The Kanzas news., 1858-02-13

By P. B. PLUMB.

virtue of his superior rank, assumed com
mand of the entire force. In this assump-
ton he was justified by circumstances, and
sustained by every officer under his com
mand. BE- the act he rendered himself re-
sponsible for the haps and mishaps of the
army until he was relieved from that re-
sponsibility by the arrival of Col. Johnston.
Within fortnight the movement up Ham's
Fork towards the broad beaten road which
leads to Fort Hall, past Soda Springs, was
determined upon. The proclamation OF
Brigham Young was received also, which
confirmed the fact. if confirmation was ne
cessary. that the Mormons are traitors and
rebels. The march along Hams Fork was
executed under many difficulties No road
existed there, and one was cut by the army
through forty miles of willow brush and
wild sage. The broad, beaten emigrant
road was gained. The army was halted
there for few days, and then the backward
movement down Hams Fork was COM
menced. On the vascillation of purpose
exhibited by the commanding officer In his
councils, his orders and his demeanor, l do
not propose to comment. The backward
movement was completed, and. on October
29th the army of Utah was further from
Salt Lake City than it was on September
99th. Fort Bridger and Fort Supply,
where it was known that the Mormons had
great stores of provisions, remained unmo-
Tested. In the meanwhile three supply trains
had been burned, and Government property
to the value of more than 81 600, 900 de
stroyed by rebels; more than l 800 cattle
had been stolen by the same rebels from the
rear and neighborhood of the army; and at
least one murder, and several atrocious rob
berries! had been perpetrated by Mormons
upon peaceable mountaineers. Yet the
commanding officer had all the while been
conducting correspondence with Brigham
Young, which | hope to see, at some period,
made public, and never in the course of
that correspondence had he seemed to real
ize the relation in which the Mormon COM
munity had placed itself toward the National
Government. 1t was undoubtedly great
responsibility which rested upon the shoul-
ders of Col. Alexander; but it was also a
great opportunity for vindicating the nation
al honor, and winning personal distinction,
with which he was furnished an opportunity
such as never before befell an officer of his
rank in the whole military history of the
United States. The arrival of Col John
ston shifted the responsibility, but the re-
sponsibility was lost to Col. Alexander for
ever, and to the army of Utah until next
spring. .'t
AN INVESTIGATION DEMANDED. ~
In consideration of this series of obsta-
cles to the immediate success Of the Utah
that court of investigation shall be ordered
into the conduct of the campaign. The
blame, if blame is to be bestowed, will rest
upon only few officers, high in rank to be
sure, but not above question as to military
capacity. 1t cannot, in any event, be fas-
tened upon any corps in the Command
There is not a subaltern, nor even, be-
lieve, private in the ranks, who would not
welcome an opportunity, attended by what
ever difficulty or hardship, to wipe out the
modification which is sincere and universal.
From the New York Times, JAN 25th.
We have had an interview with gentle
man who has just arrived in this city from
California and Salt Lake City direct, hav-
ing left the Mormon headquarters on
the 10th of December-a date fully one
month later than previous advices. He
furnishes the following narrative of his
Journey, with the latest intelligence from
Salt Lake, from which it will be seen that
have been fully completed
among the Mormons for guerilla warfare
against the troops Echo Canon, difficult
pass near the city, is held by force of Nor
mon rangers, and great care had been taken
to fortify it in anticipation of an assault.
Our informant started from San Fran
cisco on the 18th of November for Salt
Lake, intending to proceed thence to the
States. He remained for some days in the
Mormon territory. Stopping at San Ber-
nardino, on the way to Utah, he there had
an interview with Captain Hunt and other
Mormon leaders, who were crowded with
business, in making preparations for the
emigration of the whole Mormon population
from that country to Great Salt Lake City.
The Mormons in that region were selling
off their farms, mills, workshops, ETC., at
great sacrifices. Six months ago the same
property could not have been purchased for
ten times the prices now accepted. Every
thing they possessed was for sale save the
means of transporting them TO the goal of
their hopes, and the ct ceteras required on
their journey.
The party started from San Bernardino
for Little Salt Lake, by way of the Calhoun
pass. On the evening of the third day out.
when campaigning at Kensington springs,
they discovered party of Indians approach
ing in very suspicious manner, creeping
along a ledge of rocks about hundred and
fifty yards west of the springs. Several
arrows came uncomfortably near One
poisoned arrow slightly wounded one of the
mules, which IN a few hours caused the an
imal great pain; another arrow went through
the hat of one of the party. They rode all
night, and reached Los Vegas the following
afternoon. 2
After leaving Los Vegas, they passed
small companies of Mormons, who had been
successful in selling out early. Their teams
were in good order, and everything was