Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-11-26
THE MORMON WAR.
Ahe dispatches of Coils. Alexander and
johnson.

Col alexander to the Adi,stant General
HEADQUARTERS Army FOR UTAH.
Camp Winfield, U. T., Oct. 9, 1857.
Col. s. Cooper, Adjutant General, u S H.:
SIR: have the honor to report that have as
sumed command Of the troops of the United States
consisting of part of the army for Utah, which
now encamped at this point. These troops the
Fifth Regiment Of Infantry eight comp ane7 of the
Tenth IHfantry, and the batteries of artillery (six
and twelve pounders) commanded by Capt. Phelps,
Fourth Artillery, and Reno Or nance Department,
respectively. This camp is situated on Hams Fork,
a tributaFy Of Bhcks FOX, which is in turn a
tributary Of Green River about fifteen miles above
tn" junction Of the two forks. Fort Bridger is dis
tant, in southeast direction, about thirty miles
The Tenth Infantry reached here on the 28th of
September-Phelps battery on the following day.
The Fifth Infantry arrived on the 4th OF October,
and Reno's battery on the same day. On the 9th
instant assume command, for reasons which
conceive to be Of the greatest importance to the
troops aud their supplies, aud Of which shall have
the honor to make full report when a safe and
more certain opportunity of sending dispatches pre-
6eHts Itself. At present can give only statement
of what has occurred since my arrival and report
the disposition l have determined to make of the
troops.
On the day after reacl ing Hams Fork and at the
first camp made on IT, received the enclosed let
ter from Governor Young and Lieutenant W els
The propositions they contain, however absurd they
are, showed conclusiVely that determined opposi-
ton TO the power Of the government was intended.
/ had met Ctpt Van VIiet on the 2Ist of September
returning from Salt Lake City, and wasinformed by
him that although the Mormons, or rather Govern
or Young, were determined to oppose entrance
into the city, yet he assured that no armed re-
sistauc- would be attempted il we went no further
than Fort Bridger and Fort Supply. l was still
further convinced Of this by the circumstance that
tram OF more than one hundred contractors wag-
ons had been parked for nearly three weeks on
ham fork without defence and had been unmo-
Tested, although they contained provisions and
supplies which would have been of great use to the
MOrmOns.
Upon receiving these letters prepared for der
fence and to guard the supplies until tn
nearest troops came up. Ireplied to Gov. Youngs
letter, copy of which enclose, and have not had
any further correspondence with him. On the
morning Of the 9Th of October the Mormons burnt
TWO trains OF government stores on Green river and
on the Big Sandy, and few wagons belonging to
MT + Try, suttler Of the 10th Infantry which were
lew miles behind the latter train. Colonel Waite,
OF the Filth, though not anticipating any act of the
kihu, was preparing to send back detachment to
t1ese trains from his camp on Blacks Fork when
he received from some transfers who came in the
Intelligence OF their being burned. No doubt now
existed that the most determined hostility might be
expected on the part Of the MormOns and it became
necessary from the extreme ateness of the
son, to adopt some immediate course for winter
ing the troops and preserving the supply trains
with US.
After much deIiberaton, and assisted by the
counsel OF the senior officers, have determined to
move the troops by the following route. Up Hams
york about eighteen miles, to a road called Sub
let's Cutoff; along that road to Bear river and
Soda Springs; on arriving at Soda Springs two
routes will be Open-one down Bear river valley,
toward the Salt Lake, and one to the northeast
toward the Wind river mountains, where good val
hes tOT Wntering the troops and stock can be found
The adoption Of one of these will be decided by the
following circumstances: If the rec under my
command IS sufficient to overcome the resistance
when expect TO meet at Soda Springs. | shall en-
deavor to force my wayinto the valley OF Bear ri yer
ana occupy some of the Mormon villlges, because
am under the impression that the Mormons after
defeat, will be willing to treat and bring provi-
sions for sale. The supplies on hand will last six
months, and if l can get possession of a town in
Bear river Valley can easily fortify and hold it all
winter. There also several supply trains in the
rear TO which l have communicated and if they
receive my letter in time they will be saved and
can join US. II the Mormons are too strong for u.s.
winch DO not anticipate, the other road will be
adopted and will make the best OF my way to the
mountains and tent for the winter.
desire TO impress upon you the fact that l.
though not the commander appointed to this army
have adopted this course because the safety of the
troops absolutely depends upon an immediate effort
and having Information which makes il certain that
the commander will not reach here before the goth
lusti and we wait until that time we cannot leave
the valley. The information allude TO is to the
eject that COL johnson had relieved Gen. Harvey
and had not left Fort Leavenworth on the 10Th of
September, and thirty days is the least possible
time IN which he arrive here. I cannot for
lear OF this being intercepted, tell you the strength
oil my command or send returns of IT, Il is strong
enough to defend itself and its supplies; whether il
IS able TO and sustain an offensive positioD
remains to be seen; but should the commands which
have heard are in the come up in time,
think We will have sufficient force TO carry out an
active invasion. If We are obliged to winter in the
mountains, you can perceive by a reference TO
Standbury's maps that VIC will have an open road
to Salt Lake City in the spring, and one which
am told is open early. By this one attack can be-
made and attention called from the main road (thst
by Fort Bridger), which may then be traversed by
troops. The Bear river route is however, said TO
be the best one into the valley. The other passes
through cauous that can be defended by handful
against thousands, and it is moreover so easily OBJ
etructed that in week it could be made utterly
impossible. The want of cavalry is severely felt
ana we are powerless on account of this deficiency
TO Ell CT any chastisement of the marauding bands
that are constantly lowering about US. On the 7th
inst. l detached Capt. Marcy, 9th infantry, with
four companies to Green river, to collect what be
could find serviceable from the burnt trains and to
disperse any bodies OF Mormons be found
! must most urgently impress upon the War De-
partment the fact that the small body of troops here
viii need reintorcementsa and supplies soon as they
possibly be got here next spring would fur
ther respectfully suggest that troops should be sent
from California and Oregon. Il Is said that the road
from California TO Salt Lake Is passable all winter
and it is certainly much earlier in the spring than
that from the States.
Your obedient servant,
E. B. ALEXANDER.
Colonel 10th Infantry, Commanding