The Washington union., 1857-11-14
FROM UTAH BURNING OF GOVERN
MTSNT WAGONS BY THE MoRMONs.

- f.a.
The following important news appears in the 81
Louis Republican of the 1lth instant 1t will be seen
that news had reached Lawrence that the Mormcns
had burnt seventy.fte government wagons, We're
gret to add, that letter wss received in this city
yesterday from an entirely reliable source confirming
the intelligence
Higiyimportant intelligence has just been received
at Fort Leayenworh by express from Fort Laramie with
advoes OF October 22d Lieut. Col Cookies command OF
second dragons four miles this sde and had en-
counered snow-storm five days previously. Col Al
bert s. Johnston was last heard from two hundred and
thirty miles beyond Fort Laramie and snow seven
inches deep hundred miles this side OF where the
press left him Owing TO the slim supply of corn, and
entire absence of grass, the teams of the entire command
and the horses Of the second dragoons were Ealing rap
idly
g News had reached Laramie that the Mormons had
burnt thee government trains seventy wagons) near
Green river ninety miles behind Col Alexanders COM
mand doth infantTy which constituted the vanguard
of the army 1t runored that the 10th and 9th in
ny and the batteries Of artillery would go over and take
possession of Mormon village ON Bear river for winter
quarters. II Is said that the dragons had month
supply of corn at hafallowance and not particle of
grass With snow the ground at that it seems like
madness for them to proceed beyond Laramie certainly
such step could only be justified in yiewof the prospect
of actual hoses this winter OF which no one at this
distance can judge.
There was probably never before any portion of our
army subjected to such prvations and TO whom the m
presents such gloomy picture as the at pres
ent with the anmy for Utah And it can be said with
out dsparagemcnt to Others that portion of our army
could have been better selected TO battle with the hard
ships of cmpaign which more than all others proves
the soldier than the 'aymy for Uth The commander,
Col Albert S. johnson, of the I'd cavalry stands among
the stin ability in the army with the indeiatgable
Mai Fitzohn Porter at his elbow. Under his command
and eulatng him in the patriotic zeal of warriors are
the respective commanders of the 10th infantry Colonel
Alexander and the 5th infantry Lieut. Col Waite while
the trying utythe almost hopeless task Of conducting
the rear guard tthe six companies of I'd dragoons
througha snowy path to its distant goal with Lieut.
Col Cooke. No familiar with the operations Of our
army for the last twenty years will fear that any OF these
officers will prove recreant to the important trusts con-
fded to them We may rest assured that If, upon Col
Johnson arrival on the verge Of the salt Lake Valley
circumstances urge the propety of immediate action, Of
fensvey towards the Mormons ,r be d5c with bold
and decisive hand Certainly act is better calculated
to hasten the inevitable doom Of Mormonsn than this
attempt their part to destroy the army supplies
Nothing should shield them from the Just retrbnton Of
an outraged government,
'tWe doubt if Colonel johnson will be able, when his
whole force is concentrated to muster thousand
men for duty. Such army far from the base line is
too small to cope long with vigorous resistance n