The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-12-31
THE UTAH EXPEDITION.
Correspondence Between Brigham Young and
Col, Alexander.


Col. Alexander.
We published, yesterday, an abstract of the cor
respondence between Col. Alexander and brigham
Young, embodied in dispatches received at the
War Department, from Col. Johnston, in command
OF the Utah expedition. A more detailed account,
published in the Washington StatA& Possesses coz
siderable interest, and therefore copy II below
Col. Johnston was, When he wrote, on the 9Th
ultr ct Glacks FORK, three miles below the mouth
OF Hands Fork. He arrived there two days pre-
yiously, aud was In few hours Joined By Col. II.
c. Smith, who had under his charge the trains of
supply. The march Of Col. Smith's command ave-
ragged only ii miles per day, owing to the broken
down condition Of the draught animals.
Numerous trains. Including suttiers and mer-
chants, destined for Salt Lake, were prevented by
Col. johnston from going on in advance, occupy
ing, In AS close order as they could be made 30
travel space of i've or six miles. No moles.ation
was attempted by the Mormons, owing TO the yigi-
lance Of the cavalry.
On the 9th ult., Col Johnston took up the line
OF march for Port Bridger 70 dslodge any force he
might find there. He expected to await at that
poiut the arrival OF Capt Cook with his dragons,
and thsn. winter being too to attempt the
passage OF the Wasbita mountains TO seize neigh
boring region and occupy it until ALI advance be-
came practicable He has ordered that all Nor
mons found with arms iD their hands, shall be
treaIed as aTowed enemies Of the United States.
The military stores destroyed under the orders
Of Brigham Young proved to be of less amount
than was at first spprehended. Col. Johnston
says, however; that fresh supply of commissary
stores should be forwarded early in the spring, 80
as 20 reach Utah by the first of June.
Ihe Mormon leaders seem to have attempted TO
frighten of our forces by writing long letters
Col Johnston encioses two communications dated
October 18th and 10th respectively from Brigham
Aoang TO Col. Alexander which both occupy several
pages; and also one from Elder John Taylor to
eaptain MARCY; which Is very long, bombastic.and
ridiculous. In his letter of October 14th Young
incuiges in great deal of admiration for the Con
stantion, expresses his utter hatred and CONTEMPT
for the President. and attempts TO make Col Alex
ander feel very much ashamed of himself for hsv.
ing anything to do with an expedition against the
innocent Mormon people
foungs letersof the 10th is In reply to Col Alex.
ander s OF the 18th of the same month By way
oil answering the charges of treason aud rebellion
made against him by Col. Alexander he saws:
i I'm regard TO myself and certain others having
pisccd ourselves in position of rebellion and hoe.
UNITY 10 the Governmaut of the United States,
am perfectly aware that we understand our true
anu most ioyai position far better than eue-
mics can inform Us. We, of all the people are en-
deayorIng to preserve and perpetuats the genins
OF tne Constltution and constitutional law while
the Administration, and the troops they have or.
dered to Utah, are, ia fact, themselves the rebels
| and In hostility to the General Government
1 AND II d.orge Washington now living and at
TIE helm OF our Government, he would hang the
| administration as high as he did Andre and that
/ 'oi oots-i ana 10 q much greater
| subservlng the best Interests of our country
"fou write, 1T becomes you to look TO the con
sequences; TOT you must be aware that so UNEQUAL
a contest can never be successfully sustained by
| the people you govern We have counted the cost
it may be to us; we look for the Utited states to
endeavor to swallow up, and we are prepared
for the contest, if they wish to forego the Const
tnon IN their insane efforts to crush out all hu-
man rights"
He orders the whole force to leave the Territory.
thus: 0 -
BY virtue of my Office as Governor of the Terri.
tory OF Utah, l command you to marshal your
troops ana leave this Territory, for 1t can be Of no
possible benefit TO you to waste treasures and bIood
10 prosecuting your upon the 81 ie of rebel
Hon against the General Government by IT'S admin.
istratofs- You have bad, and still have. plenty OF
tlme TO retire within te reach of Supplies a, the
East. or to go to Fort Hall. Should YOU conclude
TO comply with SO Just command and need any
Assistance 10 go East, s,fch assistance will be
promptly and cheerfuy extended. We do no,
"isn to destroy the life of any hnman being: but
on the contrary. ardenty desire TO preserve the
ives aud liberty of all, far as 1t may be- Ia our
power"
He writes Colonel Alexander to pay him friend
~ visit to salt Lake City, and to see the sights
Colonel, should you, or any of the officers with
you, wish tn visit this city, uuaccompapisd by
troops, as did Capt. Van viiet with view to per
sonay learn the condition and feelings Of this
pie, you are at liberty to do so, under III cheerful
~ profered assurance that You will be escorted
from our outposts to this city and back and that
during your stay in our midst you will receive all
that courtesy and attention your rank demands .
The letter of Elder Taylor to Capt Marcy is too
lengthy to publish In full, and too general In its
statements to admit OF being faithfully condensed
1t consists principally of very poor deeose OF the
religion OF the Mormons, and of the course which
they have recently pursued.
The most important portion of the dispatches
sent by Col. Johnston, is'sn Order issued BY D. Z
! Wells, commender Of the Moynop troops, to Ills
bsuboranate, Major Josqph Taylor, In whose pos
Esession the aofpmeat wa found when be was
scaptured ~ q detachment of Col. Alexanders y
forces. This portion published In full yester-
day.
| The States adds
1t will be perceived, from tbs abstract Of Col
Johnstons . letter TO the War Department which
we publish above, that when he took up hisline of
march for Fort Bridger, on the 9th rltiino ne was
| not aware Of the condition OF tia. post. nor in
deed, even whether the Msrmons still retained
possession of it.
We have, haweyer been favored with still later
| intelligence from that quarter, from which We
learn that the Mormons soon as they heard of
Ethe approach OF Colonel Johnston, burnt all the
Hbuildings ip Fort Rrdger, and evacuated the post
Thi5 fort, ever since its seizure by the Mormons
has been used by them central depot Of provi-
sions for the use Of the troops, who made forays
Il sgainst our forces. Col Johnston intends winter
ing In the Deighborhood, and will thus prevent
the Mormons from again getting possession Of the
post.