The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-28
THE MORMON WAR.
Additional from the Utah Expedition-Interesting
Private Letter from an Officer in Camp,
DC, &C., DC.
IMPORTANT NEWS IF TRUE.

DC, &c, &c.
IMPORTANT NEWS IF TRUE.
COL JoHSsroS's COMMAND ATTACKED BY THE NOR
MoNs-oSE HUNDRED UNITED STATES TROOPS
KILLED-CoL. JOHNSTON FORCED TO RETREAT.
The San Francisco papers of the 9th inst received
by the Northern Light, which arrived at this port
last evening, contain the following
The steamer Commodore, which arrived yesterday
Salt Lake Expedition. Nichols s Co. furnish us
with the following DESPATCH
PORTLAND, Nov. 81, 1857.
BY the steamer Mountain Buck, yesterday from Cas-
cades, We have report that express came from Col
Johnston, OF the Salt Lake Expedition with intelligence
that the Mormons had cut Oh his train, and killed $50 Of
his men, and that ne had been forced 70 retreat The
above news sent to Col Steptoe, at Fort waa wala
The Portland papers Of Nov. 20 do not contain this
news but II is the custom with country weekly pa
pers to print their edition day or two ahead in or
der that II may reach country subscribers on the day
publication. Passengers assure ms that such re-
port Was current at Portland on the sailing of the
steamer The news was sent to Col. Steptoe at Fort
Wallawalla, from hence it was carried to the Cas-
cades on the Columbia river and from thence to Port
land which last place it reached on the 26th of No
yember.
The steamer Republic, which left Portland twelve
hours later than the Commodore, confirms the circu
lation OF the report but gives no further details.
We give this report as we find it, but have no
ston's command were to the sth of November At
that date he moving towards Fort Brdger at the
rate of three miles day, and had had collision
of later date than Nov. could have reached Port
land in the brief space of nineteen days.
INTERESTING PRIVATE LETTER FROM THE
CAMP
BLACK FORK, l6 miles from
Fort BRIDGER, Nov. Z, 1857.
DEAR -***:-You see how slowly large masses
move when ologged with broken down OK trains and
debilitated mules, and snow is falling in path.
We have been wanting snow for long time, and
now we have it in abundance sufficient to protect the
grass from being burnt, and not too much to clog
our march. We could not have moved day earlier
with any safety, the Mormons stood ready to ap-
ply the match to praires of grass, which, once on
fire. would have been destruction to large portions of
our supplies The enemy did not expect us to come
this way and have left large fields Of grass for
our animals during our short halt Me win proba-
bly, move tomorrow. &C aI Just reported
all the supply trains up, and the road i in excellent
order.
No small force can render the route safe
for trains. The Moymons have their emssaries and
incendiaries at every station, andpes and sentnels
on every hill, and of course, guarded with little
care are supply trains generally by teamsters
alone, train unless guarded by soldiers reach
this valley without their will
spoke to you in my last about the Cheyenne
Pass; ] should have said Brdger's, the route pro-
posed by Bryan. Another error l made was in the
map--Fort Supply is on Smiths Fork, about south
from Brdger twelve miles. Both of these places are
reported destr Dyed, but I do not believe it, The
route by the Cheyenne Pass is the old Cherokee road
and is much longer than the Others.
The army is in good health and fine spirits Much,
OH wonderfully cheered by the arrival of the Co
lionel (Johnston), who inspires confidence and gives
courage where it appeared to be wanting before.
He will not disappoint the expectations of the go
vemment in any manner. The officers generally are
a fine set of young, active, energetic men. '
The elements have been against us, though if they
had been otherwise we could not have advanced, or
rather should not. We cannot reach our destination
this winter, and compelled. we will be, To make
our homes III the mountains we will come
forth in the spring intact with light hearts and vgo-
rOus arms.
You have nothing TO fear for US; we will winter
well, and not be trammeed in the spring by large
train. The incemency Of the season is too great
10 trust TO keeping open communications, and, be-
sides we are not in the least of messengers
not falling into the hands Of Mormons.
All our trains were near being destroyed. The
plans were all contaminated.
Well, goodbye till spring. We hear nothing Of
Cooke or the Governor. ] expect we will be COM
PEELED TO winter at Bridger and send the cattle and
horses to Henry's Fork.