New Orleans daily crescent., 1857-11-04
The Utah Expedition.

We have before us private letter received in this
city from an officer of the g Utah army, written on
the 21st of September from point on the Sweet.
water river, 26O miles west Of Fort Laramie, and
brought in by Capt Van Welt, who met the force on
his way back to the States from Salt Lake City, The
writer states that the expedition is getting on we'll
and that Capt. Phelps light battery, Capt. Rene's
heavy siege battery, and the 9TH Infantry were about
three days behind, the men and animals being in
good condition. They encountered the first snowon
the 18th Of September, and found great deal OF it
in the passes. We make the following interesting
extracts from the letter
He Capt. Van Vleit) was sent out from Fort
Leavenworh to Salt Lake City to make arrangements
for us for the winter. He reports that he was kindly
received and well treated but that when he came to
speak about ,the troops entering Salt Lake City
any of the towns, Brigham Young told him distinctly
that he would not allow to come in and that he
would not allow any of his people to sell any pro-
visions of any kind. He says that he brigham
Young) has four years supply on hand, and that if
the Government sends out a larger army in the
spring, that he will burn everything and leave.
There are some kanyons which we have to pass
through where, Capt. Van Vleit says, three hun
dred determined men can stop our army. They have
cannons and all the necessary things for fortifyng
themselves, and they are determined to keep US
out ] am in hopes that our commanding officer will
make the attempt to go to Salt Lake City, even if we
are driven back, which is doubtful, as we would be
fighting for houses to live in and the Mormons for
their religion. There are two bad kanyons -one
emigrant kanyon about twenty miles long, and fer
miles not wide enough to turn team around, and
with perpendicular walls from two hundred to eight
hundred and thousand feet high on each side.
They are SO steep that man cannot get over them,
and by letting command get in, and by blasting
the rocks at both ends we would be most decidedly
in pretty fix. The worst OF it is that we are
obliged to go through them, the is too deep
to attempt to go any other route So the sooner we
get through the better it will be for us. We are now
in the midst of the Rocky Mountains, and have as
fine scenery as one could wish, The high peaks are
all covered with snow, and the Wind River Mountains
which are in sight, are constant study for US, on
account of the reflection of the various lights which
are constantly falling on them. We are only about
sixty miles from South Pass, and the altitude is sc
great that most of us suffering with difficulty IL
breathing, on account of the rarity Of the air. Th
country is interesting for mineralogist, ant
in fact for any who is fond of study, for there i
all the different kinds of formation, and also quite
| quantity of lead iron, COAL slate and some copper
found specimens of the first four kinds in the spac
of about five miles. have been enjoying good healt
and have had ne sport after buffalo, deer antelope
= mountain sheep and other kind of game, beside
n some fine amusement in catching as fine trout as an
one could wish to see.