Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-12-29

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28.-TheaWar Depart.
ment today received official dispatches from
the head quarters of the army of Utah, dated
Black Fork, three miles below the mouth of
Hams Fork, Nov. 9th. COL Johnson states
that Col. Smith with his command and the
numerous trains guarded by it reached there
Nov. Sd. The march was slow and tedious,
averaging eleven miles day, although the
road was excellent and the weather fine, it
was impossible to make more rapid progress
on account OF the broken down condition of
the draft animals. The trains including the
suffers and merchants, destined for Salt Lake,
which he would not allow to 60 on, occupied
as close an order as they could be made to
travel the space of five or SIX miles No mo.
Hesitation whatever was attempted by the Nor
mons, which may be attributed to the pres
ence of cavalry and the judicious disposition
and vigilenee of Col. Smith.
On the 9Th of November, Col. johnson was
to march or Fort Bridger, and dislodge any
force they might find there, and await the APP
pearance of COL Cook, when, as the approach
of winter was too near to attempt the passage
of the Wasach range of mountains with
probability of success, he would seize upon
the district mentioned in his letter from the
South Pass, and occupy 1t until an advance
shall be practicable. The communication
from Brigham Young to Col. Alexander, and
Elders - and Taylor to Capt Marcy, and
the orders of d. Wells, commander of the
Mormons, which COL Johnson encloses, and
the acts of the Legislative Assembly at the
last session, show, he says, manifest and
settled design on the part of the Mormons to
hold and occupy the Territory Independent,
and in open defiance of the government, con-
tAd HNfh e
Col. johnson has ordered that whenever they
are met with in arms, they may be treated as
enemies, and he reiterates the necessity for
prompt and vigorous action, or the United
States must submit to the usurpation of their
territory. The common conduct of the Nor.
mons results from a settled determination on
their part not to acknowledge the authority
OF the United States, nor any other outside of
their own church.
He adds: supply of subsistence must be
forwarded early in the spring. 1t should
reach the army by the first OF June. Should
long elapse without hearing from him
(Scott) Col. johnson says it must be attribut-
ed only to the difficulty of sending expresses
across the mountains in the winter months.
The officers and men are represented to be in
line health, and were animated with an nr-
dent desire to discharge their duties faithfully.
In postscript, Col, johnson says the army
has made one days march since the 5th, and
. that on the 7th they were awaiting the arri-
val of the trains delayed the day before by a
storm. sour trains" he adds, "occupy in
as close an order as they can travel the road
from thirteen to fourteen miles-therefore,
the rear cannot move till late in the day."
Among the documents transmitted are let
tiers from Brigham Young, dated Oct. 10th,
and later, in which replying to Col. Alexan.
der, he uses expressions andlepithets of the
most bombastic character, assuming, in the
name Of the Most High, authority to drive the
United States troops out Of the Territory and
ordering them to leave forthwith.