Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-17

-x-s-sz aEtnp 4rtome ff0m 49, R1atDos - .szass
p. ogrs.s of the Utah Erpedifon-Tas Mormon
Rebellion con frned-Ths United States Forces
IN great di6semltiss-A Sarage War iasrita6le.
From the Ny Tribune special correspondent.
CAM, $50 miles from Fort laramie
p,ne 49, .t!s ,ss 81, Ls..
City1s month, he OVERHEARD but one remark
which induced him to believe that the declare
lions by the Mormons Of Intention to resist the
ton by Brigham Young, TO the effect that his in
tention was unaltered !, "a unless he should get
another revelation to thecontrary, which he was
sure that he should not -
The result has certainly justified the Prophets
confidence. No such revelation had been re-
ceived by him up TO October s, on which date
acts were committed under his direction which
cannot fail to end In bloodshed, On that day the
two regiments Of infantry aud the artillery and
ordnance batteries were encamped on Hams
Fork, which branches from Blacks Fork, which
Is a fork Of Green river. The two nearest sup
ply trains were but few miles distant from
Green river, on the east bank, and about thirty
miles from Col Alexander's camp. The next on
the road had advanced about twenty miles west
from Pacific Springs, which rise at short dis
lance beyond the South Pass. About IL o'clock
at night these three trains were surprised and
seized by parties of Mormons, their contents ex-
a AHMED and what, was worth piiiaging was
Each train consisted Of 20 wagons, and belonged
to the number sent out by Messrs Russell 4
Waddell, of Leavenworth City, contractors for
the transportation of stores 10 the army and for
the supply Of beef cattle The teamsters made
no resistance, and were unframed. These Nor
mon bands are understood to be under the COM
mand of Billn Hickman, although II Is ru-
mored that Heber C. Kimball attends them
They all well mounted and armed. each man
being provided with a California horse, and with
rifle and from one to three revolvers. Hickman
Is supposed to have directed the proceeding near
Pacific Spring, while a man named Locksmith
commanded near Green river. .-,L ...
Immediately upon the receipt OF the news of
this attack, Col. Alexander sent Capt. Marcy, OF
the 5th Infantry, with i've companies, back to
Green river. He arrived, however, only in season
TO take charge Of the cattle of the trains, which
that the troops would fatten them over winter,
when they would be In good condition for Nor
mon eating In the spring. Another of their jeur
desprit was remark to the teamsters that they
- had only burned the wagons this time, but
would be likely to burn the wagoners the next ;,
Colonel Alexander also sent despatc hes to Brevet
Col smith, from whose camp am writing, and
Captain Marcy sent by another messenger cir
cular letter to the trains on the road advising
them, for the sake Of safety, to place themselves
under Col Smiths protection. Both expressmen
were intercepted by the Mormons but as nothing
suspicious was found on their persons, and il did
not appear on what brands they Were bound
they were released. The one from Col Alexan.
der, pe.ceiving that it was impossible to avoid
according to his instructions, and we are ignorant
Of their contents. The other brought Captain
Marcy's circular safely through in the toe Of his
moccasin. .t. = % t.... - = '.'
We know, however, in the absence of the of.
fetal dispatches, that Capt. Marcy has rejoined
Colonel Alexander, and that the entire force has
moved to the north along Bear river towards
Soda Springs, where it will probably await the
arrival of the remaining supply trains, the suit.
lers' trains, Of the 5th and 10th Infantry, and of
Colonel Smiths battalious. The reasons for this
ent do not appear by glance at the map,
TO person unacquainted minuely with the con-
formation OF the country and the character Of the
Climate. The direct road to Salt Lake City,
passing Fort Bridgrr, Medicine Butte. and The
Needles, which Colonel Alexander has aban-
doned, is possibly by this time impossible to
wagons or artillery on account Of the weather
The season, which had been un commonly favor
able up to the beginning of October, has res umed
its natural severity. Ice has formed in our buck
cts every morning but one since we left Fort
Laramie. The northern slopes Of the mountains
are completely whitehead with covering which
will not melt till 1883, and even the southern
slopes are powdered seantily with snow, of which
there was fall on Saturday night that chilled
our road on Sunday and Monday and has mud
died il to-day.
The Mormons have probably burned the grass
along the entire route, and obstructed the defles
In which II abounds. in such manner that only
+ artillery could clear them. But II the army con-
centrates at Soda Springs ii will have before
road along valley open, it is said, even at mid
winter, direct to salt Lake City. know of no
chart which exhibits all the lines Of road on
which these movements will be made and in.
deed, am unable to gather from our guides n b
information as to trace them accurately on Capt.
Stansbury's map, which is the largest chart Of
be substantially these The direct route from
california to the States crosses the Wahsatch
Mountains far to the north of Salt Lake City, and
continues almost dne east to its junction with the
main road TO that city, which passes Fort Brdger
ana then runs on through the South Pass, divId-
ing, however, near Hams Fork, into three
branches, which cross the Green River and unite
beyond Big Sandy. From one the other Of
hes lead int
toward Fort Hall, passing Soda Springs, from
which, at the Springs, there Is a of into the
road direct from Font Hall, to Salt Lake City. 1t
Is over these latter roads and the cut of that Col
Alexander's march will be directed.
The Mormons who intercepted the expressmen
told them that they had a force of 10 men scat
the DEVILS Gate, through which the Sweetwater
flows, about 2OO miles from Fort Laramie, and
near which is dismantled Mormon mail station,
and at a fire from some Of whose logs we warmed
our feet not i week ago. But this must be
gross exaggeration. Neither Of the parties viii b
burned the trains exceeded 100 in Der, and il
Is dlfhcult to conceive how force Of even that
strength could have gained the rear of the army
unobserved. 1t is fact however, that ever
since the Mormons settled salt Lake, they
have been assiduous collecting Information con-
corning the topog Apply of the country, and many
of their leaders understand II as thorough ly as
the most experienced mountain guide The en-
ployment Of great part of their young men in
heTding cattle has made them acquainted with
to the saddle. 1t is these young men, and these
almost SOLELY who constitute the element Of the
Mormon military force from which there is dan
ger to be apprehrnded. They possess the ability,
If they have the Will, to carry on an annoying
guerrilla warfare, sweeping down from the
mountain passes upon single travellers and unpro-
tected trains. ..
arm unable to make an estimate OF the amount
OF stores destroyed by them in their foray Of Oc-
fober 5. The original amount intended for the
Utah expedition was an eight months supply for
$40 men, and each train was assigned proper
ton Of all the articles to be transported, including
even ordnance stores. Whether d fferent arrange
ments were made VIII IL was tholg b. necessary
to leave the I'd dragons with Gov. Walker In
Kansas, am not aware. At any rate, 1t is the
general impression that the loss of so great a
quantity Of provisions the = wagons must
have contained, would necesstate a movement
toward Salt Lake Valley, were not such a move
ment on other accounts consequence Of their de-
struction. The season will forbid the transmits
sion Of any further supplies or troops from the
East than now already far on their way.
Whether Col. Summers command has returned
from its pursuit of the Chevennes to the Arkan-
sas whether Col Cook is marching his Dragons
iowa DIS us TO I'LL out so far is now possible the