Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-03-19

we have had long and tedious march through sands
rivers ram and dust over almost boundess plains hills
and mountains and are passing dreary desolate
and uncomfortable winter in the midst of the snowclad
Rocky Mountains
The MOrmons determined to resist us to the last
and commenced their reasonable and rebeious course
in the early part of October Before the commanding
officer arrived, and when we did not think it possible
that the MormOns could undertake overt acts of treason
they passed into the road in of all the approaching
columns and burned three contractors trains drawn by
oxen and freghted with supplies for the army They
sent us also proclamation of martial law, and an order
to leave the territory, if desired to remain on ac-
count of the ateness of the season. permission to do
provided we would put in possession of one of
their socaed generals. Of course particular notice
was taken of so absurd proposition and as all the
troops at that time expected had joined u.s. concluded
that II they desired to fight than equal to
any force they could send out to drive from the coun
try.
We were constantly annoyed by them in various ways
and Let until their conduct became SO unbearabe did
attempt any decided measures. They drove off cat
tie within two miles of camp captured struggling team
sters, wagonmasters and soldiers; yet, having in
structOns the commanding officer enor present at that
tlme) would not permit US to pursue them fire on
them At length, when these rascates were becoming
too frequent the earnest appeals of the young officers
received with attentive ear and we obtained the
permission so long desired We fired upon them when
ever large parties captured prisoners letters and
dispatches OF the most reasonable character put the
creatures in irons and, the civil authorities
up, placed them in their hands They are now be-
ing indicted for treason by the Grand Jury.
The commanding officer will remain here until Spring
and then commence his ownward march, He earrived on
the 9th of November too late for any active operations
A few days after his arrival a storm overlook u.s.
SIX inches deep and the thermometer fell to 16 degrees
below We crossed streams with the artillery car
riages and wagons upon the ice. froze my feet and
many poor soldier frosted his hands, feet and ears
We arc Nv lib miles from the great Salt Lake City.
Old Brigham in his impertnent audacty, occasion
ally sends papers into campate numbers of the Deser
ct News.
These papers interesting to us because they
medium through which hear all his threats and rant
ing slang abOI the army, the pets educated at West
Point the armed mob' &C., but could not send
to friend account of the obscenity and vulgarty
which they contain. The sermons which he and the
t1gelUe preach Sundays in the Bowery, could not
be published entire in paper in civilized society, for
that No editor would dare to publish of
these sermons, abounding they do with blasphemy
profanity and vugarity-low-bred vulgarty, which
would disgrace the forecaste of a Ship or the SQUAD
room of barrack. The extracts which you see in the
New York and other papers, gentee compared with
some that have seen These preached in
the presence of their wives and daughters and have
not characterized them they merit. In fact, could
not find words to express the disgust which comes
one cognizant Of all the attendant circumstances when
he reads them. OIL may conf jecture the morality of
such community, where the leaders make of such
language in the presence of ladies' in church. and
on Il 0ulludy lOu Imagine WHaG rellSlOn Iney
profess, whose only aim seems to us Genties (mean-
ing all outside of the pale of their church, to give the
hoest sanction to secret murdur, adultery, and every
immortality and crime which the Christian religion teach
es the denizcns of civilized district abhor. of
opinion that the roaring flames of burning trains on
Green River the deathknell of their power.
If the community in the States do not share
tments in regard to their reasonable conduct, then
have miscaculated the patriotism of our and the
virtuOus Indignation of our women. believe it to be
the destiny of this little army to wipe them out next
Spring, and can assure you that no set Of were
eager to commence than those composing the
command Were it not for the guards and escorts by
which they protected, when they here, by
Coonels orders, they would none of them live to reach
" Salt Lake.
The trains which they burned contained many of the
most valuable stores, -four and sugar. another cloth
ing, and the third all the stationery and tools sent out
for the expedition.
The loss of the sugar. -four and SALT causes us some
inconvenience the ration has been reduced in conse
quence and the only additional supplies in the trains
belonging to citizens transporting them to Salt Lake
which have stopped here, permitting them to go nc
further. Mr. Livingstone our suffer, who had store
Ill Salt Lake City, and was acquainted with them all
sent Indians in and procured several packs of salt
~ ~ for which he paid $l25 per bushel Yesterday [ pur
! chased two pounds from him at So so per pound, and
" then was compelled to grind it in coffee mill to make
= it fit for cooking purposes. Ten pounds of sugar cost
me S. one dozen nutmegs, IS cents pair of Ordna
ry overshoes, So IS; common tin coffee pot So;
pair of common buckskin gauntes, $8; pair of boots
SIG; coat which costs 81 in the States 81 E, and
eryhng else in like proportion. In addition to all this
10 there many little luxuries which you would call ne
It cesSarics at home that money cannot procure The
d Doctors Sodited Milk has been received everywhere
with screams of delight, and heartily regret that mine
has disappeared There several ladies with
e US, the wives of officers to whom have given il
has been considered great luxury by all who have tast
ed it. and should most certainly have been better known
in St Louis the great furnishing depot for all Western
expeditions have distributed it in small quantities
20 along the road among all the officers by whom it has
been pronounced an article ndlSpensaby necessary to
u traveller on the Plains.
( When left LeavenwOrth supposed that the peroC
of my banishment only two years. but since the
cessty of troops in Kansas and the necessity of
out here greatly fear that the rest of my regiment viii
le join next summer. In such event. you may no
o expect to again less than five years. Howey
O. er some lucky turn Of fortunes wheel may relieve me-
ID from so long exile. | hope so for many reasons
" though the gentlemen here, with cheerful disposition
J. like my own, agree with me that we seem quite con
l. tented here as anywhere else. There many of
OF here that the time passes quite rapidly though hav
re yet four months Of captivity before My great fea
as that may, of us, lose our sweetheart
before return There genteel young fellow fit
pe ting around mine when last her, and L greatly
dread lest she will not wait five six years for mel
10 You would be much amused to see ingenious ar
q rangemens for comfort in this camp. Some officers
re- have burrowed under ground in log huts
w others in tents. have tent, conicalshape which ad
Of mits of building fire in the centre, after the
If our Indian lodge have stove beadstead and clothes
N rack for furniture My beadstead made of two
horses with two boards transversey placed surmounte
by huge pile of old wornout cotton comforters blank
u cts and buffalo hides which call my bed My carpe
x the undressed hides of slaughtered beeves Stove
conca like my tent and the smoke leaves at the vertex
r Wasstand three sticks set in the ground to catc
s. tn-pan, which call basin in the interval. Clothes
hi rack made of two notched sticks in the ground wit