New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-16

| Though the War Department at Washingtos hes
itate., az the telegraph informs rs, TO receive as
authentic the news Of the destruction Of part Of
the Utah army provision trains by the Mormons,
| there remains no longer any room for doubt upon
| the subject. We publish to-day letter from our
special Utah correspondent, containing the full par
| ticuars, and no doubt by this time the War De-
partment is in possession Of dispatches on the same
subject, forwarded by Col Smith, BY the same e1-
press which brought our letter. We also print az
extract from The LearenuorM Times containing
some particulars of the attack, as forwarded BY
press TO Russell & WaddeIl of that city, the oon-
| tractors TO whom the wagons belonged. The date
Of the attack was the 5th of October, about mid.
night, and the place that part of the road inter
venipg between the Big Sandy and the Green
River, about half way from the South Pass to Fort
Bridger. The whole distance between these two
points is about hundred aud thirty miles, near
fifty Of which, in the neighborhOod Of the Big
Sandy, il a comp etc desert.
At the time of the attack. the van Of the expedi-
ton under Col. Alexander, now the Comma nder-in-
Chief, which was marching upon Fort Bridger,
was encamped On Hams Fork, about thirty miles
in advance, while the rear Of the expedition under
Col Smith had not jet reached the South Pass.
The number Of wagons destroyed is stated at seven
ty-fve or seventy eight, all of which were burnt
with their contents except fve which were given
up to the teamsters with sufficient ratens to ena-
bic them to reach Fort Laramie. No personal in
Jury was offered to any one, the assalants disclam
ing any intention to shed blood unless some of the
Saints should first be killed. AZ to the number of
the asseilants and their hackers, We have no
very definite information. The attack was
made by two distinct parties ono Of tho trains be-
ing some miles behind the other two. Neither Of
these parties according to the information obtained
by our correspondent exceeded a hundred mon.
Tho suggestion that Hebsr C. Kimball was with
them is not probable, as no is doubtless better
at preaching than at fighting The particulars of
the attack were, however, imperfectly known in
COL Smiths camp, whence our letter WAS written.
A messenger had arrived who had been the bearer
Of dispatches from Col. Alexander to Col. Smith,
but a. he had fallen into the hands Of the Mormons
on the way, he had obeyed his orders by destroying
his dispatches. What was known in Col. Smiths
camp appears to have been derived from the verbal
statements of this messenger, and from circular
letter dispatched BY Capt Marcy to tho trains on
the road, advising them to place themselves under
Col Smiths protection.
The entire force of fighting men in the expedition
does not probably exceed ten or eleven hundred.
1t includes the entire Tenth Regiment of Infantry,
eight companies of the Fifth Infantry, detachment
of the Fourth Artillery, with six light pieces, and
about sixty men, and an ordnance train with heavy
pieces, of about the same strength. The teamsters
and other laborers attached to the expedition might
swell tho entire force to sixteen hundred or more,
but these last would have their hands full in taking
care of their cattle. From the South Pass to Fort
Brdeer is as we have stated, hundred aud thirty
one miles, of which more than third part is per-
feet desert and the whole difficult country, with
very little grass What little there is, the same
parties of Mormons employed in iutercepting the
trains will doubtless set On fire and destroy.
From Fort Brideer to Salt Lake City, the direct
road across the mountains is hundred aud thir-
teen miles, but this is very difficult route with
many narrow passes, liable to be blocked with
spsw, hardly practicable 80 late in tho season at
any rate, and still less so with the prospect Of
active resistance on the part Of tbs MOrmons.
There is another road, following the valley of the
Bear river north to S ia Springs, where the Ore
gon road forks of, aud then turning south BY tho
same valley and the eastern shore of the Great Salt
Lake. This route nearly doubles the distance but
it is much more practicable, and, should the EKPe
dtion advance into tho valley, it will probably De
by this road. The great difficulty in the ad'anss
r the subsistence of the cattle of the provision
trains.
II must be confessed that the dlstoriness Of the
War Department in not starting the expedition sea-
sopaby on its march, and the detention OF the
troops in Kansas, have placed both the Government
and the sxpedi ion in very awkward predicament.
Every motive, whether of policy, of humanity or
self respect, required that, if military possession
were to be taken of the Mormon Valley, it should
be done under circumstances and with forcs to
overcome every idea Of resistance. To be Obliged
TO retire before the Mormons would be notifying
enough; to have Salt Lake Valley turned into the
scene of a desperate and deadly struggle would be
still worse.
The whole difficulty has originated from the use
less aud foolish detention of the troops in Kansas.
Instead Of marching sessonably forward on the ex.
petition for which they were intended, taey were
long kept in that Territory for the sake Of e,oot
ing the people Of Lawrence from organizing Ma.
nicipal Government During this delay, they suf-
fered greatly by desertion Some of the troops
destined for thj service still remain behind, AID
the expedition has thus been reduced to about ha
the force originally intended. Under these circau-
stances, whatever the result may be-snd there