Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-12-25

From the Washington Union.
The Utah Expedition.
The following interesting letter from Col. Johnston
was yesterday morning received at the War Depart
ment
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF UTAH,
South Pass, en- route to Salt Lake City,
October Is, 1857.
| MAJOR Accompanying this communication | send
you two letters from Col. Alexander the commander at
present of the main body of the army of Utah In his
letter of the 8th of October COL Alexander questions by
the hesitation with which he them his right to
exercise fully all the duties of commander. His author
y to exercise them without restriction clearly grant
ed by the 62d article of the army which specially directs
who shall command in the absence cf General Harvey,
or to be inferred any other named commander and suf
tclenty explains the objects of the expedition, and
question for the decision of the commander beyond his
ordinary military duties could arise before the arrival of
Gov. Cumming.
Misapprehendng the authority with which he is in
vested by law and the generanchie that portion of
his letter respecting command would be- if he was cor
rect In his views OF his position merited reflection
uponhs superors, andt is therefore that have advert
ed to it, Pursuing his design indicated in his letter of
Oct 6th he you will learn from his letter of Oct l4th
herewith has advanced up to Hams fork of Green
River, 35 miles above the crossing see map herewth)
aRe there directs the movements to be made by his
Immediate command and the troops in his to form
junction. which, from erroneous suppositions would be
wholly lmpractcable First he evidently believes that
COL Smith, escorting the remains Of the supply trains
lin all about nine including three suffers trans is ad
vanclng on the Kinney road Cut off with the force
named in Gen. Harney's order Of August Is, and of
course he has not received the counteand of that Or
der. He assumes that the command in is capable
OF more rapid movement than his and, therefore,
after waiting one day at the point indicated will
his march, In this asO he would have been disappoin-
ed the trains in rear, suffering from fatigue and
city of subsistence and without rest which the teams
with him have had, could not if where he supposed Them
! Overtakc him
These the facts and if known by Col Alexander,
his disposition determined in his letter Of October s,
would have been wholly different. Col Smith is here at
this camp with fifty men of his regiment. overlook
him the day before yesterday the 18th instant about
twenty miles east of this, and have added my escort
fifteen dlsmountcd dragons, to his force Lieut. Smith,
Ill command OF squadron Of dragons and fifty Of the
tenth Infantry force of about two hundred men, may
be expected here i'll three four days lie is Of
the necessity OF prOmptness, and will lose
time. Mr.. William Magraw superintendent of the
South Pass road, with patriotism highly creditabe to
him. places at the disposition Of the government many
of his employees as will volunteer. He thinks fifty or
sixty will organize, and have agreed to accept their
services, and have them mustered in for three six
months, they may select and he has also rendered
fifteen good teams of mules and wagons which have
also accepted and directed them to be receped for when
delivered -Four supply trains containing clothing (of
which the troops now in the advance | am informed,
begin to nccd ordnance, medical and subsistence stores
still i'll the and may be expected in two three
days The storm of last night may have destroyed some
OF their Oxen and on that account there may be
delay than | estimate. Eleven mules of Col Smiths
train persisted from cold last night. The thermometer
this morning at sunrise at sixteen degrees above
zero the sky is now clear, and the thermometer at
O'Clock stands at 81 and the small quantity of snow
that fell during the night is melting that the animals
can Craze freely. am thus minute that the for
the order transmitted to Colonel Alexander yesterday
morning (herewith) may be fully comprehended His
intended movement, if met with opposition, would have
retarded his march to have made it mpracticable
and would have probably enanged him in the midst
of the deep snow of the valley of Bear river, which
understand never fails to fall there and usually early in
the season. as to place him beyond the Of extrica
ton. Our most potent enemy at present is the snow,
and constitutes at present our chief embarrassment
The movement of Colonel Alexander flor reasons
have mentioned and of which he could not be apprsed
would have separated him from supplies indispensable
to the comfort and safety of the army, and deprived him
of the assistance of the force which will be concentrated
here in a few days which, however small being partly
of cavalry, is of vital Importance
In ordering Colonel Alexander to the mouth of Fon-
enele creek, position about thirty miles from his camp
on Hams Fork, did so with the design of making a
junction practicable. 1t is about seventy miles hence
and he can reach it by good road, and without any
danger Of surprise There is there abundance of grass
and it is point from which he can reach the region
intended to occupy this winter without rskng the loss
of our animals. AS the falls sufficiently
on Green river to prevent the burning of the grass
will march to Henrys Fork and occupy that valley dur
ing the winter. 1t is commanding position and ac-
cesbe two months earlier for renforcements and sup
plies by Cheyenne Pass than any other and will enable
me to reach it by Fort Bridger and the most direct
route to Salt Lake City practicable in the
spring. At this position, also, Colonel Cook can ion
which still entertain the hope he will be able to do
greatly regret that the mpossblity of concentrating
the troops destined for this service and their supplies
will prevent forward movement before spring. 1t is
manifest that before the force can be united the
autumn will be too far advanced to move with proba-
bity of success, though not opposed by the Monons
You are already apprised by the proclamation of
Brigham Young and his letter to COL Alexander which
Transmitted the 18th inst of the political attitude
assumed by the Mormons and the resistance they med-
tate to the just authority the government desires to ex
ercse in that Territory and the no doubt
has already considered the necessity of conquest of
those ratoOus people, and has estimated the force ne
ccssary to accomplish the object With full view of
the whole subject before him. his great experience would
not be benefited by any suggestion of mine. l will
however mention that unless large force is sent here
from the nature OF the country-a protracted war on
their part is inevitable The great distance from our
source of supply makes it mpractcable to operate with
a small force. 1t in fact requires the employment of
such force to guard the numerous trains of supplies
leaving but small portion if any, for offensive opera
tions. movement of troops from California Oregon
and by this route would terminate war with the Nor
mons speedily and more economically than if attempted
by insufficient means.
In five six days think we will have all the force
available here for such forward movement By that
time the trains will be up they should be here sooner
In twelve days from this time expect to join Colone
Alexander at near FOntenele creek
The General may be assured that no retrograde move
ment will be made by this force
With GREAT rcSnpct Ohn1n nt carvon+