The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1857-12-31
From Washington.


three miles below the mouth of Hams
Fork, Nov. 5. Col. johnson states that
Col. Smith, with bis command and the
numerous trains guarded by it, reached
there Nov. 3. The march was slow and
tedious, averaging eleven miles day
Although the road was excellent and the
weather fiue, it was not possible to make
more rapid progress on account OF the
broken down condition of the draft anl-
mails. The trains, including the settlers
and merchants destined for Salt Lake,
which he would not allow to 60 on, occu-
pied as close an order as they could be
made to travel the space of from FIVE to
six miles. No moleststion whatever was
attempted by the Mormons, which may
be attributed to presence of the casalry,
and the judicious dispositions of vigilance
of Col. Smith. On the 9th of November
Col. Johnston was to march on Fort
Bridger and dislodge any force be might
find there, and await the appearance of
Col. Cook, when, as the approach of Win.
ter was too near to attempt the passage OF
the Wasach range of mountains with a
probability of success, he would seize u
pon the district mentioned in bis letter
from the South Pass, and occupy it until
an advance shall be practicable.
The communication from Brigham
Young to Col. Alexander, and Eidcrs--
and Taylor to Capt. Marcy, and the or
ders of d. Wells, commander of the Nor
mons, which Col. johnson iDcloses, and
the acts of the Legislative Assembly at
the lat session, show, be says. a matured
and settled design on the part of the Nor
nous to hold and occupy the Territory
Independent and irrespective of the au.
thority of the United States, occupying
as they do, the attitude of rebellion and
open defiance Of the Government, connect.
ed with numerous overt act, Of treason
Col. Johnston has ordered that whenev.
er they may be met with in arms they
may be treated as enemies, and he reiter'
ates the necessity for prompt aud vigor-
Gus action, or the United States must sub,
init to the usurpation of their territory
The conduct Of the Mormons, he says, re-
suits from q settled determination on
their part not to acknowledge the author
ity of the United States, nor any other
outside of their church. He adds. sup.
ply of subsistence must be forwarded ear.
ly in the Spring 1t should reach the
army by the first of June.
Should a long time elapse without hear
ing from him (Scott), Col. Johnston says
it must be attributed only to the difficulty
of sending expresses across the noun
tains in the Winter months.
The officers and men are reported to
be in fine health and amin ated with an
ardent desire to discharge fheir Duties
faithfully.
In postscript Col. Johnston says the
army has made one days march since
the 5th, and that on the 7th they were a.
waiting the arrival of the trains delayed
the day before by a storm. "Our trains, p"
be adds, occupy, in as close an order as
they can travel, the road from thirteen
to fourteen miles; therefore the rear can.
not move till late in the day."
Among the documents transmitted is a
letter from Brigham Young, dated Octo-
Der Is, in which, replying to Col. Alex
der, he says:
"If you have come here for peaceful
purposes, you have no use for weapons
of war. We wish and ever have wished
for peace, and have ever sued for it all
the day long. as our titterest enemis; and
though the wicked, with the Administra-
ton, now at their head, have determined
we shall have no peace, except it be to be
down in death, in the name of Isreals
God, we will have peace, even though
we be compelled by our enemies to fight
for it. If you persist in your attempts to
perm anently locate an army in this Terri
tory, contrary to the wishes and Consti-
tutional rights Of the people therein, thus
aiding the Administration in their uDhal-
lowed efforts to palm their corrupt Off
cials upon us and protect them-tbe
backlegs, black hearted scoundrels,
who're % asters, and murderers-as was the
sole intention in sending you and your
troops here, you will have to meet a mode
Of warfare against which your tactics fur
nish you no information. In regard to
myself and certain others having placed
ourselves position of rebellion and hos
tility to the Government Of the United
States. l am perfectly aware, and we
understand our true and most 10y al posi-
ton far better than our enemies can in
form US, We. of all people. are endsavor-
ing to preserve and perpetuate the geni,
US, the constitution and constitutions al Law;
while the Administration anG the troops
they have ordered to Utah are, 10 fact,
themselves the rebels, and 10 hostility
to the General Government; and if Geo.
Washington was now living and at the
helm of our Government, be would hang
the Administration as high as be did An
dre, and that. too, with far better grace
and to much greater subscribing of the
best interests of the country"
After much similar aud defiant Ian.
guage Young says:
"By virtue of my Office as Governor of
the Territory of Utah, l command you to
Ill