Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-11-26
ruE f:ouERNMExT xTDEsPATcHEs.


Camp Winfield, e. r., Oct. 3, 1857.
Col S. Cooper, Adjntant General Il. s. A.:
SIR-I have the honor to report that hare
assumed command of the troops of the Uni-
ted States, consisting of part of the army of
Utah, which are now encamped at this point.
These troops are the Fifth Regiment of In
fantry, eight companies of the Tenth Infan-
try, and the batteries of artillery tsix and
twelve pounders)- commanded by Captains
Phelps, Fourth Artillery. and Rens, Ordnance
Department, respectively. This camp is sit
uated on Hams Fork, q tributary of Black q
Fork, which is in turn tributary of Green
river, about fifteen miles above the junction
of the two forks. Fort Bridger is distant, in
southeast direction, about thirty miles
The Tenth Infantry reached here on the 18th
of September; Phelps Battery on the follow
ing cay. The Fifth Infantry arrived on the
4th of October, and Reno's Battery on the
same day. On the 9Th inst, assumed com
mand, for reasons which | conceive to be OF
the greatest Importance to the troops and
their supplies, and Of which / shall have the
honor to make 4 full report when safe and
more certain opportunity of sending des-
patches presents itself AT present | can
give only statement Of what has occurred
since my arrival, and report the disposition
| have determined to make Of the troops.
On the day after reaching Hams Fork, and
at the first camp made on it, | received the
enclosed letters from Gov. Young ard Lieut..
Gen. Wells. The propositions they contain,
however absurd they are, showed conclusive
ly that determined opposition to the power
Of the government was intended. | had met
Capt. Van Welt on the 2lst of September,
returning from Salt Lake City, and was in
1 H. n1sL~. @kx<
or rather Cor. Young, were determined to
oppose an entrance into the city, yet he was
assured that no armed resistance would be
attempted if we went no further than Fort
Bridger and Fort Supply. ! was still further
convinced Of this by the circumstance that 4
train Of more than one hundred contractors
wagons had been parked for nearly three
weeks on Hams Fork without defence, and
had been unmolested, although they contain
cd provisions and supplies which would have
been of great use to the Mormons.
Upon receiving these letters prepared for
defence and to guard the supplies near US
until the nearest troops came up. l replied
TO Gov. Young's letter, n copy of which | en-
close, and have not had any further cores
pOndence with him. On the morning Of the
5th of October the Mormons burnt two trains
of government stores on Green river and on
the Big Sandy, and few wagons belonging
to Mr.. Perry, sutler of the 10th Infantry,
which were few miles behind the latter
train. Col Waite, of the Fifth, though not
anticipating any act OF the kind, was prepar
ing to send back a detachment to these trains
from his camp on Blacks Fork, when he re-
ceived from some teamsteTs who came in the
intelligence Of their being burned. No doubt
now existed that the most determined hostiIi-
ty might be expected on the part Of the Nor
mons, and il became necessary from the CT
treme lateness of the season, 10 adopt some
immediate course for wintering the troups and
preserving the supply trains with US. After
much deliberations, and assisted by the coun
sci Of the senior officers, I~haye determined to
move the troops by the following r0ute:-Up
Hams Fork about eighteen miles, to = road
called Sublette's Cut off; along that road to
Bear river and Soda Spring on arriving at
Soda Spring two routes will be open-one
down Bear River alley towards the Salt
Lake. and one tn the northeast towards the
Wind River Mountains, where good valleys
for wlnterIng the troops and stock can be
found. The adoption OF one Of these viii be
decided by the following circumstances III
the force under my command is sufficient TO
overcome the resistance which / expect to
iilcSt A2cAd SuIiA GAIEaR0E 10 I5TEG
my way into tile valley of Bear river and oc-
cupy some of the Mormon villages, because
am under t!.e impression that the Mormons,
after defeat. will be willing TO treat and
bring provisions for sale The supplies on
hand will last six months, and if | can get
possession of town IN Bear River Va lev
can easily fnrtify and hold il all winter There
are also several supply trains in tie rear, to
which | have communicated, and if they re-
ceive my letter in time they Will be saved. and
can join us. Ii the Mormens are too stron :
for Us, which | 90 not anticipate, the other
road will be adopted and ! viii make the best
of my way TO the mountains and tent for the
winter.
l desire TO impress upon you the fact that
/, though not the commander appointed TO
this army, have adopted this course because
the safety vi the troops absolutely depends
upon an immediate effort, and having infor-
nation which makes it certain that the com
mander viii not reach here before the Goth
inst, and if we wait until that time VIC can
not leave the valley The information Al.
lude to is TO the effect that Col. Johnston had
relieved Gen. Harney, and had not left Fort
Leavenworth on the 10th of September, and
thirty days is the least possible time ia which
he can arrive here. cannot, for fear of this
being intercepted, tell you the strength of my
command or send returns of it, II is strong
enough TO defend itself and its supplies /;
whether it is able to assume and sustain an
offensive position remains TO be seen; but
should the commands which have heard are
ia the rear come up in time, think we will
have sufficient force TO carry out an active in
vasion. If we are obliged to winter in the
mountains, you can perceive BY a references
to Standbury's maps that we will have an
open road to Salt Lake City in the spring.
and one which / am told is open early. By
this one attack can be made and attention
called from the main road THAT by Fort
Bridgerl which may then be trayersed by
troops. The Bear river roGte Is, however.
said to be the best one into the valley. The
other passes through canons that can be de-
Tended by handful against thousands, and