The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-05
Capt. Van yIeIt's Official Account Of his Visit
ID utnh.

| HANS Fogg Sept, 10, 1851
cATTnS--I have the honor TO rcnort for The infnr
nation o; the Commanding General the result of my trim
4 10 the Territory OF Utah
IN obodcncc to special instructions dated Uoadouar
tors Army for Utah Fort Leavenworh, July IS 1857,
lett Fort ieavenworh July 10 aud reached fort kearney
IN nine travelling days Fort ilmie in ten and Great
Lake CITY IN thirty three and haf. At Fort kearncy
was detained one day BY the changes had To make and
by sickness, and at Fort Laramie three days tho
animals we're forty miles from the post. and when
bough, in all had be shod before they could take tn.
read travelled as rapidly as II possible do with
six mule wagons Several Of my teams broke down, and
AT least hail ol my animals unscrvccabc, and will
remain until they recruit During my progress towards
| Utah ! met many people from that Territory, and
also several mountain Mt Green river and all informed
me that would not be allowed 10 enter Utah. and II did
would run great risk 81 losing my life treated all this
however as idle talk: but il induced me TO leave INV
wagons and cscort at Hams Fork las miles this side Of
the city and proceed alone.
reached Great salt Lake City without molestaiion and
Immediately upon my arrival l informed brigham
Young that desired Interview, which he appointed
The nest day On the tvcnng Of the day my arrival
Gov Young, with many of the leading OF the city,
called upon me at my quarters. The Governor received
me most cordially, treated curing stay which
continued some SIX days, with the greatest hospitality and
kindurss In this interview the Governor maize known
o. me- his views with regard 10 the approach Of the United
states troops % PLAIN and umistikeabie language.
lie stated that the Mormons had been prosecuted,
dcrcd and robbed Ia Missouri AMI Illinois, both by tho
tno' anu stat" authorities, and that the United suites
about pursue the same cour.p AMI that there
fore he and the people OF Utah hid determined resist
all persecution AT the commencement AMI that the troops
zoe On nc morch for C'ah siorid na enter the Greas
prcscn, conegrrcd most heartily what he said mo
next day NJ agreed upon called upon The Governor and
trusted
In that interview and in several subsequent ones ,hs
samo determination 10 resist 10 the death the entrance a
the TROOPS mto The Valley expressed by Governor
Young and these about him The tuvcrnor informed
that there abundance or everything required for
W. ir"s such ~ lumber forage, NC, but that mono
In the Of my conversation with the Governor
and the influential men in the Territory told them plainly
bv he rg4ut uf heir
present told them that they might prevent tho
small military force now approaching Utah from getting
through the deiles and rugged passes IL the
mountains this year but that scasua tho United states
government would send troops sufficient overcome all
opposition The answer 10 this wa invariably the same,
We aware that such will be the case but when thoo
troops arrive they viii find Utah a desert every house
and every held lad waste We have three years provi
sons on hand, which will cache and then take 10 tho
mountains and bid defiance to all the powers Of the go
vernment" attended their service Sunday, and IN
course Of delivered by Elder Taylor he referred
20 the approach Of the troops and declared that they should
MT enter the Territory. lie then referred 70 the prooa
hly of An oyerpowerng force being sent against them,
ana desired all persons who would apply the loren 70 her
own buildings, down their trees and lay waste their
fields 70 hold up their hands every hand in audience
numbering over 1000 persons raised ~ inc same mo
meni During my stay IN the city visited several iani
lies, and all with whom thrown looked upon the
present movement u the troops towards their Territory
as the commencement of another religious persecution,
anu expressed liked determination " sustain Governor
Young in any hc might adopt.
Prom al these facts forced 70 the conclusion that
hoFtrNuF lWungani inc p'oIle u lhh PrFNtht IL
possible, the army for Utah from entering her Territory
this This, Va my opinion, viii not be dieuA
task, owing to the atees o the season. the smaness of
force and the dcfcnces that nature has thrown around
the valley Of the Great Ss Lake. There i but road
running into tho valley the side which our truotss
anlrua, ing and for ifty miles passes through
narrow and over rugged mountains, which a
small force could hold against grca. odds am ncino,i
however 10 believe that the Mornons viii not resort "a
actual hosiliics until the laat moment Their pn uf
operations will be 10 burn the grass cut up The roaa and
stampede the animals, to delay the trooss, until
commences 10 fall, which will render tho ,oad i'm
passablc snow falls early in this region Ia fact last
night u commenced falling al Fort Brdgcr and this
morning the surrounding mountains clothed in white
Were one month earlier IN the season believe tho
troops could force their way and they may bc eho 10
do 80 oven now; but the attempt viii Ne raught with
considerable danger arising from the hllng up or tha
canons and pagses with snow do 40, wshIt 10 be
sdcred that am advocating sher the ono course tho
rher simply wish 70 lay the tscts before tho General
leaving u to his better Judgment to decide upon ths
' proper movements. Ncsv sustaining my inability 70