Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-04-08
The Mormon War.

"
ton to Fight. ~ - I'll 6
No later adyices are received from
Salt Lake City by the Noses Taylor
but we have obtained some reliable
intelligence respecting Mormon de
signs and purposes in the present op-
position to the Federal Government.
The following private letter to q
gentleman in New York city, illus.
trates the temper of the Mormon
people, and proves very clearly that
they are determined to obey their
chief even to the extremity Of war;
GREAT SALT LAKE CRY.
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1858.
Aside from business have but
little to write, as here all is peace
aud quietness. The Saints have
plenty to eat; they live their religion
and the Lord is blessing them in all
things, We have prophet in our
midst, even Brother Brigham. who
is filled with great wisdom, and what
he predicts always comes TO pass. l
will give you an example Of his wis
dom on passing events. On the
oath of July, the anniversary Of the
arrival of the Pioneers in these Val
leys, the news arrived that the Gov.
eminent bad stopped our mail, and
$500 soldiers were on their way
here. Brother Brigham answered
and said, if the troops got here we
should have to help them 10. They
came as Ear as Fort Bridger. When
he tod them to stop, they swore
they would come in and hang the
leaders Of the Church, and showed
the boys the ropes. Brigham then SEM
fifty horsemen to wait upon the
troops. He told them before. their
departure that the soldiers were
ignorant aud 70 spare their lives il
possible. and though the troops
might fire upon them, not one
hair Of their heads should be hurt,
that the Lord would be with them
as with his servants ancienily, when
surrounded by their enemies; and
though in reality a small number
they would appear as thousands,
Well, the boys went, aud to stop the
progress of our enemies, burnt up
rs of their wagons and took LOO Of
their cattle and mules. The soldiers
have fred over 500 guns at them
but never hit one Of them. They
are camped at Fort Bridgsr for the
winter, and are completely whipped.
They VIII never attempt TO come in
here. The boys said, while the SOL
diers were shooting at them, il they
had bad the privilege they would
have used them up before breakfast.
Do not be alarmed for our safety,
as the soldiers will not come 10 here.
Fort Bridger is about 1l6 milessfiom
here, and they will have to come
through Echo Canon, which isalueer
sort of a place for an enemy to come
through. | have been out there
three weeks tais winter. | will try
to describe it: 1t is upwards of thir.
ty miles long, and at the widest
part Of it not more than LOO yards
from mountain to mountain. The
sides of the mountains are solid
rocks, nearly perpendicular, and 500
yards high. We have dug a canal
] across, which We can ill with water
10 three hours. On the walls we
have built forts, were we can have a
fair chance against superior numbers
There they cannot touch us. When
they have passed through Echo Can
on, they will have to attempt the
passage of Emigration Canon, which
is no tlowery passage to our city
In fact, for the $500 soldiers on
at Bridger, we do not think then
worth bothering with. Let the gov
eminent send on their hundred
thousand, and they will find immedi
ate attention.
The Indians are hard on the Gen
tile emigration between here and Gal
iirornia. They have taken man.
lives and much property. The frs
| company that went through shot a
every Indian they saw. One com
pany poisoned an OK and gave it T
them. The Indians resolved on re