The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-10

The Utah Expedition and Brigham Young.
We observe that some little anxiety is ex-
pressed in different quarters for the safety of
the Utah expedition under the command of
Col. Johnston.
We apprehend, however, from careful ex-
animation of the subject that no fears need be
entertained for its safety, whether arising from
the Mormons or the severity Of the weather.
When last heard from, in the beginning of Oc-
Der, the main body of the expedition, number
ing over one thousand bayonets and two field
| batteries-one six and the other twelve
FOUNDER battery-were encamped on Hams
Fork, l4s miles this side of Salt Lake City,
under command of Col. Alexander; and it
would appear from his report that he intended
| to select some place in that vicinity, and 60
into winter quarters. There are many points
both on Bear and Green rivers-a few marches
only from Hams Fork-where an abundance of
fuel can be had, and where our troops can
make themselves comparatively comfortable for
the winter and where, also, by throwing up
slight field works and arranging judiciously
their five hundred wagons and twelve pieces of
artillery, they can defend themselves success
| fully against the entire Mormon host, even if
| led on by the redoubtable Kimball, backed by
| his twenty-five sons and thirty wives. There is
also an abundant supply ofprovisions with the
expedition, Notwithstanding the loss of the
seventy-eight wagons which were burnt by the
destroying angels under command of the saint
| ly Bill Hickman, as the government had taken
the prccaution to throw forward an extra guam
| tity of subsistence stores to meet all emergen-
| cies.
| In addition to the force above alluded to,
| Col. Johnston, on the 18th of October was in
| the vicinity of the South Pass 95 miles in rear
of Col. Alexander's command, with some 100
| infantry and 125 dragons, and long ere this he
has no doubt joined the army and assumed
command of it. Besides these troops there
were at the same time six companies of
the Second Dragons, under Colonel Cooke,
making forced marches to join Colonel John
ston; and we observe from the report of Indian
Agent Forney, from Fort Laramie, that they
passed that post on the oath Of October. When
Col. Cooke joined the main body-which he
doubtless succeeded in doing some time since,
unless stopped by the SHOWS in the vicinity of
the South Pass and the Wind River Mountains
our Utah forces were swelled to over LOGO
efficient men.
1t is to be regretted, now that the Mormons
have declared war and thrown down the gage
of battle, that our troops did not arrive one
month earlier in the season in front of the
strongholds of the bellicose Saints; for we be-
ieve that our gallant men could have forced
the mountain passes anu either captured or
destroyed Brigham Young, this Mahomet Of the
New World, and his fanatical followers. 1t must
be remembered, however, that when this Utah
expedition was organized no one believed the
not until the return of Captain Van Vliet from
Utah that any opposition was anticipated, and
even then the great majority Of the people and
the press remained incredulous; and it was only
when the Captains judgment was backed up
by Brigham's proclamation, and the destruction
of our provision trains, that the country was
undeceived and the government found Nor
mon war on its hands Had the Mormons Of
fered no resistance our troops would have had
ample time to reach the Salt Lake Valley, and
would now be basking in the smiles of the Nor
mon beauties, instead of breasting the fierce
winds and cold storms Of Rocky Mountain
winter
In considering this speck of rebellion and
civil war, II might be interesting to
speculate as to the result. That the govern
ment will grapple with 1t with all
necessary energy, and in one short and decisive
campaign quell it, is quite certain; but that in
so doing we shall kill Mormonism, or rather
purify 1t of polygamy-for that appears to be
the great Objectionable feature-admits of
great doubt
The sword has never yet convinced a man
that his religion was false and we very much
doubt il 1t will ever convince the Mormon that
II l. wrong for him 10 surround himself with n
dozen wives, or that Brigham Young is not
true Prophet. We are inclined to believe that
a good strong corps Of parsons would do more
to suppress Mormonism than half dozen regi-
ments of United States troops; and We would
recommend, now that Kansas has stopped bleed
ing that Mr.. Kalloch, and the other three thou
sand New England parsons-their occupations
being gone-be organized into regiments, and
sent to Utah, In order to teach the Mormons the
error of their ways Should the church mill
tant fail, We can then use the strong arm of the
government.
We may not, however, have to fight the Nor
mons, after all; for already indications are
abroad that the Saints are on the eve Of another
hegira Orders have been issued TO the faithful
in England and Wales prohibiting further emf
grafton to the United States, as the Almighty
has pointed out another place for them to go to-
All their missionary establishments in the
United States have been broken up all their
settlements on this side Of the mountains and in
California have been abandoned, and from every
III. II hn Tho L nrdsn