is
felt in relation to the affairs of Utah. and upon
the plains, we hasten to lay the following before
our readers:
By the arrival of an express from Ham sFork.
| sent in by Wadde., Russell g. Co., and also
bearing government dispatches, we have much
later news from the plains than that which has
been published. The expressman, Mr. Stephen
L. Rannabarger, who was wagon master of the
| train of Messrs. Waddell, Russell 81 Co. which
was destroyed by the Mormons, left Hams fork
about o'clock on the morning of November
LIST, and arrived in this city this evening.
Mr.. Rannabarger had charge OF the cattle of
the destroyed train of Waddell Russell & Co.,
but having only nine men they were attacked
by about seventy -fveMormons within two miles
Of Colonel Alexanders command, and the cattle
taken from him. He informs us that the Nor
mons had burned the grass in every direction,
and that the government stock was starving and
freezing to death at the rate of fifteen or twenty
per day. This is the more seriously felt, as the
horses attached to the battery from this cause
already inadequate to the service required of
them.
The news from Salt Lake, received up to the
time of the departure of the express fully con-
arms the news already received of the determin-
tain passes strongly fortified at each of which
IS stationed forty or fifty men, who in their po-
sition are well able to stop the further approach
Of our troops during the winter.
Col. Alexander had taken .hree Mormon pris-
n ers; among them. a brother of the notorious
murderer, w. II. Hickman. 1t was the custom
| of the Mormons to keep party of camp follow
ers constantly in the rear of tho troops, for the
purpose ofgetting all the stock left behind as
strays sc. A file of soldiers were concealed IN
. ravine to capture one Of these parties and
single man sent out as a decoy. The Mormons
| readily took the bait and were led in pursuit of
the single soldier to the ambush, when the SOL
diers fired, killing and taking the three pris-
oners before mentioned.
Col. johnson was met on the Big Sandy, sew
enty miles from Hams fork, having under his
charge and escort all of the government provis-
ION trains, and also the trains of the different
traders, and was averaging about ten miles per
day, and expressed determination to go into
Salt Lake City this winter
Met Col Cock with his regiment of cavalry at
Grease Wood creek, twelve miles this side of In
dependence rock-wss destitute of corn for his
horses; would reach tho camp Of Col. Alexander
in ten or twelve days.
Forty of Mcgraw's men belonging to The wag
on road expedition. had been mustered into ser
vice. Some of these complain loudly of Nc
graw's inhumanity toward them, alleging that
they had been abandoned on the plains seventy
eight or eighty miles from assistance, without
provisions.
twas thought that all the teamsters on the
road would be mustered into service.
Jesse Jones was prisoner in Salt Lake City
enjoying the freedom of the place, but restricted
from going beyond its limits.
The Mormons say that they will fight to the
death in defence of their city if the troops at
tempt an entrance this winter, and that in the
spring they will burn the city and 90 to the
mountains, where they have provisions to last
them for four or five years.
Mr. Hamburger came through alone dis
lance of 1900 miles; passed through about one
hundred lodges ofIndians. but was not moes.ed;
encountered much rain, sleet, and snow on the
other end of the roads; was lost two days in a
snow storm at South pass, and laid by at Lara
mic three days from there encountered much
snow before he reached Patterson rancho.
Met two outgoing mails-one al Independence
rock, end the other at O'Fallou's bluff, on the
South Platte. Mr.. R. will return with dispatch
es, leaving Fort Leavenworth on Saturday next