Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-11-04
The Expedition to Utah--Furthsr and La.
ter Intelligence rsb


Intelligence has rexched he War Depart.
uent thar the 18th and 10Th iufanssy aud Pill
lips battery Of light artillery had left Fu,s
Lsrimie. Nebraska Territory, On the 9,A ~
September en- roate for U,ah si svss
Colonel f. B. Alexander, in a letter ~ The
Department, dated at his camp near Fers
I.ariuie, September Sd, describes tLe risreL
of these tropps from Fort Lesrenworta 70
| Fort I.arimie--a distance of CPS miles. TIE
battalion marched from the former place Ga
/! the 18th of July. and, bring mainly eomps-
| sed of recruits. the length of the marches foT
the first four or five days was ineorsidernble.
not exceeding ten or twelve u,ies The nass.
| however, became accustomed TO ina-cs;ng
very soon and unless the heat was powerful
very few left the ranks. 4 he march asrcss
| the prairie country from Fort IsssYeuwnrs,.
to the Platte river, was made Within tbc ,i..e
allowed by General Harney's orders. sal
was. perhaps, the most exempt from l,ss a,.i
accident ever known. With train Of -
wagons and over coo animsis, bat ave u.uiv.
had been lost-ene straying aRa four ssy
death Not wagon had be broken. Tie
journey along the Platte of great
ease, as the road was good and grass Sbuil-
dant. Men and animals improved in hsxitt.
and strength remarkably
The sick report had ncvcr exceeded &c.
and had averaged 5ut II. This in a con,mzud
of 500, Colonel Alexander regarded very
small. No serious sickness had prevailed.
though four cases of bilious fever. produced
by great alterations Of temperature on sthe
Platte bottom, had occurred, which tn. as
sistant surgeon had recommended to be iest
at Fort Laramie Col Huffman having
kindly consented, Col Alexander deter minsa
to legve them until the two co npanies Of the
regiment under Col. Smith came up when
they could be brought on. The order Of
march had been strictly preserved. and the
column marched by platoon points. with reg
ular intervals, at the rate of 90 or 100 steps
per minute The camping arrangements 'iaf
also been as regular the ground wou't sd
nit, the colonel having in view d proper
guard over the mules and wagons. Hs had
adopted tho plan of detailing a company for
guard, and posting it in the most eonyenieni
places. The commander was enabled to pos.
pickets and sentines SO as to guard every sp'
pfoach This plan saved many details. les
, sencd labor. and excited spirit Of cmulatiou
# which insured great vigilance q hat
The officers of the command had attended
faithfully to their several duties. and many
had shown great powers of enduring fatigue
being on foot all the time Brevet Lieut.
Ooi Sauoy uou ouaS oSsiSsSu ia cobuuoduS
tAe march. and much of the good forum,
was due to his constant attention to shc dutie'
Immediately dcvolving upon him
On the 5th the march to Utah would b
resumed and although the accounts Of th,
road made it much more difficult than any
q thing the expedition bad jet experienced
Col Alexander hoped to give as favorable
s report upon his arrival at Salt Lake City.
''l Col Alexander, in conclusion, stated thi
hs might be excused from expressing th'
pride which be felt in tho successful accom-
.. plishment by his regiment Of 90 much Of IL
first arduous duties, but be would cou6denu
express the belief that unless some unfere
I seen accident occurred. il would reach tn
as Territory Of Utah in condition n perfect q
fciensy and discipline. 3.