Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-12-21
(FrOD1 the York Courier and Eaquirer)
The mOTmO ns.

WASHINGTON, Dec. IL.
The news from the srmy Of the West s most
disastrous Il appears that the 10th Infantry
comprising nearly one-haf the ummOunted force
wa two weeks march behind the advance on the
81 OF NoveU Der The mountain enowa were sc-
cUmulating around the detachment of Col Alex
ander, forage for the animals was not to be pro-
cured, and the hoTmCns we're encsmped In force
b. fore him, stealing his cattle with impunity. 1t
is ny belief that fearful calamity awaits the army
at the West, and harsh and painful it may be to
form the opinion, it mot be avoided, that the
wnol- army will perish from the hardsbips of the
asOn, unless the Mormons shall aid and protect
them. Now this is not probable. IL appears that
during the month of October the Mormons stole
GOO heads Of their cattle from under their eyes,
and hostile meeting had occurred between Skin
mizhing parties, in vhicb the enemy were Of
course worsted.
The reeion in which the troops new pent up
Is the most elevated in the country. The height of
the South Pass is 1880 feet, and the Wind River
range which must he crossed before reaching any
Of the Mormon settlements. is q thousand feet
bi-her in the most practicable places. The jour
rey from the South Pass to Salt Lake, by way Of
Boar river was performed in l843 by Col Fremont
in twenty zone days. | find by cODversing with mi
itary men who have traVersed the country that
Fort Brdger is considered the best wintering
ground for the troops This place is one hundred
and sixty-eight miles from the South Pass, ard
nearly Southwest. 1t j. on Hams Fork, west
tion is 6 200 feet. 10 there is scanty for
age for small herds of cattle; in winter nothing
which can sustain life. From Fort Bridger to Salt
Like City there several roads. Two Of them
were travetsed by parties OF Capt. Stansbury 3
command in l849, in and nine days respect~
lively
Officers who accompanied Col. SteptOe in 1854,
think that it would be useless TO attempt to force
way beyond Fort Bridger this season if the Nor
mon oppose the march of thesrmy. eoubt this.
Ine MormOns can have no efficient artillery, and,
however difficult the mountain passes, they may b.
forced by the engineering skill which Col John
son has at his disposal BUTT is much to be feared
that the delay already incurred will b. fatal TO the
whole expedition. If on the Srd Of November the
10Th Infantry still 25O miles o! the South
Pass and 400 miles distant from Fort Bridger they
could hardly bop" to reach the latter point before
the winter SHOWS bad blocked all the roads Now
why was the army delayed from early in June until
september before it was put In march from Fort
LeaveUw WORTHY II not from the difficulty OF
collecting supplies and facilities for transpOrtao
But, if that difficulty had existed, it would not
have been an unanswerabe reason for postponing
the expedition one year. Was there any necessity
for the movement this year? 1t would have effect
ed the same OH Jet If carried out next year.
But IL cannot BE- alledged that abundant time
and means did not exist 10 place 5000 men in Utah
by the middle of s. ptenber at the latest, if the
Adm Illustration had put forth the energies and pow
Of the country. 1t will be held to raid ac-
cOuutabity for what it Las done and has omitted
10 do
S oud the thousands Of men belonging to the
army and it retnue, amidst the deiles of the
Rocky Mountains, perish, the country will demand
to know Why they sent there. It is known
that they kept IN Kansas until so very late pc
Rod that il frequently announced the campaign
against the MOrmOns had been abandoned sltOgeIh
er, and it was With inCxpressble astonshment that
our frontiers men and Indian fighters learned in
disgust that Gen. Scott had been summoned to
council in Washing ton, at which the resumption Of
the expedition b. discussed. The troops
were employed in beseigng Lawrence and in scout
ing the prares for persons flying from political pro-
scriptiOn.