Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-04
The Utah EIpedition--Ohcial Report
from Colonel Johnston.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF UTAH,
CANT SCoTr, January 4, 1898.

|
c)mmand, for the month of December, 1891
Not an incident of any military importance
has transfired siGce my last communication
aud have the p'essure 10 acquilat you
with tue excellent condition and fine health
OF the troops.
Accompanying this Communication, seGd
a copy ol a letter dated ID ultlmc al Fort
Laramie from the com pander, NJ or Lynde.
\ u will perceive from perusai OF Il that
taere is serious cause t appreheDd thst there
will be great, il not On entire, delcIency
of draught animals to bring on tue three
months -upply at that post Intended for the
army If Utah, and due here by the lst OF
June, though 1t is expected that the rouors
on hand will last some ten or ti'teen days be-
yond that da:e.
L. is desirable that these supplies should
reach here by the 18th of My TO enable the
army, if then prepared 10 other respects, t.
advance With good supply OF provisions on
hand, ut leas. enough TO last uniH the al
DUAL supply can reach the main body
will order Mai n Lyndc to Feport direct
" t. general headquarters 10y tals express
what proportion OF the drhusht oxen OF Rus
sell Il Co., (contractors) can be relied upon
for the transportation ot supplies to US 10
the spring. uud should there BE deficiency
it Can only be supplied IN time from Fort
| LeavenwUrth, in this way, and there must bs
activity 10 the agents Of the guarterui lster's
department to plish il. The requlsti
number OF mules (uut two years Old or
tbrccl NUT be purchased and sent forward
a. soon in the month IF March as possible
! Each taam ol six mules s.ouli haul the
subsistence from L;aVenwOrth necessary to
sus ain j., and twO other mules, to LARAMIE,
which latter vii. be useful 10 replace sick 81
| tired mules at Laramie. On their ARRIVAL
they will have exhausted their tprase, but 1t
! is hoped souIe may be had there; II DOT, thai
the grass will Thea be sufficient to sustain
! drauyht animals for short marches through
| to this place, OF t. headqu irteIs. aud re-
| CO nmeud, not for this service only, but
whenever public teams are seat out u the
frontier, that at eas. two extra mules be
| sent with each team. With such means OF
| relief to lame, sick, or tired mules, many
J valuable anlUais can be preserved cor the
public service, watch, without provision Of
this kind, would 'e lost.
The greater numaer Of soldiers nos on the
sick report have been rendered unh Tor Guty
! by frost bite. source OF suffering 10
which tlnse who, In this climate, have NJ
other covering Tor tie icet than leather snoes,
are very liable when on guard OF marchiug
| 10 snow. | have thought that In view OF
preserving the efficiency of the s)ldlery dur
ing the winter months, as we'll as u prevent
much suffering, the government ought TO
provide a pair of buffalo Over-shoes tor each
man serving ia this climate, aud have ac-
cordlngly approved OF the admission VI that
item 10 the annual estimate OF the CHIEF
! quarterniasIeI; aud, ais, Vi !uil ALLOW
ance of SItley t., a means u prHtec-
| tion 10 the TROOPS sgtlnst the lnclemeGcy oi
! the winter season, and OF health and c",hpa-
| rative comfort The S!Oiey tent 8 good
| substitute for bat, with the Advantage OF
using it in all lccIities, we'll sheltered from
cold and prevailing winds.
Herewith, seud you = drawing OF the
field works, thrown up under the direction
! Lieuteuants Webb and kensil for the pro
,eciion of the depo; at BrlGgers fort. Tne
zeal. perseverance,, and skill displayed by
them in the execution OF the works, under
uniavDrabie circumstances, and the Cheerful!
! alac;ity of the noL-cOmmlsslnnrd cheers anu
men under item, i'll the performance OF Their
duties during severely Geld weather, Is
worthy Of much praise.
! have Just heard that soldier who was
then acting as hospital steward OF the lO'n
infantry, and was taken prisoner by the
! Mvrmons early 10 October, and who has
| been released and permitted 10 return to this
/ camn has brought the information that the
| Mormons are organizing fIrce to "stau-
| pede" or capture the horses and mules II is
| expected Capt Marcy Will brig ou' IN . e
sprIag from New Mexico. l have already
requested that an escort may he seut win
Captain Marcy; but the amount OF force Will
he best determined by The Knowledge mat
sn attack may be expected "hG Ies,n II o.
the greatest conseqne'cs as regards toe mt
blity OF this force 'hat suil''e"' 't''
should e sent WIZ Odl III" -ha'IJ - V,"o''
him to reach here uhino,ea'eu' iie WIZ Pio,
badly leave New Mexico oy the -V'h u
March, and have to request that the gent
ruI-iu chief will at once authorize the com
ina nder Of The department OF New Mckee
t. send force with Captain Marcy to cover
hi, movements; anu | aa'e also re-pecHn'y
to request the attention OF the COMMANDING
general t. the great length OF The iihs OF
communication OF TINS army, anu |! Tue ue-
cessity OF pr"vlting means 81 ue's"u'hs tue
suppier, which must be sent iof"4ro !" ear
II spring, as well a. uur'ps Tue summit u"
/ ., n attach, "A Nv thp MufmOus. have Of