New-York daily tribune., 1858-12-16

large number of recruits in the ranks, acquitted
themselves very credtably. Indeed, do not be-
llr,e there IL in the world finer army Tor ITS
size. than the army of Utah. The officers, l be-
lleye have always compared iayorably win those
Of any other service. and the improvement IN
quality. if mas use the expression, of the men
who have of later wears enlisted in the ranks IN our
service j. manifest 70 every military observer.
finer body of enlisted soldiers, | am satisfied IL
not 10 bee found IN any service III the world.
Mostly Young and III the prime OF iiie Intelligent,
active. subordinate and at the same time SPIRITED
ind brave their officers, whenever occasion may
demand can 60 into action with the certainty
that, wherever they lead, their men will follow,
BE- il
Into the gates Of des,b,
Into IN. Jaws Of h-i.'
Last Tuesday, the 9th inst, was quite gala day
with us here at Camp Floyd. a magnificent flag
staff having been recently erected near the center
of the camp the star-spangled banner was that day
run up for the first time, with all appropriate
honoTs The whole command was under arms, and
formed in hollow square around the staff the sides
of the square consisting Of the different regiments
in close column, doubled on the center. At II
meridian, all the bands struck up at once the
"Star-spsngled Banner" and with salute OF
thirty three guns from Pbepss Light Battery. and
amid the cheers Of officers and men. up went the
glorious flag that this army was sent out to plant
and maintain here.
Every friend OF humanity will, Of course rejoice
that the raising OF i was so peaceaby accomplished
after all the threats to the contrary that rung
into our ears by yociierous Saints last Fall and
Winter.
There are many. here and in the States, who
viii remember the raising of that flag bright
morning in September 1871, upon certain castle
which had just been carried at the point of the
BAY The castle was that OF Chapultepec. In
the neighborng village of MeXcOac, on a scatiold
surrounded by military guard, were score or so
Of unfortunate wretches, traitors Ia the land of
their nativity or adoption, no had been taken IN
arms fighting against the flag of their country.
They had been duly tried and convicted, and sem
fenced to be- hung on the very day the assault WAS
to be made upon the the hitherto considered In
yincible Chapultepec. II is said that the officer
charged with the superintendance Of the carrying
out of their sentence, purp0sey delayed the exc
cuion until their eyes should see the glorious flag
they had deserted floating 10 triumph over the last
of the Mexican strOngholds, and that the moment
after the star-spaDged banner was run upon the
flag staff upon the summit Of Chapultepec, the
traitors on the scafiod in the town of Mexcoac
were swung off into eternity. 1t is well that the
traitors in Utah, who although at one time IN open
arms against the flag of their country, never car
ried their temerlty to the extent OF attempting To
shed the blood of its defenders, saved US by timely
surrender the necessity of similar accompaniment
to the raising Of the American flag once more in
Utah.
To complete the celebration Of the day We had,
for the first time, dramatic performances at our
Theater by the Camp Floyd Military Dramatic As
soclstion of the Army of Utah. The Association
is composed altogether Of enlisted men of the
army. They have engaged for the female charac-
ters the services of several Mormon actresses of
very fair ability in their profession. The building,
which il constructed of adobes, is Of large and
commodious dimensions and will seat conveniently
an audience of 600 or 700. One of the greatest
difficulties TO be overcome in fitting up the estab-
lishment was the want OF proper pants Tor the
scenery ard decorations which were not to be had
III the country, and some rather odd expedlens had
to be resorted to- TO supply the want OF the ordinary
fgments. Indigo answered very well for the blue,
preparation of chalk furnished the white, common
shoe -backing the black, aud mustard afforded
very elegant yellow After all, the scenic decora
tions, painted entirely by enlisted men of the army,
were Of quite presentable character. On the
prOsceDum, on one side, Ia representation OF the
muse of Tragedy on the other of her comic sister.
One of the ladies is supported by soldier
of ancient times, with helm and shield, the
other by modern of war with shake
and musket Overhead is bust of Shakespeare,
very artistically done in chalk and backing sur
rounded by scroll with the legend Camp Floyd
Z" Military Dramatic Association of the Army of
" Utah, upon it. The drop-curtaln represents one
VI tHt tuCdulphltuts VI iHt WI
Rocky Mountains, with the regiment in front, in
open order at parade.
BY the way il is due to this gallant 9Th Regi-
ment to say that the Association is composed al-
most altogether Of enlisted men from its ranks.
The performance commenced by the delivery of
wel.wrtten and amusing opening address, rected
with capital effect by private Willis of company,
9th Infantry Then came an overture by the or
chestra--an excellent one, composed entirely of
..l,. he Hrar thn 1x of
Used Up, the leading characters being sustained
by private Willis and Sergeant Warren OF the 9th
and Mrs. Tuckett, one Of the Mormon ladies',
whose services the Association has been 50 for
tuna;c as to secure. After this followed, AS mu-
steal interlude, the Star -spanglcd banner sang
by the whole company and concluding with
grand tableau, in which Mrs. Westwood person
ated the goddess of Liberty The performances
of the evening concluded with the farce of the
Dead Shot. Upon the whole, the playing was
much better than have often witnessed in theaters
of considerable pretension In some Of our large
cities. The house was crowded TO its utmost ca
pacty and hundreds had to 90 away, from being
unable 70 procure place either to SIT or stand.
The performers, moreover, could not have desired
more well-disposed or appreciatiye audience.
Performers and audience comrades and
friends, who had seen some pretty rough times to-
gether, and all were disposed To enjoy themselves
the occasion to the top of their bent. An Incl
dent occurred during the evening which must have
been very gratifying TO Gen. Johnston, who was
present at the performances of the opening night
as a matter of course. An sllusOn was made to
him in the opening address and, at the sound of
his name it would have done YOU good to hear the
hearty huzzas with which the soldiers greeted it.
The General, personally, is great favorite with
the men of his command; and their hearty mani
festatons of il. on the occasion alluded TO- could
not but be very pleasing to him.
send YOU 4 song that was % have been sung at
tba .heatcr on the openirp nioh, I'm, uss nost